"Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it" is an aphorism attributed to Mark Twain. In recent years, we have seen an increase in tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes and every other kind of weather disaster. Think back . . . how did the weather affect you when you were a child? Is it different now? Is there anything we can or should be doing about it? Share your weather stories forward.
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This Week's Prompt
Weather (6 Stories)
"Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it" is an aphorism attributed to Mark Twain. In recent years, we have seen an increase in tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes and every other kind of weather disaster. Think back . . . how did the weather affect you when you were a child? Is it different now? Is there anything we can or should be doing about it? Share your weather stories forward.
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Upcoming Prompts
Kindergarten (1 Story)
Kindergarten is the beginning of formal education and this is the time of year when many children make that important first step into school. What has happened to the “children’s garden”? Do you agree with its increasingly academic expectations? Do you think children are missing out on learning through play? Think back… what was kindergarten like for you or your children? What is it like for kindergarten students today? Share your kindergarten stories forward.
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An Unforgettable Person (1 Story)
There probably was someone in our lives whom we just can’t forget. Whether lover, teacher, friend, celebrity, or even a stranger whom we encountered, that someone made a lasting impression, for better or for worse. Think back … Who was your unforgettable person? What made them unforgettable? How might they have influenced your life? Share your story of an unforgettable person forward.
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Road Rage
September is National Courtesy Month, but not so much on our highways. It seems like everyone is in too much of a hurry to let a car change lanes or to pull over on a narrow street. Do road work and detours lead to stress rather than courtesy where you live? Are horns blasting and tempers flaring? Think back… was driving as challenging when you were younger? How have things changed? Share your road rage stories forward.
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Games People Play
In 1964, psychiatrist Eric Berne’s book, Games People Play, was a best-seller. He was talking about psychological games, such as “See What You Made Me Do” or “Let’s You and Him Fight.” Did you ever read this book and/or play these mind games? What about real games such as poker, scrabble, chess, or ping pong? Think back … what games stand out in your memory? What games do you play now? Share your game stories forward.
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Past Prompts
Woodstock (7 Stories)
50 years ago, on August 15-17, 1969, more than 400,000 people gathered at Max Yasgur's farm for the festival known as Woodstock. It is considered the rock festival for the ages, and one of the defining events for the Baby Boom generation. Did you go? Did you wish you had gone? Or did you deliberately stay away? Think back . . . what were your thoughts about Woodstock at the time? What do your kids or grandkids think about Woodstock, if they even know about it? Share your Woodstock stories forward.
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Genealogy (10 Stories)
Genealogy is all the rage these days. Whether or not they use websites like Ancestry.com or 23 and Me, lots of folks are tracking down ancestors and uncovering relationships and family ties. What are the pros and cons of the surge in DNA testing? Have you or anyone you know made a life-changing discovery or gained meaningful information this way? Think back… What did you know about your family history growing up? Share your genealogy stories forward.
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Neighbors (7 Stories)
Neighbors can be godsends for borrowing items, or nuisances with barking dogs. What about yours? How has neighborliness changed from your childhood? Do you even know your neighbors now? Are virtual communities good replacements for a neighborhood? Think back …. about your favorite neighbor or your worst nightmare. Share your stories of neighbors forward.
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Boredom (7 Stories)
July is anti-boredom month, but perhaps we could all do with a little boredom in our lives. Think back… What did you do when you felt bored as a child? What do you do now? Are you someone for whom boredom leads to creativity, or do you need to feel busy all of the time? How has the concept of boredom changed for your kids’ or grandkids’ generation? Share your boredom stories forward.
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Moon Landing (8 Stories)
A small step? A giant leap? It’s been 50 years since July 20, 1969, when the landing of the lunar module Eagle on the moon captivated our nation. What was the impact on you and others? Did you watch it? If so, who watched with you? How is this event different for a younger generation who didn’t witness it personally? Think back … about what this amazing achievement meant to you. Share your stories of the moon landing forward.
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