Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Trifecta


This week's challenge: Using between 33 and 333 words, write a response including the third definition of the word:
NEW (adjective)

It wasn't an alarm clock that woke her. It was the sun streaming through the bedroom blinds. Her feet hit the floor and, for once, she wasn't in any particular hurry to get anywhere. 

She ran a warm, scented bath and relaxed, finally using her deep-cleansing, ultra-firming facial mask. The tube had been sitting on the side of the tub, untouched, for months. Because really, until now, when had she the luxury of 20 minutes for letting "an exclusive blend of vitamins and co-enzymes smooth away fine lines and wrinkles?"

Wrapped in her bathrobe, she settled onto the sofa to watch the fourth hour of the TODAY Show. There were Kathie Lee and Hoda, goofing and sipping boxed wine, just like the parody on SNL. She was surprised – the first half hour, from 7:00 to 7:30, was always so intense. Watching these two silly women laugh about the Kardashians was much more pleasant than the footage of wars and plane crashes and natural disasters that had begun her weekdays. She propped her fuzzy-slippered feet onto the coffee table and noticed the cardboard Hallmark crown she'd casually tossed there when she got home from yesterday's office party.

Yesterday. When she woke up yesterday, she was somebody's employee. As she had been every morning for 42 years.

This morning, she was a new retiree. She put the crown on her freshly-shampooed head, sat back and smiled. This felt gooooooood.


8 comments:

  1. First of all, I want the "exclusive blend" for fine lines. Hoda and Kathy Lee are a flippin' riot (I saw their William and Kate coverage). And aaaahhhhhhh, how nice would it feel to really retire? You captured the bliss.

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  2. Anonymous12:57 AM

    This makes retirement sound so wonderful. I'm a little bummed I have to wait for it :) Good for her for savoring her new freedom!

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  3. Great moment! Really liked this. loved the details of the bath etc.

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  4. Anonymous10:24 AM

    Exquisite description. You made it so easy to see everything. Well done.

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  5. Anonymous6:05 PM

    That sounds like the perfect start to retirement; I'm almost jealous!

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  6. so looking forward to the day when I can sit back and relax and not worry about going in to be somebody's slave. Twill be awhile, sadly.

    Well-caught!

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  7. I agree with the others--I'm ready for mine after reading this. Great job setting the scene!

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  8. Anonymous10:31 AM

    I loved the touch of the Hallmark crown and her getting to do things she has only dreamed for for all these years. Enjoy that retirement fiction lady. Sounds like you've earend it -- One Gal I saw your Q in the Trifecta comments -- Seeking Elevation is Lisa Harvey, and she is a Trifecta editor.

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