Author: abby mumford

convos with strangers

conversations with strangers #10

abby mumford

here’s why i’m talking with strangers.

a group of three mothers and six kids (five boys, one girl) get on the T. there are two empty seats on either side of me. the mom sits on one, the little girl on the other. she’s holding a rock. i stand up and offer to switch seats with the 4yo girl so she can be next to her mother. the girl shakes her head no, so i sit back down as the mother smiles her thanks.

me to girl : is that your pet rock?

her: yes. i’m going to paint it.

me: *noticing her pink shirt, pink leggings, pink socks, pink shoes.* pink?

her: yes. *waves hand over the top of the rock* spray paint. maybe stripes.

me:  that sounds lovely.

her: i like pink.

her mom, noticing my pink vest and pink scarf, smiles.

me: me too! i”ve got some pink going on here.

the girl smiles at my clothes, but the smile doesn’t stick because meanwhile, the other kids, the boys from the group are sitting across from us having their own conversation.

a 5yo boy says:  i’m not in love with her.

the other boys say something i don’t hear over the screeching of the train’s brakes, but it definitely riles him up because the boy says again:  i do not love her. we were never getting married.

her, swinging her feet higher and higher, looks over at her mom: they’re making fun of me.

and my heart breaks a little that she, this adorable bundle of pink, is so aware at such a young age. and i can’t wait for the day that kid realizes he does want to get married and publicly declares so.

maybe even while riding the T.

general

book title poetry

abby mumford

janet reid (a literary agent) is hosting this crazy cool poetry contest and what with all the poetry i keep finding of late, i figured it was time i stopped avoiding all the signs and started writing some of my own. and what better way to start than with book titles? i only had to add 11 of my own words! and take a picture. so easy! so fun!

in fact, this was so enjoyable, i just may add this to my “get the creative juices flowing” exercises. they’re sort of like stretching (mentally) before a sprint/marathon session of exercising/writing.

THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE and
THE PRINCE OF THIEVES have a
FLASH BURNOUT
SUPERNATURALLY
FORBIDDEN
PERFECT CHEMISTRY.
AND THEN THINGS FALL APART
due to her BAD TASTE IN BOYS.
He’s GONE, leaving her with nothing but
THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE.

how about your bookshelves? what poetry do they hold?

UPDATED: i was a finalist!!!! and i got a specific shout out!!!! check it out.

book club

BOOK HUNGRY: harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone

abby mumford

who says you have to be crowded into the living room, kitchen, and/or dining room to hold a book club? we are ladies of the 21st century. we don’t need no stinkin’ couches. so pull up a blog and join in the conversation.

the members of the BOOK HUNGRY are (alphabetically): patty blount, kelly breakey, karla nellenbach, vanessa noble, alyson peterson, cynthia reese, elizabeth ryann, and myself. here’s the deal. we pick a book to read. we discuss via email. we post a review on our individual blogs on the same day (3rd thursday of the month). we link to each other. done. i know, genius. click on each one of their names (above) and it’ll take you to their review. browse. enjoy.

this month’s BOOK HUNGRY selection is: 

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE by j.k. rowling


what it’s about (from IMDB because amazon had reviews only, no summaries): Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

my opinion: this was not the first time i’ve read this book. this was not the second time either. it was probably somewhere along the lines of my fifth read and while nothing can capture the magic of reading this book for the first time (ah, sheer bliss!), the fact that i have read it no less than five times and can still be completely sucked into the story is a testament to rowling’s genius.

it’s hard to write about this book, this very first one, without revealing any spoilers to any of the other books because the entire series weaves together so seamlessly sometimes it’s hard to remember which is which. it all seems like one gigantic (and amazing) story that you never want to end.

although, you know what? it was actually kind of fun to be rereading this story because it’s been years since i last read any of these books and even longer since i’d gone back to the very beginning. i’ve been with these characters for seven books and i’d stay i’ve gotten know them quite well, so to go back to their roots was a treat. i found myself giggling over the initial introductions of neville and hermione and cringing from the poisonous snape and feeling safe anytime dumbledore walked onto the page, gasping over the magical revelations, and most of all, still rooting for harry, ron, and hermione.

these characters are some of the most fleshed out i’ve ever read and as such, these books, THIS BOOK, never fails to entertain and with each read, the magic comes alive just like it did the first time i read it. that’s the mark of a true wizard.

//

convos with strangers

conversations with strangers #9

abby mumford

i’m talking with strangers. here’s why.

i’m inching my way up the security line at the airport. for the first time, i am going paperless, so i have my phone out with the QR code boarding pass ready…

*looking at my phone, the security guard (SG) puts his pen down* *turns on a machine.* *indicates i should put my phone over it.*

me: *puts phone face down over scanning device.* *nothing happens.* like this?

SG: yes, but you shouldn’t have to hold it there that long. this thing is still warming up, i guess. *shuts off the machine.* *turns it back on.* that ought to do the trick.

me: *puts phone up for scanning.* *green light blinks.* restarting a machine works every time!

man behind me (MBM): is that an app for US Airways?

me: no, just my boarding pass. when i checked in, they emailed me a link and this is what opened when i clicked.

MBM: what’s next in the world of paperless things?

me: this was actually my first time without a paper boarding pass. i was nervous.

SG: *hands me my ID.* not related to mumford and sons, are you?

me:  i wish!

SG: yeah, they’re not doing too badly, are they? they won a grammy.

me: i know.

SG: have a good flight.

me: thanks. have a good day.

he turns to the MBM and i trudge on through the gauntlet of airport security.

general

old school charm

abby mumford

my coworker was going through a box that had been sitting in a shared space for quite some time. by quite some time, i mean there are documents in there from as early as 1951. (see above). i will transcribe it for you because it’s been sitting in a box for far too long and it’s about dang time this charming carbon copy saw the light of day.

January 2, 1951

Mr. A.N. Murray
31 Geneva Road
Melrose, Massachusetts

Dear Mr. Murray:

Early today I learned that as of this date I will be denied the daily privilege and pleasure of working with you. This knowledge makes me feel as though I had been fired from a job that I liked very much — and I’ve had mighty little notice too. Your retirement will make my work at this Press less interesting, for I shall sincerely miss our friendly business relations.

May your ample store of good humor and wit help you hurdle the problems of retirement as they did the problems of business. And may you enjoy a long, happy, and healthy retirement.

Most sincerely yours,

BLS: EB

isn’t it exactly the type of letter you hope to receive one day? i sure hope to. and, come to think of it, it’s the type of letter i wish i’d had in my possession a couple of months ago when my beloved boss retired. i definitely and whole-heartedly would have given it to him.

and now, just now, i’ve re-adjusted my life’s plan. i want to receive a letter like this some day when i’m old and gray or, you know, tomorrow would work just as well.

may you all find something noteworthy today. go forth and search. and then report back.