Today’s WordPress prompt:
What are three objects you couldn’t live without?
Okay, so…I have troubles with this kind of prompt because I want to ask: Does this mean everyday stuff like my phone (!) or Ticonderoga Noir Black Wood-Cased #2 Holographic pencils (the only kind I use, my students absolutely covet them, and they have to be SHARP, as I can’t bear a dull pencil, so I guess that means I can’t live without a pencil sharpener, either) or coffee or my favorite coffee mugs or my emerald green floor-length plush hooded robe or good bedroom slippers? Clearly I cannot say my granddaughters and dogs, as they are not “objects,” but I can’t live without them, for sure…although I do not have a dog at present, so I guess I am, in fact, living without one, just with a profoundly deep and raw dog-sized hole in my soul…note to those of you who remember Dennis the dachshund: He’s fine. My youngest took him when he got married last fall. Happy for my boy, but…oh, every single day, I miss that dog. Not that I don’t miss my boy. It’s different. Just saying.
And (I should have mentioned this first) there’s my study Bible, which weighs about 20 pounds, full of notes and highlighting, plus a new notebook where I am pouring out my thoughts in response to Bible reading each day, thoughts which are written as tiny as I can make them (with my SHARP pencil) and still I run out of room to record them all…words spilling all around the margins…
So. Where does this leave me with naming “three objects I can’t live without”? So easy for characters in fantasy stories and fairy tales. The “Rule of Three.” Harry Potter: The Elder Wand, the Cloak of Invisibility, the Resurrection Stone. Three Bears: Bowls of porridge, chairs, beds.
What about essentials? Food, water, shelter…sounds like an unimaginative student response, right? These are givens. These defeat the purpose of the prompt.
All right. Enough mind-racing. Here goes.
I cannot live without:
My phone. First and foremost, for the connection to my children, then for the Internet because of my insatiable curiosity, and even for the Bible, as I can access the same study version as my printed 20-pounder, plus a wealth of cross-references, commentaries, and the meanings of words in the original languages. I can access pretty much anything I want to read on my phone, although I still love actual books best. If I have to choose just three objects I can’t live without, my phone is a pretty high-yield choice. Not to mention the camera (again, granddaughters) or the Notes app. Priceless for my compulsive list-making. I wanted to say I can’t live without my laptop, as it’s hard to do much “real” writing on my phone…but between the two, the phone wins out. And, if you hadn’t already: Please note the absence of the words “social media.”
My glasses. Not a fun choice but it’s the truth. My eyes are getting so much worse, y’all. Just got a new prescription and need to pick out frames in the next couple of days. As in ASAP. Not being able to read is a personal and professional complication of epic proportions…not being able to see is generally an isssue for ordinary daily life (-what truck? Oh-)…not to mention negating choice #1, my phone. You really do not want to know how big a font I am using to type this right now.
Birds. Is it cheating to include living things here? I mean, I didn’t say “dogs” (gasp!) and birds ARE a thing, a noun, as is an object, defined as “a material thing that can be seen and touched,” for let’s face it, birds CAN be seen and touched. They will even sit on your finger. The real truth: I couldn’t live in a world without birds. There are tons of ecological reasons, of course, but for me it’s a matter of the spirit. I am awed by birds: the power of flight, the songs, the behaviors that are anything but random, their nest-making artistry, how they know so much and observe so much…birds have often been a balm to my world-weary, aching soul. In recent weeks, when I was particularly discouraged, I saw bald eagles. Several times. This is rare. I could hardly believe it. Could hardly breathe. And then I cried. But strength flooded my veins. Soon the hummingbirds will return, looking for their feeder; they will hover at the bay window, peering in, somewhat imperiously, until I put the feeder out. The house finches have returned to the front porch but they don’t like the wreath on the door; it’s not my usual grapevine, as my husband said to NOT let the birds nest there again. He’s tired of not using the porch all spring and summer while the precious, prolific finches raise several broods. But the current pair keeps coming to check things out. They want so badly, so very badly, to nest here. They see me peeking through the blinds and return my gaze in puzzlement: Where’s the good wreath?! We shall see what they do…meanwhile, the finch song is the purest, sweetest music I have ever heard. Almost otherwordly. Ethereal. Vibrant. So full of hope and joy. How can I not welcome it? How can I not do my bit to bring more finch-song ino the world?
There you have it, friends. My three objects.
Although I still need a dog.
*******
with thanks to Two Writing Teachers for the annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge.
This is my ninth year participating alongside fellow teacher-writers.
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lit bits and pieces 
Really enjoy the personal voice shining through in this piece of writing! I loved the break down on what classifies as 3 objects and the Harry Potter reference!
