Hiking, Basking, Remembering, & Voting!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Fiction Short Stories, Nominations & Awards, Photos, Poetry

If you’ve followed my story, you know that I’ve been dealing with health changes in the last year. And so, the trials commenced figuring out how to manage the pain while maintaining some sense of normalcy in my daily routines. In the beginning, I couldn’t walk long distances. I felt like this basic activity was taken away from me, which was tough to accept. I missed hiking. Well, in February, I had an epidural in my lower back (recommended treatment). Talk about miracles! So, recently, I went on ‘my first hike in the last year’ with my husband. I was able to hike at a moderate clip, and it felt so good to be on the trail again! We went to one of our favorite places, Deer Park, and of course, I had to take photos to document this incredible day where I hiked two miles without pain! I hope you enjoy the pics, and is there ever a time when Nature doesn’t inspire poetry? I don’t think so! These poems are written in Shadorma form!

Forest

Is it so
that some believe the
forest is
not alive?
We are all living creatures
communicating.

Fascination

Standing tall
with architecture
to showcase,
passersby
drop jaws in fascination –
one of nature’s gifts.

California Bay

Swinging

Stretch the legs
pump with all our might
back and forth
swinging high
while California Bay peeks
with utter delight

Smile
A new friend

Picnic Table memories

Two buddies
slightly underaged
ignore signs
(no malice)
they chug beer and chew the fat,
officer stops by.

On the trail again!

Trees

A network
of fungi grows deep
in the roots,
Wood Wide Web
is the label given for
interconnection.

Thank you for joining us on this memorable hike! I’m still doing well, and it’s good to feel good!

Lastly, today is the final day to vote for Nomination of the Month at Spillwords Press! If you missed it, here is my prior post. “Resilience is Her Saving Grace” is my first fiction short story to be published at Spillwords, so this nomination really means a lot, but especially for the vital message it conveys regarding abusive relationships. I am including the story below if you haven’t read it.

Resilience is Her Saving Grace

The tempest held its vigil on the horizon but continued to fool her. Devotion in his eyes mesmerized her whole being, awakened every pulse in her body. Eyes that spoke the language of love where their future glowed like an apricot dawn. She bestowed her heart permission to be swept into his pools of blue…

And yet, every day she anticipates the sting from his hand – the palm or back, makes no difference. The sting smarts like hell, but her heart secures the brunt of the damage. The slaps begin early each morning if she doesn’t move fast enough to appease his caffeine demands. And it’s ironic that he chose ‘chalet’ for his cell alarm because the calming tone contrasts to his horrific demeanor. After he walks through the front door following a day’s work, if she so much as smiles unknowingly to his disliking, his hand finds her cheek, and she feels the strike of skin even before impact. 5 p.m. on the mantel clock makes her heart pound as though trying to make a getaway.

The house that once was a home mirrors a prison. Cameras keep their eyes on her as he watches from his downtown office. Claustrophobia slithers down her spine. She struggles to quell the panic attacks. And her cell is meant only to reach him or to answer his calls. He tracks her like a wild animal. The ring on her finger stole all contact from the outside world – lost like a loved one’s passing. Grieving has no end, but she doesn’t dare misbehave because the pain is relentless.

She recalls the beautiful moments when his hands would send tingles from her neck down the map of her body. What did I do wrong? consumed her every thought when he transformed from loving husband to beast. Thoughts that became so tangled, she couldn’t ruminate until the truth stared her in the face. Her cheeks grew hot like asphalt in August from the realization that the monster had always existed.

Before the perfect couple whispered those two celebrated words on that breezy afternoon, signifying “You are my forever person,” he wore charm impeccably like a well-pressed dress shirt – his kisses intoxicating as jasmine, gentle like summer rain – respect enfolded in each embrace. Then donning satin and lace, the solitaire sparkled like her heart and soul, but true personas can take cover behind convincing eyes and smiles.

How could she have missed the signs? She ponders over and over.

Time – revelations, decisions, and strategies always take time. Her defense, submission, though she loathes appearing weak, and the agony tests her strength. But the path will wend its way, leading her to a door for a fresh start, caressing her bruised face and her body, his punching bag.

Gazing out the window, she watches courage whirl among the cottony clouds. Around the corner, freedom waits with intensity, as though motioning for her to come closer, excited for her new, safe beginning. She witnesses a glimpse of hope in the pink daisy pushing through the crack in the sidewalk.

But biding her time means life, and staying alive is her objective. She must bleed toughly. Resilience is her saving grace and not meant to be scattered on the floor, anymore.
She must be smart to be free.

