Straighten Up and Fly Write

The Path Less Traveled Into the Woods

I decided to try a new hobby. Trust me, this has definitely been a challenge for me. I am a lady of a certain age, weight, and physical conditioning that does not necessarily scream AVID MOUNTAIN HIKER. I have been intrigued with hiking in the Rocky Mountains since I first moved to Colorado twenty three … Continue reading →

Flash Fiction: She Broke Ever So Slowly

She broke, ever so slowly, into a million pieces, shattering in silence. There were signs she had chosen to ignore; all was not well with her. Marital distress. A child suspended from school. An at-fault car accident. A parent dying. A pink slip, ending a long career. Dreams unfulfilled. Life stressors adding up into a … Continue reading →

What is GISH? Be In-The-Know.

What is GISH? GISH, the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen, is a wacky, weird international online-based scavenger hunt. GISHers spend one week on a team of 15 individuals, racing to compete while they complete a 200+ list of projects. Points matter to some. Fun matters to all. Celebrating its tenth year, … Continue reading →

Inherited Trauma

Yesterday, at the hospital in my neighborhood, a man left a package with the words, “Inherited trauma,” written on it. I had an appointment in one of the outer buildings on campus and was notified by phone to use an alternate route. The main hospital was on lock down and there was an substantial police … Continue reading →

My Cancer Haiku

I want to heal me Breaking free from this cancer Healthy, wiser, strong I want a long life Full of love, laughter, and hope More longevity Quantity adds time Yet quality adds value Both equals good life I want a good life I want time to enjoy it The full potential … Continue reading →

Today, I Stood in the Sun

Today, I stood in the sun. White, puffy clouds meandered by, unaware of my presence. They teased the sun, jostling to and fro, blocking its light. The sun remained in place; patient, steady, still. The clouds soon tired of their game. They floated away, eastward bound. Today, as I stood in the sun, I was … Continue reading →

Published short story: The Mermaid

My guilt for ignoring my blog has lessened. I have focused on my creative writing for the past year and my first short story was published in the 2015 edition of RAIN Magazine. I had to immerse myself into rewriting and editing this piece of work. This poor little blog, straightenupandflywrite.com, was neglected while I … Continue reading →

Poetry: She Couldn’t See The Light

She Couldn’t See The Light She couldn’t see the light Her vision of life was unclear A lack of confidence, of clarity Ensnared by senseless fear No momentum to move forward Thankfully, taking no steps back Just living a lateral life Running circles on the same old track It is a comfortable life, she concedes … Continue reading →