Everyday Life, by Janet Higgins

I like taking photographs of everyday life.  There are special moments everywhere you turn, just waiting to be discovered.  When a scene captures my interest, I take the time to watch and wait. I am often rewarded with a picture that is surprising and delightful.

Memorable moments are all around us if we stop to observe them! 

Photos by Janet Higgins

Mackinac Bridge, MI

Saugatuck, MI

"Care to join me?" Detroit Zoo, MI

"Remember when...? Memphis Zoo, TN

"Wanna have a catch?" Doug and Roger in Field of Dreams,  Dyersville, IA

Mackinac Island, MI

"In the shadows." Henry Ford Museum, MI

Paper Hearts Workshop

This section starts with the semi-annual "Round Robin" story ("The Romantic Pull of Office Supplies") by students in the Take 5. I wrote a sentence, someone else added a sentence, etc. I think the moral of the story is that staplers are the most romantic Valentine's Day gift, and you'd better enjoy that tomato.

Sponsored by the Madonna University Library and Writing Center, the Paper Hearts Workshop ran from 11-5 p.m. Thursday, February 9, in the southwest corner of the Take 5. We drew a higher number of writers than usual this year. One reason may have been the creative Valentine's Day-themed prompts our Writing Center tutors found, such as:

* You are a detective who has closed every case but one, a serial murderer who has taunted you all your career. After retiring, you start to suspect your significant other.

* A zombie apocalypse.breaks out due to your gross incompetence and you realize you are the only non-zombie left. You see the crush you have pined over slowly turning. What do you do?

* Your main character wakes up and it's a perfectly normal day. However, when he or she calls their significant other, they discover their name is not in their phone. They soon discover that their loved one no longer exists. Everyone seems to think your character is crazy since they have absolutely no idea who this loved one is. What happens next?

You'll see in the following pages the sense of fun our students brought to their writing. One purpose of the Paper Hearts Workshop is to make writing and research less scary and more approachable.

Frances FitzGerald, editor

 

The Romantic Pull of Office Supplies, by the Take 5 Writers

I was confused when my sweetheart gave me a stapler for Valentine’s Day.  He looked at me with an unabashed enthusiasm, like clearly this was the best gift ever.

“Thank you,” I told him, trying to force enthusiasm into my voice and failing miserably. 

Every year he buys me office supplies for Valentine’s Day. Why? I don’t know. Now thinking about it, I am a secretary and I always buy supplies for my desk. But he thinks I need to prioritize other things or we might divorce. [This story needed some drama.] 

I tried my best to tell him how great my gift was, but he knew I would prefer chocolates or roses over a stapler. But then again I might not because I am very cheap. Since I’m cheap, he’s not expecting anything for Valentine’s Day. 

The next day after Valentine’s Day my sweetheart gave me a million! Unfortunately, it wall one million in Zimbabwe’s currency. 

Now that I think about it, I would like Valentine’s Day to never end. It makes sense to me because our hearts will be filled with joy and as much love as we are capable of sharing with everyone. Much love to all.

I was feeling optimistic about love and the future and our lives together until we arrived in Zimbabwe and found out that one million was the price of a tomato.

So, ever the optimist, I bought a tomato in Zimbabwe and sat down to eat my Valentine’s Day “candy.” 

Six Word Poems, by Jillian Law

Six Word Break-up Poem, by Jillian Law

I can’t anymore.

Leave your keys.

Six Word Love Poem for My Cat, by Jillian Law

Soft fur. Meows.

My love, Mason.

Six Word Poem for My Middle School Crush, by Jillian Law

I wish we had

Another dance.

Sweet Revenge, by Jillian Law

Jamie had Taylor Swift’s “Picture to Burn” blaring through her speakers. She was currently cleansing her room (and by extension her life) of any remnants of her ex-boyfriend Jake. It was Valentine’s Day, and she was not going to wallow. No, Jamie wanted revenge.

There was a knock on her door. Jamie grinned. Her best friend Cara had received her SOS text. “Come in!” she shouted.

Cara stepped into Jamie’s room, eyebrows raised. It was a disaster zone. Clothes were strewn across the room, picture frames littered her bed, and her cat Mila looked distinctly unhappy.

“Hey, I heard about Jake and Claire Novak. Are you okay?” Jamie had been dating Jake for two years, right up until today when she had caught Jake in his car with Claire. End of relationship, bye-bye Jake.

Jamie smirked. “I’m great. I’m more than great. I’m determined.”

Cara was officially worried. She knew that look. It was Jamie’s idea look. That was the look that Jamie had at summer camp when Tyler tipped their canoe over. It was Jamie’s look of revenge.

Tyler would tell you that. He woke up the next morning with pink hair and no eyebrows.

           

“What are you planning?” Cora asked suspiciously.

           

Jamie grinned and held up a list.