- Seasonal Expressions -

Though there are blue skies,
Don't let the sun fool you, dear,
Autumn is coming.

Leapin' Lethargy by Andrew Call

Inspired by Writing Prompt One Hundred and Thirteen: The window stood open and all I had to do was jump.

Pickled between inevitable pain and ambiguous salvation, most people choose to fly. Faith in a foxhole for the avid atheist kind of stuff. In that brief limbo, the desperation to escape one’s burning building overcomes any dread of cannonballing out the open window. Those who don’t leap often regret stepping back from the edge as they burn, and those who take the plunge are afforded what luxury there is in imagining a colorful splat during freefall. Whenever my window cracked and gave me an opening, I was apt to jump.

“Jump, ya chick’n shit! She’s watching you.” Sid Madison got me to jump at age eight with a jab from the school pool.

“Jump or he’ll kill you!” An unnamed husband with fire in his soul got me to jump buck naked from a two-story balcony at nineteen.

“Jump and I’ll find you!” Nineteen. Same unnamed husband. Fire in the soul. You get the picture.
“How high, sir?!” as I jumped for freedom in Basic.

After two tours, I jumped into law enforcement to escape PTSD. Before I retired, I jumped into marriage, through divorce hoops, around a triple bypass, and over the bottle. Lord, did I jump. Vivid hope for a colorful splat smudged and now abstract.

Here I was again, standing on the edge.

From inside the car, the rain on the windshield made my bowels burn. Or maybe that was the IBS. Of all the days, of all places. I looked out and up through squinted eyes. Retiring hadn’t gotten me anywhere, and divorce hadn’t allowed me the peace of mind I’d expected. Didn’t move far enough away from those flames. Three years, half of what I owned, one younger asshole taking my place in my ex-wife’s bed, a move across town…by all means I’d gotten pretty far. In what direction, God only knew.  Paint-by-numbers with Dhali holding the brush.

And here I am, outside my old apartment building, looking up at my old window. Ex-detective Richard Pascal, back on the case. I opened the car door and stepped out into the rain.

~

“Rich, I know I shouldn’t have called, but I didn’t want to call the actual cops.”

My ex-wife Janine stood in the open doorway of our old apartment. Twenty-four floors up, three doors down, the framed entrance separating us.  I’d refused to go inside and a small puddle dripped to life around my feet.  I listened as Janine told me how the new guy had imploded after she dropped the pregnancy bomb. Really, Jan? Pregnant? How he’d trashed the apartment and stormed out.  He was on the roof.  Misery loves company, I thought. Here I come, buddy.

“I’ll talk to him, Jan. Stay here.”  She closed the door and I took the stairs. 

The door reading ROOF ACCESS whipped open with the wind. I stood inside and squinted through the sheets of rain as they danced, making out the timid-looking bastard against the edge of the roof. He was sitting with his back on the cement ledge. His eyes darted up at the noise, and the rain blasted me in the face as I stepped out. What was his name? Jim? Jan and Jim?

The rain was so thick it felt like I was standing under a hose, but I wasn’t thinking about the rain. In that moment, drenched and emotionally drained, I shut off. Or turned on. My little wind-up key finally breaking.

“It was like he wasn’t really there,” Jim would tell Channel 4 later. “He looked at me but didn’t see me.”

I was empty.  There was nothing left, and I knew it. I strode the distance to the roof’s waist-high cement guard and turned my empty gaze on Jim, his hair matted to his face and eyes puckered to fight back the rain.

“Hell of a day.” I zoned out into the middle distance, not looking at anything in particular.  Jim slumped into the gravel roof and started to sob. What a sad excuse of a man, I thought. A piss-poor replacement.  “If you came up here to jump, maybe you should.” 

I felt the rain like fire on my neck. Burning. Building. Unbearable.

My heels scraped back in a featherweight pendulum, the ledge pressed against my waist, and I rolled forward into one last lethargic leap. 

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You can follow and contact Andrew here:

Twitter: @ACallCreative

E-mail: acallcreative@gmail.com

Website: www.mrmovie-review.com

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Sixteen

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
• Your return contact information marked with a "(P)" for private if applicable
• Public contact information you would like me to reference if your piece should be selected for feature.
• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Fifteen

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
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• Public contact information you would like me to reference if your piece should be selected for feature.
• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Fourteen

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
• Your return contact information marked with a "(P)" for private if applicable
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• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Thirteen

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
• Your return contact information marked with a "(P)" for private if applicable
• Public contact information you would like me to reference if your piece should be selected for feature.
• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Twelve

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
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• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.

