Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A Wonderful Contest Revived!

One of the saddest moments in my time here in J-Land was the day Judith Heartsong left the AOL journals community as a result of unsolicited advertising being insert into our journal pages.  Besides losing one of the best written and most read journals In J-Land when Judith left, the monthly Arsty Essay Contest died a sudden death and our community suffered a big loss.

The monthly Artsy Essay Contest was set up to bring writers together to share and explore their talent.  It was to encourage individuals to try and explore their creative side and to practice writing skills.  It was a contest for beginners and seasoned writers alike.  There was never anything like this contest before Judith Heartsong created it and there has been nothing like it since.  Until now!

There is life on the Internet beyond AOL Journals and we are fortunate that Judith set up shop elsewhere in the land of HTML and continued Blogging.  Time has passed and Judith has decided to revive her Artsy Essay Contest with some new ideasand expanded formats.

I really enjoyed the challenge of these contests and the ability to discover other writers through this forum.  I also coveted one of those Heartsong awards and compete I did!  Nope, I never won one, but the fun was in the trying.  So, here goes my entry into the newly revived Artsy Essay Contest.

 

The theme for this month is:

What is your favorite and most inspiringpossession? Tell us about it, and if you want an extra creative challenge... tell us about it without naming it until the very last sentence of your essay:):):)

 

My favorite and most inspiring possession first came into my life on my fourteenth birthday.  It was a gift from my parents and with it, I was told came responsibilities and obligations.  I think my mom was afraid I would be entertained by this gift for a while and then it would be set aside to collect dust like so many previous possessions through my early years.

This item required care and dedication.  One gets out of certain items only what one is willing to put into them.  To my parents’ delight I devoted myself and took the time to care for this item as it deserved.  It was not long before I wanted another one.

Oh, we have had our rough times, this possession and I.  There were periods that I was so frustrated and fed up with it that I didn’t even want to look at it again. That feeling would wane and I would catch myself staring at it fondly and imaging it in my hands as it would take me places.  Most would think that I would be the one doing the taking, yet there were times past when this possession would take me to places I never dreamed possible.

Through this possession I soared to the heavens and felt a Rocky Mountain high.  I was transported to Shangri-La and have experienced the summer breeze.  I have gone over the rainbow and have found my happiness.

Yes, as I said, I did not have it long before I wanted another one.  I was given one that was bigger, brighter, and shinier the following Christmas.  I cherished it and was devoted to it.  Since that time many of these have passed through my hands and my heart.  Some were purchased and some were traded.  Some were quite rare and my current one is quite expensive. At one time I even contemplated making one myself, however, I knew I would fret over it and did not want to subject myself to the rigors the craftsmanship would require.

There is no feeling quite like it as my hands touched this item for the first time and each time I touch it seems like the first time.  I follow the gentle curves of its body.  I feel the tightness and tension within.  I know the myriad of emotions this possession can invoke. 

Inspiration comes to me often as we spend our time together.  Through ownership of this possession I have been inspired to express myself in ways never possible to me before.

Sometime my hands shake as I caress this possession and sometimes they ache.  Aching with pain as I produce sensations of pleasure, I feelthe vibrations through my soul.  Others around me can sense my emotional intensity while fondling this item, sometimes to my pleasure and sometimes to great embarrassment.

There is no other feeling like it, though, when I know that my caressing, my fondling, my gentle and harsh stroking brings pleasure to others.  It is my wish to keep this possession to the day I die.  I never want to be without my guitar.

           (SCROLL DOWN)

 

 

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Delightful Sam ,Thoroughly enjoyed that,wish we could have had a little smile though ! arent you brown (tanned)?Yes I remember Judith very well ,and miss her entrys ,she was a very talented lady ,didnt you send her an interesting peice of drift wood ? I love your contribution ,thought at first it was a camera you were talking about,then thought boat ,towards the end I wondered if it might be your guitar ,great entry ...love Jan xx

Anonymous said...

Loved it! What a wonderful entry in Judith's contest! I am so excited that it is back... it always gives me so many wonderful things to read. She is a truly generous person to again take on this task!

Anonymous said...

Very good !  Sam at first I thought it might even be a puppy...but then I thought puppies aren't shiny...well maybe a hairless dog could be shiny.  For some reason, I've been thinking about geting my grand daughter a starter guitar for Christmas (however I have no idea how much they cost.) She's so musical and I think she would have fun with it.   Thanks for the song, too !   Linda in Washington state  

Anonymous said...

I love it, Sam.  I'm glad Judith decided to do this again, too!  And I'm glad to see you post again, too.  Keep 'em comin'!

Chris
http://itsallaboutmeithink.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Very cool....my guess was a sailboat till I got towards the end....
Great tan you have   : )

hugs,
Tracie

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your entry Sam...............BRAVO!!!!   Wish I could have heard you sing a bit too.   I am so very glad you entered.    HUGS,  Anne

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam, great entry, first I thought it was a puppy or kitty, then I was sure it was some kind of boat, maybe even a model.  A guitar was not given a thought, you were playing the Nearness of You, right? Sam you know I have a dial up aol connection, but did you know it takes almost an hour just to set it up so you can hear it, now that you know, you have to know how much I think of you, hope you win, with me you have already won. gg/Jackie

Anonymous said...

Glad you entered Sam!  I knew it was your guitar, but that's because I've been 'reading you' for so darned long now. LOL!  Good luck -- I hope you win!

Anonymous said...

grwat entry!  I thought it was an intrustment but wasn't sure what.  



