What’s Missing
Weeds & Wildflowers January Writing Prompt
I’ll tell you what’s not missing on this first day of 2022 — happy dogs and a colorful bird! Thank you, Susan Alison, for providing artwork for our January Weeds & Wildflowers banner. The snow in your painting pays homage to winter, while the robin reminds us that spring is on its way.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot And days of auld lang syne?
Most of us know at least the first verse of the traditional New Year’s Eve song, Auld Lang Syne. How many times have you belted out the lyrics when the clock hit midnight on 12/31?
Those lyrics encourage us to remember old acquaintances. Why are they “old”? Perhaps deceased or moved away or simply, out of contact.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the “missing” — not just people but places, businesses, experiences. Covid has robbed us of so much.
Many of us know those who met early deaths because of this angry virus or those who survived but are missing good health, plagued with the long-term effects of Covid. Some of us lost jobs or had our careers and educations put on hold. Many have narrowed their worlds to home and a few necessary stores and offices, choosing not to risk infection by traveling, staying in hotels, and eating in restaurants. Our families are missing because we can’t travel and gather. Our towns and cities have lost businesses, mostly locally-owned ones, leaving our streets with shuttered storefronts.
During a recent visit to our downtown area, I was shocked to see how many local businesses are gone. Their spaces aren’t empty because Big Business swooped in quickly to build soul-less monstrosities. The character and personality of our city are missing, erased by corporate America.
I missed the birth of a grandchild and have yet to meet her. I miss my other grandchildren and my daughter. I miss entertaining in our home. I miss going to our favorite getaway town for R&R. I miss eating out and going to concerts, movies, and plays. I miss our annual trips to New Jersey and New York City. I miss knowing I could go to all those places if I had the money and the time. So much is off-limits and out-of-reach.
Yes, I know, this prompt reeks of sadness but that’s not my intent. I want us to pay tribute to what is missing due to the pandemic. Let’s remember the auld acquaintances and why their absences leave holes in our hearts.
I believe we are in some phase of recovery right now, taking tiny steps forward to what we hope will someday be something akin to normalcy. I also believe that to rebuild — be it relationships, places, businesses, careers, experiences — we need to know what was left behind.
The second part of this prompt can be how you have or how you plan to fill the hole of what’s missing. It takes creativity and originality to replace something beloved with something shiny and new.
So, as we glide into 2022, tell us what you’re missing.
Thank you to all who responded to the December prompt, A Special Gift.
When responding to a W&W prompt, please make one of your tags Writing Prompt Response.
Happy New Year, Weeds & Wildflowers 💚
Wishing each of you a 2022 that fills the holes in your hearts,
