Ah, what a week (and a half(ish)) – nothing soothes the soul quite like a relaxing vacation surrounded by those closest to you! Although it’s never more difficult to get back into the grind of a workweek than after that very vacation….(sigh) what a vicious cycle.
Incidentally, it turns out that the southern cost of Alabama does have internet access! However, the mere availability of the interweb really ceases to be an issue when you (and I mean I) make sure to pack up your laptop to keep the masses entertained with posts from the beach but manage to leave your (and I mean my) power cord.
Thus, my absence is explained (and hopefully forgiven!).
Now, I know that this has absolutely nothing to do with the beach; sadly, it also highlights just how behind the times I really am sometimes, but I digress…
I recently came across the phenomenon that is the Six Word Story. I’m sure everyone reading this knows of what I speak, but just in case, here’s the background: Rumor/legend has it that Ernest Hemingway, in response to a bar bet to either write the shortest novel possible or to specifically write a story of only six words, depending on the source of your information, came up with what he later supposedly considered his best work: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Unlike the thousands of folks out there trying their hand at this flash fiction, as many refer to it, I easily recognize my inability to write anything even remotely comparable to Papa. I will, however, in response to a challenge of my own, summarize my all too brief beach vacation in the longest single sentence I can conjure. Failing that, I’ve posted a photo I took off my balcony, in hopes to escape any scathing comments….
After several hours of driving, the last bit of which took our groggy group through an unexpected torrential thunderstorm, the worst of which we luckily dodged by catching an early seafood dinner at a local dive, we arrived surprisingly ahead of schedule, stunned both at the sheer size of both the accommodations provided by an extremely generous aunt and of what I remembered as my small cousins; one smashed glass tabletop, one broken camera, and one hell of a bocce tournament later, not to mention some of the best food and coldest drinks imaginable, our furlough at the coast came to an end – time to start saving for next year, methinks.
111 words! What say you to that?? And, the promised picture:
Now, if someone can leave a 200 word comment, I’ll be truly impressed (insert sound of a gauntlet being thrown).
12 Comments
July 9, 2008 at 12:21 am
200 word
Smart ass.
July 9, 2008 at 2:38 am
If I knew 200 different words I would, of course, oblige – as it is your Vicarship, I am just soooooo relieved that someone of your tender years appears to be as disorganised as I am ……. [welcome home]
Disorganized indeed…I’d lose my head if it weren’t attached, as they say-
July 9, 2008 at 5:23 am
Kalafudra, who is someone, who can not resist a challenge, especially when it’s about written things and proposed on a blog she really likes to read, tried to impress the Reverend with a very long sentence, 200 words to be exact, which makes her stop for a moment to think about if 200 was a word or if she should write two hundred, to comment on his trip, which sounded really nice and very relaxing, something she could use herself, by the way, but unfortunately work and lack of money keep her rooted to the home ground, especially after she already went on three trips this year, so you don’t have to feel sorry for her, actually, but you can of course, if you want to, but what you really should feel is outrage, because Kalafudra’s mother tongue is German and it’s really easy to make very long sentences in German and she can’t shut up anyway, so she probably has an unfair advantage, which makes her think that for fairness sake she should have tried a six word story, especially since she loves them very much, her favourite, if you want to know, is probably the one by Margaret Atwood which can be found on a link she’ll give you later, especially because this sentence is much longer than 200 words now and Kalafudra really hopes she impressed the Reverend.
So. Here’s the link: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/sixwords.html
And that’s the story: Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
Quite the comment.
And a much better six word piece than I could come up with-
July 9, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Hemingway must be laughing through the galaxies (traveler that he was) over the many rumors and legends he left behind. Indeed, his personal life has become more entertaining and more researched than his works. It must really be a “gas” (like the kids used to say) to transform a single lifetime into a state of multidimensional singularity. Then again, if we were able to accomplish that we could also take a brief yet extended vacation and return with “The Sun Also Rises” included amongst our souvenirs. Welcome back, Rev.
He certainly has taken on a larger than life persona….the Johnny Appleseed of literature, perhaps? Or maybe I’m thinking of Paul Bunyan…one of those pioneers, I’m sure…
July 9, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Phew!!! I’m just glad you’re back! And you still have all your fingers & toes I presume? (Not that you’re accident prone or anything….) Great photo!!!
Me? Accident prone? Never!
July 9, 2008 at 4:24 pm
oh what a challenge to someone who does not, has never considered herself competitive. But the sound of the gauntlet being laid down so forcefully echoed loud across the pond and hit 70s land with a huge tremour.
Two hundred words? Let me see what I can do here? You didn’t mention that it has to be spelt correctly so game on!
How could you forget in 21st century living to forget a power lead .. tsk tsk that is one of the essential ‘must pack’ items?
I have not come across that particular Hemingway piece, but how interesting those few words said. Sad yet soulful.
