Suprise Me

Endurance by
200
(359 Stories)

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In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackelton and his crew sailed The Endurance to the Antarctic. It was crushed in the ice pack and sank in the Weddell Sea but all of her crew survived. Frank Hurley, the photographer onboard, captured incredible photographs of the entire experience. My husband is fascinated by this story and has read…
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Holes in my head by
100
(170 Stories)

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When I first saw this Retro prompt, a David Sedaris essay* came to mind. Here, Sedaris laments the lack of worthwhile accessories for men. “[Accessories” for men aren’t nearly as interesting as women’s,” he writes. “I have no use for cuff links or suspenders, and while I’ll occasionally pick up a new tie, it hardly…
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You can’t live with them, and you can’t kill them! by
25
(25 Stories)

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This damn pandemic has turned me into an extension of my computer which has taken the form of my cellphone. Honestly, I can’t stand it! I have it in my hand constantly. Can’t eat without it. Watch tv without it. Go to the bathroom without it. I go into a near panic if I realize…
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S**t Faced by
200
(359 Stories)

Prompted By Drugs and Alcohol

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Does anyone remember the days when it was acceptable, even encouraged, to drink at lunch? This story takes place on June 4, 1976. It will later become evident how I remember the exact date. Dan and I both worked at our first jobs at SofTech – he as a programmer; I, a Program Librarian (glorified…
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Exams Once Ruled My Life by
200
(298 Stories)

Prompted By Exams

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Exams once ruled my life. Now, having experienced many true tests over a lifetime, I realize that no amount of preparation guarantees a good result. It is what I do with the hand I’m dealt that truly matters.
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Gee Whiz by
50
(90 Stories)

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It’s pretty much impossible to pick just one song so I’ve zeroed in on the very first song that moved me: All I Have To Do is Dream by the Everly Brothers. When the song was released in 1958, I was 11 years old. I wouldn’t have the pleasure of my first kiss for another…
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My mother the gourmet by (1 Story)

Prompted By What We Ate

/ Stories

Setting the menu for potlucks, before anything else, I was asked to bring my mother’s lasagne. Not some vague ‘meat course’ or ‘dessert’ but specifically The Lasagne. I thought, Cool, the kids love her lasagne. With a bit of distance, I realise they were just trying to ensure that I didn’t bring something untested, or…
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My Love Affair with James Joyce by
200
(346 Stories)

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My Love Affair with James Joyce Playwright Israel Horovitz was caught by several women who said  “Me too.”,  and so was Prairie Home Companion creator Garrison Keillor;   filmmaker Woody Allen’s private life has been far from exemplary;   abstractionist Pablo Picasso and novelist Philip Roth were notorious womanizers;   the 17th century painter Caravaggio…
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The Relief Pitcher by
50
(58 Stories)

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But, of course, the iconic Alka-Seltzer ads featured little Speedy Alka-Seltzer. Bright-eyed and eager he pitched relief to the masses. Known far and wide, yes, but do you know Speedy's backstory?
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Into – and out of – pantyhose by
25
(34 Stories)

Prompted By What We Wore

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I was stopped dead in my tracks one day when a young coworker said she had never worn pantyhose.
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