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    • Lagoon Blues

      Posted at 9:53 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on June 27, 2021
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      Tara drug the small rubber dinghy from the surf onto the sand and turned to the ocean behind her just in time to catch the final glimpse of her beloved sailboat’s mast as it sunk.

      Single-handing is risky, even for an experienced sailor such as Tara. Safety was always her top priority and she had double-checked the paper and electronic charts before venturing slowly into the island’s cove to take shelter from the storm closing in on her stern. Nothing prepared her for the loud crunch and sudden hard stop when her keel struck the reef. She was thrown forward, hitting her head and wrenching an ankle, but quickly gathered her wits and assessed the situation. Water was gushing into the cabin below, faster than the automatic bilge pump could empty. She grabbed the hand-held radio, ditch bag with her important documents and a few precious mementos, and went on deck to deploy the life raft. With one last glance at her home of over a decade, she abandoned ship.

      Posted in Random Topics | 1 Comment | Tagged FlashLitChallenge, LivingTheDream, SailingWriter, ShortStory, VivoOSonho, Writing Sailor
    • Feathered Friends

      Posted at 7:44 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on June 16, 2021

      “Feathers? Seriously, Amy, this get-up is too much.”

      Dora eyed her friend’s outfit. Amy was known for her flamboyant get-ups, but this one was over the top. Turquoise feathers were attached to a sheer body suit, strategically covering her private bits. Barely.

      “Really?” Amy answered, “It took me days to create. I’m wearing it.”

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 192755820_10222184176966376_5017448503756613783_n-1-edited.jpg

      “Well, you better wear a coat or they won’t let you in. You’re practically naked.”

      “I look fabulous! You’re such a prude, Dora. Why don’t you let me do your make-up tonite?”

      “Fine. Just don’t make me look like a clown. I’m a firm believer in ‘less is more.’ “

      Despite Dora’s predictions, the girls had no problem getting into the night club. And as expected, all eyes were riveted on Amy as they made their way through the crowded room to the bar. Amy loved being the center of attention and Dora didn’t mind being in the wings. She was a psychology student and was fascinated by the lengths that men would go to flirt with Amy. She often used these outings as case studies for her assignments and was sure there would be plenty of fodder tonight.

      Posted in Random Topics | 0 Comments | Tagged FlashLitChallenge, SailingWriter, ShortStory, ToLiveandWrite, VivoOSonho, Writing Sailor
    • Upside Down

      Posted at 3:56 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on March 19, 2020

      imgres-2

      Au lit: le baiser, 1892. By French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

      Dr. Zelinsky opened her office door to find her client upside down in the middle of the room, performing a perfect headstand.

      “Hey, Dr. Zee. I started yoga like you suggested. This is my favorite pose. Come join me!”

      “Very nice, Brandy. But I prefer my sessions right side up.”

      Brandy gracefully descended and went to lounge on the couch, chattering all the while.

      “I’ve been to a class every day this week. Who knew there were so many styles? That Jivamukti is too “out there” with all the chanting, and Yin just dragged on and on. But Vinyasa is definitely my groove. Great idea. Do you do yoga?”

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Story Shelf | 0 Comments | Tagged 2LWA, 2LWAFlashLitFeb, FlashLitChallenge, LivingTheDream, SailingWriter, ShortStory, ToLiveandWriteinAlameda, VivoOSonho, Writing Sailor
    • Missed it By This Much

      Posted at 4:17 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on February 20, 2020

      sailboat-in-the-sparkling-blue-steve-andersonHe lifted the binoculars, focused the lenses and could just make out her red foul weather jacket, bright against the tiny white triangle of the sail. She headed away from land, away from him, towards the horizon. The ocean was calm and the sunshine cast a path of shimmering diamonds between them, reminding him of the jewelry she left behind.

      His fortune was made many times over in the dot com bubble by fortuitously cashing out and missing the crash by just a few months. He’d become an angel investor in an organization that housed and trained homeless youth, where he met her when she was barely 18. They married on her 21st birthday and he bought her everything money could buy, but the truly pleased smiles didn’t dim the haunted look in her eyes. She never talked about her past, except for the fact that her parents had died when she was very young and she bounced through the foster system, never owning more than could fit in a backpack.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Story Shelf | 1 Comment | Tagged 2LWA, FlashLitChallenge, LivingTheDream, SailingWriter, ShortStory, TLWA, ToLiveandWriteinAlameda, VivoOSonho
    • Just the Right Touch

      Posted at 2:33 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on February 6, 2020

      imgres-2Amy was early and sat stiffly on the couch. It was her first time seeing a therapist and she wondered if she should lay down.