© Lauren Scott

If you haven’t voted yet, I’m asking for your support, and here is the link to cast your vote: https://spillwords.com/vote/

Thank you again to Dagmara and her team at Spillwords for allowing my writing to reach so many readers. I am grateful beyond words! Not to mention, standing beside the other fabulous nominees!
And a Huge Thanks to you who have already voted! Your support means the world to me!

Thanks so much for stopping by my neck of the woods, and I hope you enjoyed the beauty of nature, along with the significance of perseverance!

Love and hugs,
Lauren ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Voting & Spillwords images courtesy of Spillwords Press.

111 thoughts on “Hiking, Basking, Remembering, & Voting!”

  1. Wonderful to hear you are responding well to the injection and back hiking, Lauren. I miss my long hikes but life takes us where we need to go. LOVE your wonderful poems and pictures in nature and life’s interconnection to every living thing. All the best on your nomination, you are rocking it💗

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your wonderful comment, Cindy! I don’t know how long the epidural will last, but I’m taking advantage of feeling good! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pics and poems, and I appreciate your good wishes for the nomination! Hugs 🩷🌷

      Reply

  6. Nature poems. I love each and every one of them. Nature poems are the best kind of poems.

    I noticed you had mentioned that you had an epidural for your back pain. I suffer with chronic back pain due having degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. I’ve seriously considered getting an epidural because I haven’t found anyone who has had success with it, up until now. Not to get personal but how long have you been pain free after the epidural?

    I’m asking because I’ve been wanting to try it out. I’ve also been thinking of trying corticosteroid shots in my back. Everything I’ve tried in the past for my back pain has failed. I’ve spent years in PT, which never helped, I had nerve ablation surgery, which failed. I’ve taken pain medication, after pain medication but it only takes the edge off. I’ve tried stretches, heating pads, and epson salt baths. But all these are just temporary. At this point, I’m desperate. I need a permanent solution.

    I’m sick and tired of being useless. My back pain is so bad, it affects every aspect of my daily life. I want to be able to go on walks again and go back to the YMCA, be social again with my family and friends without having to suffer in agonizing pain.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much for your kind words, and I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling with back pain. My diagnosis is spinal stenosis and the pain was on my left side (leg, thigh, hip), so the shot was in my lower back a little to the left. It took 3 weeks to kick in (the average is 2), but after that, I felt much better or normal for me. The epidural is what my specialist recommended with surgery being the last resort. My case doesn’t warrant surgery though and I pray it never does. So, I would ask your doctor about an epidural. They work differently for everyone, and I don’t know how long it will last, but it’s been a great 3 months so far, so I’m running with it! I wish you all the best so you can live pain-free too. Hugs! ❤️

      Reply

  7. I absolutely loved your photos and poems about the forest. I’m stuck in a stuffy office today (temporarily) so it was a great breather. Your story — what a crazy juxtaposition from your hike, but definitely needs to be said and published. Congratulations on the nomination. Hope you win. Finally, you have such a great attitude about your health. I would be a mess. Good to hear that you’re getting around better!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Brian! Your words are so encouraging! And I’m glad my photos and poems could ‘take you away’ for a little bit from the stuffy office. 🙂 I know, what a crazy contrast from the forest to the story of abuse. I’ve seen a few movies on this topic and became inspired to write about it. I also appreciate your good wishes, and dare I say that I hope so too? 🙂 Ahh, attitude is everything, and believe me, I had my messy moments when I succumbed to a pity party. But I always persevered to remember the silver lining: I can still walk and function and live life, but with modifications and treatment. Such is life! We all struggle with something, but a positive attitude and hope will help carry us through those messy moments. Thanks again, Brian! 🤗

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Elizabeth! It was enlightening to be able to hike again. No more backpacking though because carrying weight on the back isn’t good for the stenosis, but the memories will sustain me. 🙂 I’m happy you enjoyed the pics! 💞

      Reply
  12. D.L. Finn, Author

    Yay for pain-free hiking, Lauren! I understand the frustration of pain holding back exploring nature. I did vote for you. Good luck. Xo

    Reply

    1. Yes, Yay, for sure, Denise! That shot really was a miracle! Believe me, I had my moments when it was depressing to think that the pain will prevent me from doing the things I love. But I’m grateful that the epidural worked. I don’t know for how long, but so far, 3 months, and I’m moving forward! Oh, thanks so much for your vote! I really appreciate it! 💝🙏

      Reply

  13. Ah, my dearest Lauren, I’m so very happy to hear you enjoyed your ‘first’ hike without pain and what an inspiration! Wonderful poems and photos!
    Love and many hugs! xoxoxoxoxo

    Reply

  14. Hello Lauren so glad you could go hiking again with your husband, as I know you enjoy it a lot. And it gives us the chance to discover nice places too! A real treat.

    As for the short story, very intense. I can’t agree more with the last line “She must be smart to be free.” So true when life is turning into a nightmare.

