Author ///Mystery, Horror, Paranormal
Barbara Watkins
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| Articles & Poetry published in helium.com Poetry Childhood Memories . Many Year's Have Passed Since Long Ago MANY YEAR'S HAVE PASSED SINCE LONG AGO AS CHILDREN WE PLAYED IN THE RAIN IN WINTER WE PRAYED FOR SNOW I WOULD PLAY WITH MY BARBIE DOLLS PLAY DRESS UP IN MAMA'S CLOTHES WHILE YOU PLAYED COWBOY AND INDIAN'S AND PRETENDED TO BE GI JOE MANY YEAR'S HAVE PASSED SINCE LONG AGO TIME MOVED ON AND I PUT UP MY BARBIE DOLLS STOPPED PLAYING DRESS UP IN MAMA'S CLOTHES YOU PACKED UP YOUR COWBOY AND INDIAN'S GAVE AWAY YOUR GI JOE MANY YEAR'S HAVE PASSED BY SINCE LONG AGO GONE WERE THE DAY'S OF CLIMBING UP IN MAMA'S LAP CHASING THE ICE-CREAM TRUCK NIGHT LIGHTS AND TRAINING WHEELS WERE NOW A THING OF THE PAST DAY-BY-DAY OUR CHILDHOOD WAS SLIPPING AWAY A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES WAS ABOUT TO UNFOLD MANY YEAR'S HAVE PASSED BY SINCE LONG AGO CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF I AND MY BROTHER ARE STILL CLEAR AS I GET OLDER THEY BECOME EVEN MORE PRECIOUS AND DEAR WITH GRANDCHILDREN OF OUR OWN WE OFTEN REVISIT OUR PAST EVERY-TIME THEY GIVE US HUGS AND KISSES AND CLIMB UP IN OUR LAP EVERY-TIME THEY PLAY IN THE RAIN OR PRAY FOR SNOW WHEN THEY ASK FOR A NIGHT LIGHT AND BEG FOR A GI JOE WITH EVERY BIRTHDAY WE ARE GIVEN A GIFT ANOTHER BLESSED DAY GIVEN TO REVISIT THE PAST FOR THE PAST COULD BE YEAR'S AGO OR A MOMENT IN TIME REFLECTIONS OF OUR MIRROR IMAGE FADING INTO THE SHADOWS GOD WILLING MANY YEAR'S FROM NOW WE WILL STILL BE REMINISCING ABOUT YEAR'S PASSED LONG AGO Is a House Always a Home? Is a house always a home? Is the grass always greener on the other side? I think not! I think it's like experimenting with a recipe. Sometimes you don't always follow the directions, (you end up putting in ingredients other than what's called for) but ultimately the finished product is delicious! To make a house a home I believe you have to throw in a mixture of love, respect, happiness, and a cup running over with a feeling of security. You can't forget memories, (some good-some not so good) they have to somewhat balance out each-other or you end up with too much of a bad taste...! Above all the most important ingredient is your own personal touch. Add in a few crayon marks to the wall, (made by a precious child's tiny hands) then top it off by adding some artwork, one of a kind (made by the same tiny hands) and now your starting to cook. You can even throw in a scoop of laughter and tears... I promise it won't be too sweet or salty. Everyone's recipe for making their house a home will be different, but for me the ingredients above made for a fine cuisine. Poetry: Death of a Parent What can I say to you father that you don't already know Can I tell you that your soul means more to me than my own Can I tell you I'd lay down my life, take my last breath To ease your pain and suffering I would face any death Can I lay my head upon your chest and cradle you in my arms ever so tenderly Can I tell you I pray to God every night that he will keep you here with me Can I tell you that the love you've give to me throughout these years Many times eased my own pain, frustrations and dried away my tears What can you say to me father to help me understand Should I lay my guilt and grief into Gods hands Will he take from me my burdens and ease my troubled soul Does he know how much I love you and will never let go I say to you father I think I understand We have to lay it all down and leave it to Gods plan For as much as all the love I have for you God has and more And when its time for us to leave this world and release our last breath I know in the depths of my soul God will be waiting arms stretched Poetry: Mankind Come all God's children gather close for the time is near, Lay down your heavy swords embrace your enemy, Soar together united as one and there will be no need for fear. Come all God's children, come. Feed your weak and hungry heed their cry do not turn away, The chapel bells are ringing with each chime getting louder, A hasten reminder we must open our eyes in the dark of night, if to see by the light of day. Snuff out the roaring fire and smoke that fills the night sky, Deafen the raging cannons that echo over God's land, For thrusting out prejudice and hatred your soul will never die, So too you will embrace the present and future and in the process save mankind. Come all God's children come. A look at the mysterious Ica stones The mysterious Ica stones, truth or fiction, supernatural phenomenon or hoax? In 1966 a man by the name of Javier Cabrera, a local physician, received