From one fellow bird lover to another I agree that they make the world a better place.
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Thank you, and it is fun to know we are kindred spirits re: Harry Potter and birds! My room at school is decorated with a Diagon Alley backdrop and lots of memorabilia. Kids love it!
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The best part about this slice was hearing how you went about choosing your objects. I so enjoyed hearing about your bathrobe and your love for a good coffee mug! Your top 3 things were great too 🙂
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Thank you for this thoughtful response – I do rely on coffee for sure, and that robe is so very cozy!
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I like your choices, Fran, but even more, I like the explanations. I’ll have to think about my three. If we’re allowing “birds” then the sky’s the limit. I think I need more strict boundaries.
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I think I am often a boundary-needer myself, Peter!
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Fran, these are amazing choices and such fitting explanations about why you need these in your life. Connection is the common thread – – to self, to others, to God. I love that the three things are reaching outward through everything sense. I can help you find a dog. It’s my superpower.
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I love how you see these connections as the common thread, Kim. You’re right about them. I have NO DOUBT that finding a dog is your superpower!! One of your many superpowers, actually! Here’s the problem: I am at work most every day and The Husband is home, so he would be tending the dog at first (correction: Puppy. I know. Yikes.). The Husband’s health has had some ups and downs, and just now he’s feeling pretty good. So… we shall see… I am trying to be patient.
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Fran, your reflections show so much about what’s important to you. I think you did a fantastic job of selecting three very important things you’d want to keep in your life. I had to laugh at Kim’s response. I bet she can find you a dog!
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Aww, thanks Barb! I so appreciate your thoughtful words. I know Kim is totally serious. Here’s the problem: I am at work most every day and The Husband is home, so he would be tending the dog at first (correction: Puppy. I know. Yikes.). The Husband’s health has had some ups and downs, and just now he’s feeling pretty good. So… we shall see… I am trying to be patient.
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Fran, this is a great prompt and a difficult choice to make. I liked all of your rationalizations before you listed your three choices. One thing I couldn’t live without would be my car. Living where we do, there is no public transportation.
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The way life has changed in the world it seems that living without a phone is impossible. And at certain age the reading glasses also become necessity. The birds however, people hardly ever think about, but life without them we can’t even imagine. You write beautifully about them.
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oooohh but you are so right about a good, sharp pencil!! Hard to come by.
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This would be so hard to do. “Where’s the good wreath?” made me laugh! Your humor in this piece is spot on!
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Such a delight to pop by and read your post! I love how you worked all those other things into your introductory paragraph. Of course, birds would be on your list, “…birds have often been a balm to my world-weary, aching soul.” And your bird posts are exactly that for me.
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My favorite number of import! And now you have me wondering…mine would be phone, car, and glasses. Much for the same reasons you cited; I have family flung far and wide, including my daughter and her husband, so the phone and car are necessary…and the car can’t be driven without the glasses (or contacts). Our lists are not that exciting at this age, ha!
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Ha – truth, Chris, about the choices not being so exciting at this our age! We’re all about practicality now, are we not?
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The power of three is all around us! This is a great idea for a slice and has me thinking about what three objects I cannot live without in my own life. Here, I look for three birds to mark the arrival of spring: the red-winged black bird, the hummingbird, and the turkey vulture. When those three are here, I know spring has finally arrived.
Thank you for sharing this with us today!
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The power of three is all around us! This is a great idea for a slice and has me thinking about what three objects I cannot live without in my own life. Here, I look for three birds to mark the arrival of spring: the red-winged black bird, the hummingbird, and the turkey vulture. When those three are here, I know spring has finally arrived.
Thank you for sharing this with us today!
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Thank you, Darin! I am envisioning each bird you mention here. Each captivates me in their unique ways. I always have hummingbirds at my feeders here in spring and summer – they are such enchanting, fierce little things! – and I have to say that the vultures are also compelling. Reminds me that I have a buzzard photo I could share. Again, thank you for your words.
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When you have the opportunity, I’d love to see that picture! 🙂
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I love your three choices and the debated reasons behind each decision! So much detail and careful thought goes into all your slices. I can agree with all your choices. I am sorry to hear you are ‘dogless’. You could try a rescue dog perhaps? I sigh over the finches pining for their wreath. We don’t have many sweet songbirds here, so their singing must be wonderful.
PS. Those pencils sound amazing. I’ve never heard of them before. I always used to love writing in pencil!
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I will try to record the finch song for you, Celia. They are skittish, so I doubt getting a video. I did capture the cry of a hawk, which I share in the next post! I always prefer writing in pencil and these have kind of become my trademark at school. Thank you as always for your words about my writing.
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