      “Hello, Amy. I’m Dr. Zelinsky.”

      Amy stood, tentatively shook the offered hand, and sat back down on the edge of the cushion. The doctor eased onto an adjacent chair.

      “How can I help?”

      Amy took a deep breath. “I’ve never done this before. I’m usually strong but lately I can’t shake this depression.”

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Story Shelf | 0 Comments | Tagged 2LWA, 2LWAFlashLitFeb, FlashLitChallenge, SailingWriter, ShortStory, ToLiveandWriteinAlameda, Writing Sailor
    • The Empty Wrapper

      Posted at 4:15 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on January 23, 2020

      imgres-2I took teeny bites of the protein bar as I watched the screen showing my husband’s vital signs. Different colored graphs scrolled by on a continuous roller coaster but no alarms were ringing so I figured things must be stable. His eyes were closed and his breathing was even. I folded the empty wrapper into a small square and put it in my pocket.

      We’d just spent a week in Annapolis, Maryland at the longest running and biggest sailboat show in the United States.  We walked miles and talked for hours to different vendors about systems and products to enhance our future lifestyle of living off the grid and circumnavigating the globe. Solar panels to create our own electricity, celestial navigation books, battery monitors, a stainless steel folding swim ladder, “marriage saver” headsets for bow to stern communication, and lots and lots of conversations with other sailors.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Story Shelf | 0 Comments | Tagged 2LWA, FlashLitChallenge, LivingTheDream, SailingWriter, ShortStory, ToLiveandWriteinAlameda
    • Watch Your Step

      Posted at 4:10 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on January 9, 2020

      Dolly-Parton-Say-Forever-Youll-457522“Watch your step!” Wendy shouted, jerking him to the side.

      “What the hell?” Ben shook his arm free from Wendy’s grasp. “Do you really think that stepping on a piece of broken cement will hurt mama?”

      “I’m not taking any chances. We need all the luck we can get. And we’re already late, so get a move on.” Wendy strode ahead, eyes down to watch for sidewalk cracks, leaving Ben shaking his head and staring after her.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Story Shelf | 1 Comment | Tagged 2LWA, FlashLitChallenge, LivingTheDream, ShortStory, ToLiveandWriteinAlameda, VivoOSonho
    • The Last Time in Their Bed

      Posted at 3:51 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on December 12, 2019

      glow-in-the-dark-stickers-for-the-ceiling-300x250It had been a week of “lasts.” Her last term paper, her last shift at the coffee shop, her last Taco Tuesday at Don Jose’s. She heard the toilet flush and realized that this would be the last time Zoe would slip under the covers next to her in their bed.

      Eve stared at the crack in the ceiling. It was barely visible when they’d moved in three years ago and she’d emailed the property management company. She didn’t want to be responsible for the repair when they moved out tomorrow.

      “We better get our deposit back,” Eve stated as Zoe entered the room.

      “Let it go, Elsa,” Zoe quipped back. “I think they’ll care less about the crack then the chalkboard paint in the kitchen.”

      “They should consider that an upgrade! They also got a veggie garden out of us. It took us weeks to till that soil.”

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Story Shelf | 0 Comments | Tagged 2LWA, FlashLitChallenge, LivingTheDream, ShortStory, VivoOSonho
    • The Hangover Cure

      Posted at 4:20 am by Heidi Benson Stagg, on June 27, 2019

      Dali Women

      “Two Women Running on the Beach” by Pablo Picasso

      She thought that the only thing worse than waking up with a hangover was waking up with a hangover next to some guy that looked way better drunk. But this wasn’t a guy. It was a girl. And a pretty good looking one.

      Shana had no clue how she got into this predicament. So she lay there and stared at the naked brunette in her bed, watching her chest rise and fall and trying to figure out what to do next.

      Her bedmate’s eyes fluttered open and a slow smile crossed her face. “Heeeyyy, Girl. Got a headache? You were a hoot.”

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Story Shelf | 0 Comments | Tagged 2LWA, FlashLitChallenge, LivingTheDream, SailingWriter, ShortStory, TLWA, ToLiveandWriteinAlameda, VivoOSonho, Writing Sailor
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    Heidi Benson Stagg

    Heidi Benson Stagg

    I live aboard a 42 ft Tayana Vancouver sailboat, hull #5 laid in 1979, with my husband and little dog. We are preparing to head to Mexico in Fall 2022 and I enjoy blogging about our preparations for our journey, cooking in my tiny kitchen and writing short stories.

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