a small carved rock for his birthday by a local native. The first thing he noticed was the fact it looked ancient. When the doctor showed interest the natives continued to bring him more. Some of the stones seemed to clearly depict drawings of dinosaurs, triceratops, stegosaurus, and humans riding on the backs of flying pterodactyls. If we are to believe that man is 2 million years old, and dinosaurs become extinct 60 million years ago how would this be possible? Would it be more likely this is an elaborate hoax? Or, could human civilization existed during that time? According to some reports closer examination of the stones show grooves that bear traces of layers containing natural varnish, created by bacteria over thousands of years. The original resting place of these stones is unknown. Since these stone don't contain organic material they can't be dated. So, what are we to believe? We need a rigorous scientific investigation of these stone. But, we need not dismiss the possibility either. Supernatural phenomena after all is now a huge part of scientific discussions among many qualified scientist and researchers, After all, if found to be true it would change our history as we know it of human life on earth! How to know if your house is haunted The year was 1965 some 42 years ago, but I remember like yesterday my first encounter with the unknown. Me and my family, (mom, dad, and older brother and sister) had just settled into our new home on 839 Agnes street. Excited to have my own bedroom I couldn't wait to see it. I didn't feel uncomfortable right away, it wasn't until bedtime that I began to feel anxious. I crawled into bed and kissing my mother goodnight she closed the door. I'd just closed my eyes when I felt the presence of someone, or some thing sit down on the foot of my bed. Opening my eyes I looked to find nothing there. I threw my blanket back and could see the indention on my mattress as if someone was sitting there. After an hour of my mother assuring me that I'd been dreaming, she tucked me back into bed. I remember curling up into a ball at the head of my bed, and starring at the foot of my mattress. Although the strange occurrence didn't happen again that night, it did many times after. I'd get up many nights and sleep in the corner of my closet because I didn't feel safe in my own bed. Just a few months after we moved in my father was killed in an accident at work. Shortly afterwords lights began to go on and off, doors would open and shut by their-selves and often we were awaken by strange voices. Items would disappear only to reappear somewhere else. I seen several apparitions of an old woman dressed all in black moving about the house. More than once I'd wake to see her standing over my bed just starring down at me. I remember my mother trying desperately to make some kind of logic out of what was happening. We were frightened to stay but couldn't afford to move. Over the years we would learn to accept whatever was there and tried to ignore it the best we could. It's been many years since we lived there but what happened there still affects each one of us. I've encountered strange phenomenon everywhere I've lived, as my mother and siblings have as well. Poetry: Teachers What is the definition of a school teacher a few thoughts come to mind One who is loving, encouraging, patient and kind Who gives each and every child an opportunity to learn Helping them grasp utmost knowledge for which they so yearn One who helps them overcome their fears Who helps teach them right from wrong and to respect their peers One who takes them under their wing and teaches them to fly Who teaches a child not only to look up but to reach for the sky One who reads to them about exciting and faraway places Putting hope in their hearts joy in their souls and pride on their faces One who will give your child not only her time and devoted attention But can show them discipline with love and true understanding Giving knowledge and teaching them self-respect things they will carry with them everyday Those are just a few things that come to mind The evolution of horror movies As a small child one of the first emotions we express is fear. Fear of the dark, afraid to look under our bed, and fear of the unknown is not only terrifying but exhilarating. The horror movies of today have evolved in that earlier horror flicks contained much less blood and gore. One of the classics, 'House on Haunted Hill' starring Vincent Price debuted in 1959 and terrified audiences without showing any gory details. Instead, the director played on our fear and let the audience use their own imagination. The master of horror