    Sending you love and peace.

    xoxo

    Reply

    1. Hi Marie,

      Thanks for your kind words, and I’m glad you enjoyed the photos too. The story is different from what I normally write, but I felt inspired after watching a couple movies on the topic. The visual is scarier. Sending you lots of love and peace, my friend. 🩷🌷

      Reply

    1. Walking is good, but when I had the pain, walking aggravates the spinal stenosis. So that’s when I began cycling. 🙂 But I’m happy to be able to hike now until things change again or I need another shot. Thanks, Ian, I’m glad you enjoyed my poems! Any kind of movement is good!

      Reply

      1. I think you can only take those shots a total of three times a year and not good long term. My doc also says surgical procedures are a very high risk and should only be an option in exceptional circumstances as you could end up paralyzed. I had a Canadian logger friend who took the surgery option and lives to regret it today.

  24. Your Shadorma are fascinating. So very good. But what I love most is that you are on the trail again. Leaving your footprints. And living. Fascinating is what you are. Thanks for sharing your gifts. You are a miracle. Bless you. May the healing continue. 🤗

    Reply

    1. Selma, you’re so sweet! Yes, living and leaving my footprints and it feels great! But the diagnosis is what it is. It will progress and won’t get better. So I’m grateful for a treatment that works. One day at a time. Thanks for your lovely words, dear friend. ❤️❤️

      Reply

  27. So glad to hear you’re able to get back on the trail free of pain! What a cool update this is. Your photos are fantastic and the poetry is sublime. You must have been inspired on a whole different level that day, Lauren. Brilliant stuff. Here’s wishing you more pain-free days and many more miles on the trails (bring your camera and notebook!). 😊

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Mike, for your wonderful words and wishes! The experience was enlightening for me, and the words for the poems came to mind so easily. I’m glad you enjoyed them, along with the photos! I will never have enough pics of anything relating to nature. And we always manage a selfie. 🙂 Thanks again, my friend. 🤗

      Reply

  28. What a beautiful post, Lauren. I love your wonderful display of photos and your lovely poems. I am so glad you are feeling good and hiking again. 💕

    Reply

  29. Excellent Lauren that you were pain-free for that wonderful hike you took us on .. Loved your poetry as you walked through the trees … May you continue to be pain-free and enJOY many, many more such walks and Hikes Lauren… LOVED the photo of you and your hubby.. I very Happy joyous photo.
    Much love to you both.. ❤ xx ❤ Oh and good luck with the voting… I did go to the site, but it means me joining etc… and I really have joined enough things I never use… But I am Willing you to Win.. xx ❤

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much for your wonderful words of love and support, Sue! I’m so happy that you loved the poems and the photos. I can’t resist a selfie of us. LOL And thanks for trying to vote. That’s the tricky part of having to create an account. For those who already have one, it’s simpler, but I understand how you feel. I appreciate you Willing me to win! Fingers crossed! Lots of love to you, my friend. xoxoxo ❤️🌹

      Reply

  32. Your poems about the trees are lovely, Lauren. They show so much respect and love for nature.

    As for your story I seem to be late in voting but then again usually as someone from Quebec I am not legible to vote. Something about the story has to be in both languages.

    Although your story is a sad one it is unfortunately a reflection of many women’s reality. I witnessed so much of this tragedy associated with conjugal violence while I was working with victims in shelters.

    I admire the poetry of your opening paragraph. ❤

    Happy to hear that you are out and about!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Carol, for such a heartfelt comment. I’m so glad you loved the poems about the trees. I became instantly inspired! No worries about voting, but like you said, you may not have been able to anyway. As to the story, I wrote it after watching a couple of movies on this topic. I felt inspired to write, but I also wanted to end ‘her’ story with hope. I can’t imagine what you witnessed when you worked with victims in shelters. Let me say, the movies are more terrifying because of the visual element. And I love that you admired the opening paragraph. Fiction is still out of my comfort zone, but I love dabbling. Thanks also for your wishes with me hiking again. 💖

      Reply

  33. Yay!

    Plain ol’ yay! I love that you got out hiking. The pics are great, and the poems greater.

    OMG! I go away for 4 days and miss voting. I’m all signed up to vote at Spillwords.

    Not the first time I missed a vote, but have not missed them all.

    Okay! Hope you win, anyway!

    ox🌹❦🌹ox

    (ps) doing water colour flowers. So far, so good. Still, every time I wash the paper, I have to blot it with heavy books, sometimes over night. Sure beats the paper curling and warping though!