- Bedfellows -

Never have I need
For frothy black liquid drinks
Than when I'm in school.

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Eleven

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
• Your return contact information marked with a "(P)" for private if applicable
• Public contact information you would like me to reference if your piece should be selected for feature.
• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Ten

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
• Your return contact information marked with a "(P)" for private if applicable
• Public contact information you would like me to reference if your piece should be selected for feature.
• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.

Dining Out in Cartlandia

She asked me if I wanted to go to a food cart. It was over text message so I thought she might have been auto-corrected and was actually saying "go-karts" which was still weird, actually. I was confused. Terribly, terribly confused. When I asked her about it, I think I broke a piece of her brain because she went from text messaging to voicemail in a matter of seconds. "You don't know what a food cart is!?" Oh. Like a taco truck? Yep. I definitely broke her brain.

Welcome to Cartlandia. A parking lot filled with food carts (trucks if you're asking me) of all different styles! It's been a while since I lived in real civilization. The closest big city to where I've been living is 50,000 strong. In fact, the city of Portland beats Wyoming's entire population by just over 25,000 people! So whenever a food cart or taco truck comes rolling into our little towns we aren't exactly falling over ourselves to stand in line for some grub. Portland, like many of the other major US cities, has made food carts and mini-restaurants an artform and I'm so thankful Sierra introduced me to their glory while I was feeling brave enough to try.

There are these pods of food carts all over the area so if one seems full, just keep on driving until you reach the next. It's a little adventure all on its own and worth the trip into parts of the city you might otherwise be unfamiliar with!

Cartlandia was our first stop of our day spent exploring our old haunts downtown and it was a great experience. It was particularly wonderful because I felt like Indian food while she felt like anything else but that and all we had to do was pick the cart we wanted and meet in the middle under the tent to eat. It's the perfect solution for any group of friends or couples who can't agree on where to go to eat!

I decided to eat here:

Their Saag Paneer. I know it doesn't look appetizing, but I promise you it was delicious!

I love this because I know that the family who cooked and served my food own the truck and are building their own business and I get to help support that family's dream. It's like that for all of the carts. Everyone is an entrepreneur and everyone is trying to carve out their niche in the industry. It's amazing.

Sierra decided to eat here:

And it looks amazing!

There were vegetarian options and omnivore options. American, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, and everything mixed in between options. The prices are remarkably fair and the service friendly.

I will definitely come here again my next time through town. I hope this is a trend that sticks around for years to come!

Next stop: Pendleton, Oregon!

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Nine

Worldly

I don't know where I'm going, but I assure you I am going.

You cannot stop me; hold fast my boots to this tainted, soiled ground. I was meant to conquer the stars and eat cheese. Flowers are to tickle my nose. Languages are to baffle my brain.

Yes, it is true. I may not know where I am going, but I am going nonetheless.

My spirit was meant to wonder the oceans and dance in the waves. My fingers to caress maple leaves and yew trees. My heart to jump to the motion of running bulls. My face to be stained red with tomato juice.

Behind me, my lessons form congress; building a future fraught with their brethren. Without them each experience loses meaning. With them I am born.

No. I do not know where I am going, but watch me go. Watch the path lay down before me. Watch my steps take longer strides. Watch my head held high.

You cannot stop me; hold fast my boots to this tainted, soiled ground.

I am going. 

I am conquering. 

I am dancing. 

I am growing.

Watch me go.

Keeping Portland Weird

I grew up in Gresham, a city that connects to Portland on the east side before you head on up to Mount Hood. In fact, I grew up in Hood's shadow, spending my winter weekends playing in the snow. After school my friends and I would hop on the MAX (light rail transit system) and go downtown to walk around and window shop. So it was no surprise that when my longest best-friend, Sierra, planned our day together she chose Downtown for shopping, food, and a little adventure.

Sierra and I met when we were in sixth grade, a whopping 20 years ago! And though there has always been a bit of miles distance between us since we reached adulthood, we've always found a way to stay connected and involved in each other's lives. Though we go years between seeing each other we are always able to pick up exactly where we left off and enjoy the company of the other as if nothing had ever changed. This trip was no different... except I got to meet her darling little girl for the first time which was a really BIG deal!

