Red, Black and Blue

By Jen Selinsky

"Red, Black, and Blue" contains new short stories poem, musings, and nonfiction pieces written during a time when the author was most inspired.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jen Selinsky
• Release date: Jan 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370408665

Jen Selinsky

Jen Selinsky was born in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2003, she earned her bachelor's degree in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. In 2004, she earned her master's degree in library science from the same school. Jen has worked as a professional librarian for over twelve years. She has published more than 170 books, most of which contain poetry. Her work can be found on the following sites: Lulu, Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes & Noble/Nook, Smashwords, and Pen It! Publications. She has also been featured in publications such as: The Courier Journal, Explorer Magazine, Liphar Magazine, and Indiana Libraries. Jen lives in Sellersburg, IN with her husband.

Book preview

Red, Black, and Blue

Jen Selinsky

Lunch with a Colleague, Touché, The Wedding Ring, and Sym-Pathetic are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by Jen Selinsky

All rights reserved by the author. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher and/or author.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Art Copyright © 2016 by Jen Selinsky

ISBN: 9781370408665

*Not every work included in this book is dated in chronological order. This is not an oversight on my part. Rather, I have made changes and substitutions.

-J.L.S.

‘Thank God’ should not be just some general expression. It should literally be all of us expressing our gratitude to our loving Lord!

4/6/16

I must keep in mind that the only way to properly move is to move forward. There are so many things which can get in one’s way of happiness, trivializing its great importance in someone’s life. Too much of that seems to be happening today. There are many examples I could illustrate, but the one which comes to mind most often makes my spine want to crawl out of my mouth in a large stream of vomit. This gross metaphor may make it seem like I am exaggerating, but I am not. Sadly, it is a situation where happiness does not reign. I feel that I am not moving forward, but it sucks me back into its deadly pool. That’s how exasperated it can make me feel, but the only way which I could ever excel is by moving forward. The same is true for anyone who wishes to advance further and make something of his or her life. Backpedaling is not the best option unless it’s absolutely necessary. I would not make a habit of it unless there is something which has to be taken care of most immediately. Any progress to be made is much more important as a means of feeling accomplished. Happiness also has to be unearthed sometimes, but one needs to bury the bones of the past before making the all-important step to reach higher ground. Words such as these can come from most anyone who is willing to give advice, even those who do not even feel that they are qualified. It’s most important to listen to a trusted person in this manner because of the importance of the issue at hand. We must remind ourselves of the good things which can come when we make that first, starting movement to the place which calls our names all because we refused to give up on ourselves in the midst of confusion and contemplation. It is a great moment of victory, but we must not allow a stalemate, for obvious reasons. The clearing of one’s mind of toxic and negative thoughts is completely essential and should be completed before embarking upon such a great and important journey. One’s mind needs to be cleared in order to effectively take the ever-so-important first step to moving forward with happiness rich and abundant.

4/19/16

Inconveniences start as soon as the

Body doesn’t want to be awakened,

Especially after the sleep it

So desperately craves. What are

These slaves to the big and little

Heads which like to carry us away

From our happy homes and out

Into the smog and soot! I’d like

To give it all the boot, if only

I had effective means.

Inconveniences like to make their

Mark on another day.

4/19/16

Oh, if only I could easily

Record all the thoughts

As they exit my brain.

How could I find a way?

Someone in the likeness of

My being may have had the

Same urges—I shouldn’t say

May have because that’s

An absolute given!

No one knows it better than

The first one who gave it

A try, and it seems that the

Same frustration has

Been implanted more

Generation by generation.

Technology smaller than the

Palms of our hands, and the

Appendages move to keep

The mind lubricated so that

It may continue to think

The thoughts which both

Astound and confound us.

[There’s] nothing to do but

Smile and shrug while

Moving the other way.

Things have certainly

Not changed as I sit here,

Pedaling pen in hand.

4/19/16

I feel foolish having forgotten to call in our order at Cheddar’s. I forgot to ask to see a phone book at the library, and the bookstore did not have one. So I walked into Cheddar’s and headed to the