Alfred Hitchcock knew how to manipulate and shock his audience by merely using camera angles and special lighting, creating eerie shots of terror that panned in and out quickly on his subjects. Who can forget the original 'Psycho'(1960) or 'The Birds' (1963) they are still horrifying to watch. I've just mentioned a very small fraction of yesterdays classics, but I think you get the idea. In 1999 M. Night Shyamalan Sixth Sense debuted and received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. Although Shyamalan opted to include a few explicit scenes of gore, but for only minor seconds, it still possessed much of the same elements as its counter classics. The same classic style of the past can be said about M. Night Shyamalan's 2001 'The Others'. Again I've mentioned just a few of what I personally feel will stand the test of time as far as horror classics go. I remember the first time I saw the original 'Halloween' it was 1978 and just into a few minutes of the movie I was hooked. John Carpenter used our childhood fear of the boogyman, and one of the most celebrated holidays of the year to entice our underlying insecurities in the fear of the unknown and the supernatural. I was hooked! But I must say and I think many would agree, the director could have left out much of the slice and dice scenes, and it would have still been a terrifying horror flick. Oh well, each to their own. One thing for sure there are plenty of horror flicks to choose from, and with such an enormous variety one is sure to find their favorite. How to buy health insurance in your state Research! Research! Research! Research the health insurance company's in your state by comparing their quotes side by side. Health care costs on the united states rose 6.9% more than double the rate of inflation. The most important factor is to find the right plan. The amount of costs and coverage depends on if it's an individual plan or family plan. Check with your employer and find out who their provider is to discuss the different options that may be available. Over one third of uninsured adults have trouble paying their medical bills. In this day and age the high costs of any type of medical treatment can be overwhelming, but without some form of insurance coverage it could mean the difference between life and death. Low income families should check with their Department of Social Services to find out if they're eligible for assistance. Medicaid and MC for kids are available in Missouri if you meet the criteria. Halloween in light of past cultures Our Halloween trick-or-treat customs actually descended from a belief that the family dead would bring gifts or so called goodies to the children upon their temporary return from the other side. If you stop to think about that, it makes quite a bit of sense. Gifts, food and sweets are still a standard method today when it comes to attracting our children to other holidays such as, Christmas and Easter. Our celebration of Halloween rituals are relics of the pagan, or what was known as All Hallows Eve, later Christianized as "All Saints." Feast of the Dead was known as the time when the (crack between the worlds) would open up letting the spirits pass through. At this particular time the ghosts of the dead could join their ancestors at the feast. They could communicate with the living, leaving with them premonitions and omens too come. In Ireland grave mounds were known as (fairy hills) and were said to open up just for the occasion. Most believed it was impossible to keep the fairies underground on Halloween. These so called fairies were simply referred to as pagan spirits. The church insisted they were demons and were abroad on Halloween. Another term for the ancient pagan priestesses, whose business was to communicate with the dead, were also referred to as witches. Black cats, broomsticks, and bats were all familiar tools commonly associated with the witch. In most recent times our holiday known as Halloween has become a heated topic in some churches as well as schools. Some feel Halloween is enticing our children to follow a devil worshiping crowd. I must say when I see my grandchildren dressed in those pirate and ninja outfits it frightens me beyond belief! Okay, now I'm just being sarcastic! But, I feel with such disturbing and realistic worries of our world such as war, disease, famine, maybe we should be focusing more on what affect these perils will have on our children, and less on a holiday that has been celebrated for centuries known as Halloween. |
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| Reviews & Synopsis of each book to the left. |
| Copyright 2008 Barbara Watkins |