The photo you posted is enchanting; you captured the time of day & the light so well.
Thunderstorms are not the best companion whilst driving home and I guess you have more fierce ones over there than we have but with global warming maybe we are getting on a level…. I will never forget that film ‘Twister’ and thinking ‘thank goodness I live in NW England’
but there have been reports of ‘funnels’ up here and the rain is torrential just now … my internet usually dies in such conditions. Maybe it won’t tonight?
Indeed – as my older brother pointed out to me earlier this afternoon, I neglected to lay down any guidelines whatsoever. We can safely assume that, once he regains internet access, he’ll simply post a comment detailing all his likes and dislikes in one massive list…I should have seen this coming, though, really.
“Twister” was a bit of a stretch, though parts of the US do see some pretty wild tornadoes (from time to time). Such phenomena luckily do not appear frequently here in Memphis.
July 9, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I would pull a move like that and forget my power cord. Thats why NOW I carry a giant purse that is more like a ‘carry on’ one would use on a plane.
I have seen and heard a lot about this 6 word story and a lot of people are doing it as a meme.
I just cant seem to find ONLY 6 words to describe myself.
Drives Too Fast, Shouts Too Loud, Laughs A lot (mostly at other people) Loves To Write, Hates Her Job & Drinks Too Much While Chain Smoking Cigarettes.
Any takers?
Okay, I guess I cant manage to leave a 200 word comment. But I tried!
Precisely my problem (and the difficulty in such a concise story itself). How to boil so much down to six simple words? I’ve not found the right combination quite yet…
Also, I think a man toting around a purse may gather a bit of attention around these parts…
July 9, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Glad you had a good time, and welcome home
Not gonna attempt the 200 word thing…I’m too tired to be creative today lol.
Good choice with AL by the way…the beaches of MS are beautiful, but the water is a wasteland, especially after “The Storm.” Its still unsafe to go in it but people do anyway lol.
And yet, they wonder what’s wrong with us rednecks…
Gulf Shores seems completely unaffected by “The Storm.” The construction companies must have been working double time to recover from the damage. Honestly, the place seems to be in the midst of a massive construction boom, if anything.
Thankfully, it’s still far enough off the beaten path that the beaches aren’t absolutely packed with those pesky teens…
July 9, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Your 111 words and sun photo seem to be magically connected to The Magic Square of the Sun, a Six Word Story of religion.
The magic constant is 111 in the sacred solar table.
06 - 32 - 03 - 34 – 35 – 01 = 111
07 – 11 - 27 – 28 – 08 – 30 = 111
19 – 14 – 16 – 15 – 23 – 24 = 111
18 – 20 – 22 – 21 – 17 – 13 = 111
25 – 29 – 10 – 9 – 26 – 12 = 111
36 – 05 – 33 – 4 – 2 – 31 = 111
Each row, column, and diagonal of the Magic Square add to 111.
Perhaps, the spirit of the ancient magicians possessed you during your vacation?
Very interesting…this is all new to me. It appears the Rev. has a bit of research to do in the next few days-
July 10, 2008 at 4:10 am
I don’t know, if that came across correctly – the six word story is not mine, it’s Margaret Atwood’s. Just wanted to clear that up, not that I seem to steal other people’s work.
My six word story, I think that would suck. Probably something like: Stalker’s gone. She misses him. Now?
You had a stalker? Interesting….do tell-
July 10, 2008 at 11:50 am
Smart that you are! Ha! First of all Welcome Back.
I want to write 200 words but I am busy, busy, busy. This blogging addiction has made me suffer my work so much that now I am feeling extremely guilty about it. Worked the whole day today out of guilt, and yet to complete a few more tasks. But as I promised I’ll drop in today. Here I am to wave a Hi! to you. I know abut this six word story from long time. My favourite is the one by Margaret Atwood- Longed for him. Got him. Shit.;) You must be feeling really relaxed after such a wonderful trip, I am dying for a small vacation since ages now. I religiously checked your blog on Saturday to find a signature black and white picture but you were missing. Never Mind. Gosh! Did I write 200 words? Gotta rush.
Nite Nite:)
I know, I know…I barely made it a month with the Saturday Photos and I already missed one! I’ll try to double up this weekend to make up for my laziness…
I thoroughly enjoyed Atwood’s 6 word story, as well-
July 11, 2008 at 4:57 am
Six words challenge would be easier if we were all Germans: “Konstantinopelitanisherdudelsachspfeifenmachersgesellschaft” means an organization of bagpipe-makers from Constantinople. That’s the longest I found that had really been used (source: http://www.uh.edu/engines/tlatalk.htm ), but grammatically, words can be glued together infinitely, making a six word novel a true novel.
Just for a taste: “Donaudampfschiffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerk-
bauunterbeamtengesellschaft” means association of subordinate officials of the head office management of the Danube steamboat electrical services (source: http://german.about.com/library/blwort_long.htm)