Elizabeth Berndt's BlogSpot

 Synopsis:  A cyberpunk tale told from the POV of Rue Ellen Reeve, who is in hospice with incurable neuroblastoma.     ‘Two roads diverged in a wood And I—I took the road less travelled by And that has made all the difference.’—from the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost  Chapter 1—Only So Much a Woman Can Aspire To Many scholars debate the meaning of Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken.   I ascribe to the ‘regret’ the poem speaks of.   Granted, in my multitude of years in the 27th century seeing the rise and fall of myriads of elements, situations, people, places and things, I have witnessed paradigm shifts and the pendulum swinging for the better or the worst of humanity.     Lots of youngsters say, ‘Rue Ellen, what was it like back in the 1990’s ?   Is it neon glory, spandex, fanny packs and stirrup pants ?’, to which I respond,  ‘Yes, that, and fantastic television.   Lots of ‘Don’t Do Drugs’ PSAs and the comforting face of our commander-in-chief, Regan, a preside

  Synopsis:   A horror story surrounding a weird bite on the heel.    It begins looking unusual, pulsating, throbbing, and the victim begins having a chorus of unearthly voices pleading to be scratched.                   ‘God help the beast in me.’—some lyrics from The Beast in Me as sung by Johnny Cash   Chapter 1—Just A Hike                   The skies were clear, azure, and bright.    Above, the sun beamed cheerily as I walked down one of my favorite paths, contemplating the nature of many human mysteries.    Some of these questions I had rumbling in my brain no philosopher, scientist, or any learned mind would conclude in their lifetime, but the inquiries themselves were savory tidbits for my brain to mull this early in the morning.                 The birds were singing merrily in the trees while scurrying squirrels gathered acorns for the oncoming winter.    Even I could feel it in my barometric knee.    It wasn’t so much arthritis but a change in the weather that c

  The seasons change My heart is still Until the leaves loose chlorophyll My awe inspired My eyes beguiled Once again, I am a child The colors don’t appear until The wind comes whistling, the ground is chilled Here and there, speckling the land Sugar maples, glorious and grand Yellow, orange, purple and red Prepare the peeper for winter ahead Not so much a sad goodbye For beauty still beheld in the Artist’s eyes Out of all, I take the autumn view A view so glorious I’m biased to For such a view ne’er grows old With such vibrance, colors so bold I’ll always take the autumn view For it always holds shades so true.   10-30-22        

  Synopsis:   Ricky Spumoni and his younger brother have inherited Paulo’s Pizza, an Italian eatery and treatery known for a century plus of excellence.    When they bring their girlfriends to the parlor for a date, they find a secret entrance that leads to a room Grandpa Paulo’s own father Stephano once owned.    Apparently, Paulo never left and he holds game nights for his friends as well as a roller rink for the kiddos.     ~*~CAST~*~ Paulo Spumoni—deceased Grace Spumoni—grandma Clarita Spumoni—mom Luigi Spumoni—dad Richard ‘Ricky’ Spumoni—eldest Franklin ‘Frankie’ Spumoni—youngest June Eliza Spumoni—to be born Stoopy Joe—a tall ghost Fat Tuesday—a fat ghost Ollie—a skinny ghost Matilda—a knitting ghost   Chapter 1—What Wasn’t Listed in the Will                 Ricky and Frankie were inseparable even though months separated their dates of birth.    Ricky was always the outgoing, boisterous, likeable type, while his brother Frankie was more subdued, lo