Lost and Found: A Writer's Tale and a Poem

First, I should introduce that this is a blog fest hosted by the fabulous Lee (Arlee Bird) at Tossing it Out, who has done more than his share in helping create a close-knit, supportive writing community, so thank you, Lee! You can find the list of participants here.

Second, I will say I CONSIDERED an ode to Facebook where I have found about 99% of the PEOPLE I once thought lost. It's an amazing medium for reconnection.


This is the part of the blog where I participate WRONG

But instead of Facebook... alas, as I got my stuff out to write this yesterday morning, there was my lost manuscript. Found.

You see, I got two weeks off for Christmas Break. I knew the first week would be spent in baking, shopping, wrapping, wine evenings with my buddies, cleaning as I always try to have one of my gifts to my seriously more cleanliness-oriented spouse that I clean up some of my crap for the holiday... But I really planned AFTER Christmas to spend the week immersed in an EDIT. I had printed it out because I see more hard copy. I did this at work as my home printer was broken and 270 pages in the life of an industrial toner is nothing (and I can print two-sided there, which seems more earth-friendly). At home I had taken off the first hundred pages to get started... and set it... somewhere... Blast it if when I went to get started the pages weren't GONE.

I did a couple small writing tasks the rest of break, but I couldn't get really started until I went back to work January 4...

And then about a week after I'd printed the new and gotten started, there was the old at the bottom of the mail pile.

It was the Universe telling me to rest it a bit, I think...


And THIS is the Part where I have read the instructions...

(I'm bad about this—par for the course would have been discovering I'd done it wrong after publishing).
I am to produce a piece of actual writing related to losing or finding someone I love...

Just let me put on my teen angst hat... you see, I've been with the hubs since I was 22—a VERY long time... and I didn't so much “find him” as we sort of settled into each other—nothing instant about it. So the only loss strong enough that I can still channel is the first one. Love's first sting...

Heartache: A Poem of Sorts

It wasn't, then it was, then it wasn't.
Isn't that always the way?
Sixteen, craving love
Craving craving
Dare I say it?
Craving heartache?
To feel so deeply
Love so deeply
That the sad songs speak to you
Every one.
To scream out
Cry out
Hurt so badly.
It is an initiation of sorts
A way of becoming.
A part of a grander universe
A member of humanity
for whom deep feelings forge the connections.
Oh to be sixteen and in love with love.


For the record—I'm still friends with this guy—the one who broke my heart first. So he was lost romantically, and found amicably. Because I don't actually lose people. I collect them. (This is normal for a Cancer)


So who or what have YOU lost and then found?