Ketch-up Day

How are you? Have you won the lottery? Written that best seller? Painted that famous picture? Listened to a good band? Gone on a lovely vacation? None applies to me, but here's hoping one does to you:)

Here's how my last week shook down.

How Not To Get Repeat Donors

So, I received a request for money, along with the other six or seven that appear daily, for charitable organizations. If you're in the United States, you're probably familiar with this particular one.  They always send a 'real' stamp along with the donation request.  They've been doing it for years and who can't use a stamp? I saw it  and thought, "Great. I can stick that on my SIL's Bday card. Which I did.  It didn't look like the stamps I'd received in the past, but I figured it was just a forever stamp. Luckily I took a closer look at it before it went out the door.

What the? 

 Yup. It was a real stamp alright. But it was for a penny.  I pulled the request out of the trash and read that the real stamp was only for a penny but the return envelope for my check was for the full amount.  Oh, thank you so much:) You know, some poor smuck--which was almost me--went ahead and mailed their envelope with that stamp thinking it was for the full amount like they've always been in the past.  

Hmm, in my humble opinion,  they might want to rethink their charity drives. 

AND 

I'm taking part in Denise's writing challenge. The idea is to write a short or a poem about the picture she's chosen for the challenge. 

Here's the picture.

 

                                                 Untitled by aarigalangg from Pixabay

Here's my poem:) 

Sam and His Cat

Sam and his cat crept through the darkened forest,

Surrounded by ancient, shadowy oak,

Whose skeletal branches moaned when the wind blew.

Mist hung low, 

Reaching out for the boy's thin, shivering arms.

Leaves cracked and crunched underfoot,

All while he prayed for quiet.

Frightening creatures stared from dead, misshapen bushes.

The night eerie,

Black as his father’s coal bin.

And cold. So cold.

He took one more step.

Heart pounding,

Relief flooded his small frame as he and the cat broke free of the grove.

A smile tipped his lips. Fear forgotten.

Ahead, warmth and light streamed from a small cabin’s windows.

They were home.

AND

The little holly tree. 

 That's about it folks. Did you get a penny stamp? Deluged with charity requests? No? I bet you won the lottery:)