Fears: II

You wake from sleep, body itching. You lift a hand and turn on the lamp. Movement from the corner of your eyes causes you to look at the bed. Your legs tingle, so you take off the blanket.

And scream.

Hundreds of tiny brown spiders skitter across your body as you slap your legs. You jump up, crushing spiders under your bare feet. You run to the door, cringing as you crush more of the tiny arachnids as you try to open the door.

Only to find it locked.

For a surprise party

1. A marriage proposal. (Not recommended for people who faint easily.)
2. Anniversaries. The theme for this surprise can surround nearly any event.
3. Pets! You come home from the vet and an exciting treat -filled time awaits!
4. Business engagements. congratulate those with promotions with a doughnut celebration!
5. Success. Won a soda? Scored the winning point at the tournament? Come join the party!
6. New encounters. Just tried squid with peanut butter as you met the in laws?
7. Food. Found the missing ingredients to make your  meatloaf recipe a family favorite?
8. Finishing school. Kindergarten, high school, collage, the surprise is sure to be fun!
9. Good weather. Whether it be rain, sun, or snow, weather is a wonderful thing.
10. Spontaneous fun! (Note: some folks do not enjoy spontaneous things. Surprise with caution.)

Fears: I

You are blinded by shadows, trapped where many monsters are said to hide. Unable to find light, you cower near the floor, heart beating rapidly. A sound comes from your left, the tap of claws on stone. You turn toward the noise, only to hear it from the right. Then it intensifies, echoing throughout the room.

Left.

Right.

Above.

Everywhere.

But you see nothing.

Trapped in the dark, your mind shatters at even the slightest noise.

Imagination fills the void of ignorance, bringing forth terrors far worse then the reality.

Interesting things that happened on July 6th

1. In 1189: Richard I "the Lionheart" accedes to the English throne. 
2. In 1484: Portuguese sea captain Diogo Cão finds the mouth of the Congo River. 
3. In 1560: the Treaty of Edinburgh is signed by Scotland and England. 
4. In 1785: the dollar is unanimously chosen as the monetary unit for the United States. 
5. In 1885: Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies. 
6. In 1919: the British dirigible R34 lands in New York, completing the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by an airship.
7. In 1933: the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game is played in Chicago's Comiskey Park. The American League defeats the National League 4–2.
8. In 1947: the AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union.
9. In 1957: John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles are introduced to each other when Lennon's band the Quarrymen performs at the St. Peter's Church Hall fête in Woolton.
10. In 2006: the Nathula Pass between India and China, sealed during the Sino-Indian War, re-opens for trade after 44 years.

Fourth of July

Light, shattering the darkness.

Colors splattered across the black canvas of night.

The crackling pops and booming thunderclaps.

Hazy smoke smothering each breath.

Shrill laughter, sparks leaping from the pavement.

The celebration of a historic moment remembered through pyrotechnics.

Fireworks are grand, but are not the reason for this holiday. 
 Happy Independence Day

Things to do while camping

1. Hike though a river.
2. Practice archery.
3. Drink hot chocolate while avoiding large insects.
4. Hide in the tent during a storm and write.
5. Try not to get lost when explaining how to use a compass.
6. Watch the sun rise above a sea of trees.
7. Spend a few moments quietly enjoying nature.
8. Study any wildlife you may encounter from a safe distance.
9. Laugh with your friends in the middle of the night.
10. Enjoy a time away of electronic devices and the normal distractions of life.

Vacation in the forest

Out in the wilderness, sleeping in a tent.
Wearing a poncho whenever it gets wet.
Watching the birds sing in the trees.
Hike through water that's up to your knees!
Hoping extra socks will keep blisters from your feet.
Avoid the critters you don't want to meet.
Marching through the woods to practice navigation.
Almost forget that this is a vacation!