In a recent online writing class, I’d given participants two writing prompts, “open the box” and “leaving.” They had 10 minutes per prompt to write whatever came to mind. Below are Bob Bader’s responses:

“Open the Box”

Open the box of chocolates and enjoy, Sanders, creamy dark and luscious. She slowly removes the wrapping and passes the box around, pick one. A special treat on a special day. You are young or so young. Time is short or so short; but you don’t know that now. No, for now, all there is her and that box of chocolates.

Later, another lady comes with another box of chocolates, Sidney Boggs, luscious, creamy and dark. She tears the wrapping off and quickly passes the box around, pick one. You are older, much older. Time is short or so short but you don’t know that now. No, all there is her and that box of chocolates.

Now, both box of chocolates and both ladies are gone. What do I do now?

“Leaving”

She left, after 37 years she left and now I am alone. The house is dark and silent. No longer does her voice echo off the walls or remind me of things that need to be done. Now, the screen door hangs on loose hinges and creaks whenever it is open. Dishes pile in the sink and the faucet drips ceaselessly. Letters go unwritten and on the ones written before the ink slowly fades. No kisses at night nor in the morning.

I sit with the dog in my lap listening to the silent house. Slowly she and I drift off to sleep. My dreams are filled with all the people gone and situations unresolved.

I go on with half of me gone. I have not given up I just face a new reality.

Bob Bader is a retired professional engineer who designed mechanical systems for various commercial buildings, hospitals, schools, justice facilities offices etc. He is now a tutor at SLCC showing students how to solve problems in mathematics, science and engineering. It’s his opportunity to give back to the educational community that he owes so much — time to help students find themselves and to nurture their ability to learn.

Bob is a poet and has been writing poetry for over 20 years. He’s a member and officer of the Utah State Poetry Society, an organization of amateur poets affiliated with the National Poetry Society. He enjoys the company and companionship of his fellow writers and values and utilizes their input after they’ve reviewed his work.

If you’re stuck and don’t know what to write about, or how to start, I invite you to use these prompts as a jumping off point to write whatever comes to mind. Whether you like to write in an expensive journal, a cheap spiral notebook, or on a laptop, it doesn’t matter. Give yourself 10 minutes to write, without stopping or editing. You may be surprised to see what flows!

If you have an essay on aging you'd like to share with others on the blog, click here for submission info. Since I also teach “Writing Through Grief” and “Writing as a Tool to Cope with Anxiety,” if you have an essay related to these topics that you’d like to share, I’d love to read it!