Sierra arranged for us to go to Cartlandia for lunch and then, for our second stop, the Peculiarium in Downtown Portland and... well... the name doesn't lie. It was certainly peculiar. It was definitely a slice of what is keeping Portland weird!

Sierra's new boyfriend...

My new boyfriend...

Do you believe?

This beauty came home with me. I absolutely love it!

We drove around downtown just long enough to find a parking spot and then took the streets by foot, stopping in our favorite neighborhood, Nob Hill. The shops are always wonderful to peek into and the food is unmistakeable. There's another McMenamins restaurant on this row as well as the ever popular Salt and Straw. The line is always out the door for the little ice cream shop, so we went to the place we knew and have loved so well over the years, Vivace - coffee and creperie.

Their savory crepes are amazing, but their sweet ones are the best. And the coffee? Forgeddaboutit! Perfect. They even have hot white chocolate for those feeling particularly indulgent! The cafe is located on the corner and usually has decent parking in the general area. It's located on the bottom floor of a victorian house and has patio space. It's been there since at least 2003 when I first discovered it and worth the Portland traffic to get to it! Just up the street from them is the Stepping Stone Cafe which is another amazing Portland find that is two parts funky and two parts delicious! I highly recommend both places!

After Nob Hill we swung by Pioneer Place so I could hit the Made in Oregon store to get a few must-have items, like pint glasses and a Sasquatch magnet. Yes, I believe.

The MAX

My favorite part of Downtown, the street music. This guy was wonderful. Talented on his make-shift drums, singing and smiling, and definitely flirting with all the ladies as they walked by. He was a treat to listen to and a true reminder of that special buzz of Downtown PDX. There's a lot of activity that happens downtown. The sidewalks are filled with people, the streets filled with cars and bicycles. It is always moving. The buildings are tall, but won't make you feel claustrophobic, and of all different eras of architecture. With all of it mixed together it's something special to hear above the chaos the melody of a corner trumpeter or the beat of a drummer. Downtown is full of life and it made me terribly homesick.

This cured my homesickness almost immediately. Traffic! What even is that? We don't exactly have traffic out here in Wyoming. If we are stopped or at a slow down it's for one of three reasons: Construction, a tractor, or wildlife. If I ever do move back to Portland, I'll be moving into a high rise studio somewhere close to where I work so I have very little need to drive anywhere!

In true Portlander fashion, our final stop was dinner. Food is kind of a big deal in this neck of the woods, a restaurant lingers on every corner, in every alley, in every little van you cross. But we saved ourselves for somewhere special; a place I used to work at when I first started college in 2004 - Takahashi. I loved working here for the short time I had left in Oregon before moving away. My aunt and her sister worked there (and still do!) moonlighting after their teaching jobs, my cousin worked there... it's almost a family affair! Oh! The food, really though, the food! They have a thorough sushi menu, incredible options for tempura, and full entrees for those feeling like something a little heavier. It's a great hole in the wall place that I think every Portlander should visit at least once in their lifetime. The prices are more than fair for what you get and the service is always amazing. If you're looking for a place to eat on your next visit to Portland, add this one to the top of your list!

Seiji Takahashi, the owner and sushi chef, is pictured far right.

It was the perfect day and the perfect way to spend it. I can't wait to go back and visit Sierra again and see how much her little one has grown! Next time, though, I'll stay for longer!

Next stop: Cartlandia

Writing Prompt One Hundred and Eight

Guidelines:

Length: 800 words or less

Deadline: None

Submission: 

• Submit via email to beauxcooper@gmail.com
• Copy your story into the Message box:
• Include:
• "Writing Prompt #____"
• Your return contact information marked with a "(P)" for private if applicable
• Public contact information you would like me to reference if your piece should be selected for feature.
• This can include your website or blog as well as your social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.
• Optional: A photo of you
• Your story
• Please copy and paste into the body of the message, however, if you have a special format design for your story (such as moments of centered or right alignment, size, etc.) attachments are accepted.

Award: My favorite submissions will be featured on beauxcooper.com as well as all BC's social media outlets with all links connecting back to your blog/social media/website/etc.