Post #218 – Women’s Memoirs, Writing Prompt – Matilda Butler
Happy Birthday Kendra
I thought we could all help Kendra celebrate her birthday.
1. This is a special day. It’s Kendra’s birthday. The first step was finding a cake we could give her. I looked and I looked and I looked. I know Kendra likes fresh fruit so I thought this one with strawberries on top just might do the trick. I can already taste the juicy sweet berries when I take my first bite.
2. Of course, the cake only had three candles. That’s definitely not enough. I decided I’d better go to the store and find more candles for Kendra’s cake. Hum. I’m not sure this is enough, but it is definitely better than three! With that many candles, we’d better stand back when Kendra blows them out. That lingering smoke smell in the air just might be too much for us.
3. A cake. Candles. This is starting to come together. But we need something more to make this celebration festive. How about balloons? Yup. That seems just right. Plain latex balloons are fine. Plain balloons filled with helium are even better. But let’s take this over the top — mylar balloons, each with its own message, and all filled with helium. Yes.
4. But we’re missing something. What could it be? Oh, yes. It won’t be a party without all of you — Kendra’s friends in the memoir writing community. Since we’re celebrating in cyberspace, we won’t be able to hug each other or hold hands while we sing Happy Birthday. But we can still all wish Kendra a happy birthday. Let’s help her celebrate all month long.
5. Kendra and I often share favorite family stories. I tell her about celebrations and family traditions and she comes back with her own. I must admit that her’s usually trump mine. And I remember one of her birthday celebration stories. Her mother always fixed her a birthday cake that looked like a watermelon. I don’t recall all the details, but it was definitely a cake. I think the first year the green layer was made with spinach. By the second year, that had changed. I went looking for a photo I could use and found something that looked like I always imagined Kendra’s cake. But upon close inspection, I saw that this is an ice cream cake…not at all what Kendra’s mother made. So I think we’ll stick with the strawberry cake for Kendra this year.
HAVE A GREAT DAY KENDRA.
Birthday Celebration Writing Prompt
1. Think about your upcoming birthday. Then make a list of the four ways you would like to celebrate. Will it be a quiet get-away? A big birthday bash with lots of friends? A day at the spa? A writing retreat?
2. Write about each of the four ways you’ll celebrate. Through imagination we can often bring a new reality.