    Reply

      1. You are so fabulous!
        No wonder you make me feel like drawing.
        I’ve been working on the flower limerick.
        It’s producing an image … not what I thought at first.
        I should start taking pics of it as I go along now. As I’m using paint… anything can happen. (good or bad).
        Okay!
        xo❦🌹❦xo

      2. And you are just as fabulous and way too kind. If my head gets any bigger, I’ll have to renovate for bigger doorways! 😂😂😂 Seriously though, I’m happy to inspire and can’t wait to see your awesome talent! It would be fun to do a collaboration post! Have fun and Happy June too! 🩷🦋🩷🦋🩷

  34. That’s great that the treatment worked so well, and that you’re able to hike again. Hopefully you’ll be soon back to doing even longer trips.

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  35. How wonderful that you and your husband were able to go on a hike! You look like you are really enjoying yourself, Lauren… I’m happy for you and hope the success of the treatment is a sign of a gradual return to more of the activities that bring you joy in nature. ☀️ The delight comes out in your verses… and “Wood Wide Web” – that’s so clever, and so accurate given what we know about how trees are in communication with their community. I sort of feel for the young men and their poor timing. 😉

    Reply

      2. My pleasure, Lauren. I was a few days behind on my reading and wasn’t aware of the timeline and outcome. Wonderful to be nominated and, more importantly, feeling well enough to be hiking! 💪🏼☀️😎

    2. Thanks for your wonderful words, Steve! We went out again yesterday morning, so it’s all about one day at a time. I also loved “Wood Wide Web” when I read it online. Trees are fascinating, aren’t they? Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I’m behind on reading again, so will visit you later today. Sigh. 🤗

      Reply

  36. It is so lovely to hear that you are feeling better and the treatment worked. Love trailing along with you and hubby on the hike. Absolutely stunning trees, I especially like the poem about how all things are communicating. I so believe that. Hugs, C

    Reply

    1. Thanks for stopping by and joining us on the trail, Cheryl. Your kind words are appreciated, and we went for another 2-mile hike yesterday. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to before the next injection, but one day at a time. I’m glad you enjoyed the pics and poems. Love and hugs! xo

      Reply

  38. Hi Lauren. Your poetry is lovely. I’m so glad the injection is helping you and you got to take in a hike and some creativity. Your story was haunting and well told. Good luck for the win! You deserve it. Hugs ❤

    Reply

    1. Hi Debby, thank you so much about the poetry, and I’m thankful the injection made a difference. I’ll have to see how long it lasts. I’m glad I got some hikes in too. We’ve done 3 so far and I hope for more if the weather doesn’t heat up too much in the morning. As to the win, I didn’t win. 🙂 I’m happy for Barbara who did though and I loved her poem. I was just grateful to be nominated and I’m glad you liked the story despite the topic. Hugs to you! xo

      Reply

      1. Hi Lauren. Yes! Congrats on the nomination, that counts! I do hope you continue to be able to hike and also take on those injections when necessary. Be well and hugs back. ❤

  40. Having lived with a dodgy back for a long time, I can appreciate the relief you’ve expressed. I’m glad you responded well to the treatment. These photos are lovely btw That shirt piece for Spillwords resonates with me. So much happens behind closed doors once the guests have gone and the wedding vows are a distant memory. Good luck with the nomination. 🤗

    Reply

    1. Hi Nigel, thanks for your wonderful comment! I’m glad about the treatment too, but I’m sorry to hear you’ve dealt with a bad back also. This is all new for me, and something that will be with me from now on. So it’s still daunting, but it could be worse. Thank you about my story too, but it didn’t win. 🙂 I’m happy for Barbara who won though because she’s a great writer and I loved her poem. The nomination was a true honor. Thanks again, and have a wonderful day! ❤️

      Reply

      1. Commiserations on the story. Yes Barbara is a wonderful poet. It is truly just an honor to be nominated on Spillwords. The voting process can be a bit hit or miss, so I tend not to place too much emphasis on it. I was in the running in Feb, and the actual winner Mike U was and is so deserving. I’ll be praying about your back. I’ve been doing a lot of Dr. McGills’ exercises on mornings to assist with strengthening and it has worked for.the most part.

      2. Thanks again, Nigel, and I agree about Barbara. Yes, the voting process is hit and miss because of needing to sign in. That hinders many. 🙂 I won Author of the Month last May, so I’m happy! I also agree about Mike. His writing is stunning to say the least. I’ve lost online time this week, but I look forward to catching up on your site over the weekend. And there’s always another try with SW. 🙂 I’m not familiar with Dr. McGills, so I will do some Googling. Thank you for your prayers and suggestions. Take care too, and I appreciate your visits and comments. ❤️

      3. You’re welcome Lauren. Let me know if you find any success with De.. McGills’ big three. It has been helpful to me. I no longer take any pain killers. But if course, follow whatever your physician recommends. Mc Gill is the foremost authority on spinal injuries. So he quite good.

I appreciate your thoughts!