(I thought it was a dog or horse at first.)

Anonymous said...

Wonderfully written, Sam!  I had guessed that it might be a guitar.  My daughter has the same frustrations with hers at times, but it's well worth the effort and there's no other sound like it!

Thank you for not only sharing your essay entry, but your talent as well!  Loved listening!

Michelle

Anonymous said...

Aye, that would fit. Many musicians feel like that about their instruments - it's me and my keyboard/piano, Sam.

Anonymous said...

Very good use of words to evoke emotion and very imaginative.
Debbie
xxx

Anonymous said...

Sam,
I was tempted to skip ahead to the "ending" but stayed with it....guessing wrongly a few times.    It was written very well.
I just love your guitar-playing...it's so soothing.   I could see you playing in a coffee house, or a wine bar....ah....I can see it now.  Next gig, I'm there!

Well done...

Nancy

Anonymous said...

NO WAY!!  you did NOT add a video too!  You rock!  (I was so glad Judith brought the essay back.  I almost did this one, but alas I still have history homework to do ;-)

Anonymous said...

NO WAY!!  you did NOT add a video too!  You rock!  (I was so glad Judith brought the essay back.  I almost did this one, but alas I still have history homework to do ;-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam, at first I thought it was a kitten ~ knowing your love of cats ~ but then I remembered your guitar! I'm privileged to say I heard you playing live in your house while I was doing my journal entry on your computer! You certainly do make the guitar sound beautiful! I was thinking of you today, I visited Rye harbour, seeing all the boats brought you to mind, I know you would have loved it! I'm doing an entry soon, I'm sure Paulette will love to see the old 13th century houses. Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/  

Anonymous said...

Very well written Sam. You did good. I loved your guitar playing. Helen

Anonymous said...

Oh that's so good Sam! Love your playing too!~Diane~

Anonymous said...

Wow, you put me to shame.  Yes, my guitar is a prized possession too.  But right now, others take precedence.

Anonymous said...

my prayers go out to the famliy of judith I had read the journal before and I am sure she has visited me once before, her kindndess will remmbered, I did not know the capaacticy of her herart such talent and her work and her life will always be rembered.
sam the gutair is beatuiful played. and you still play even in pain. I admire that. gotto post saying hello

Anonymous said...

You are just tooooo talented!  You play, you write,
BUT....Can you sing?!?    Ü
Well written entry, totally enjoyed it!

Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariebm56/PhotographsMemoriesToo

Anonymous said...

I KNEW it was your guitar!!!!!! I remember the first one, and we have had some good times around the music stand.  YOu have all the talent--I just have the delusions of an ability to carry a tune!  You still have it, Sir, and I enjoyed this post.  I remember Judith's contest and some of your entries, and have enjoyed them all.  YOu are a special guy!.. Jan

Anonymous said...

Sam, you had me guessing until the very end. I didn't even think of the guitar!  Wonderful essay!       Jon

Anonymous said...

I knew it was something that made music, and when you mentioned "curves" I guessed guitar.  Very good entry!  I was 14 when I bought my first guitar!
Lori

Anonymous said...

Sam what a lovely and and gifted person you are ~ the essay was very well written ~ I did guess it may have been your guitar but wasn't certain ~ did at one time think it could have been a model boat or even a kitten ~ I thoroughly enjoyed your music ~ Ally
http://journals.aol.co.uk/ally123130585918/Lifewithally

Anonymous said...

Yea Sam and very well written... with a video too! You play beautifully and used the essay to full advantage in waiting til the end for your reveal. Very well done and thank you so much for coming back to the essay and writing!

judi
http://judithheartsong.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Great entry Sam!  Love the video!!  I knew what it was almost immediately....  

I will have to get caught up on Judith.. I to entered her contest in the past.. sadly I never won either.  
hugs
d

Anonymous said...

Sam~Great essay!!! At the very beginning I guessed a dog, then a bike--so you had me stumped till the end. (not so hard to do
--;-) Glad to see this contest revived. All the best, Deb ;-)

http://journals.aol.com/sassydee50/sassysWORD

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! Tammy

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam!
I guessed it straight away
I think that maybe I read that
you were giving your grandson guitar lessons
our John has made a few guitars
go for it :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam! Awww love your entry today! I've just started English lesson and I would love to start writing again - can I join in the artsy essay contest? I would love to do that. I think your piece was brilliant - at first I thought it might have been a pet! My 11 year old loves his guitar too and I was surprised that he looks after it and plays it as much as he does! Love Laine xx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/elainey2465/laines-world/

Anonymous said...

Loved your entry & video. Glad to see you're still in Jland. Thought I had you on alerts, but I guess I'm not getting them.

Anonymous said...

It was like puzzle, I couldn't guess what your inspiration was. The way you described it was amazing. At first I thought it was a toy, then I thought it was a pet, and then I was completely unsure. When I found out it was a guitar, I smiled.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this was a great essay! I kept going back and forth trying to guess what you were writing about as I read it, and I was completely wrong at the end. LOL Nice guitar playing, too! ~Colleen :)  http://daily-ponderings.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Wow... Very talented indeed.. and Video was a great touch to your entry.. :-)

Anonymous said...

Kristal

http://apoeticdreamerssoul.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam you are a talented writer and musician ,well done ,have enjoyed reading this entry ....Love Jeanxx

Anonymous said...

Hello Sam !!!!!!!!

I have to say that I really liked your essay on your favorite and most inspiring possession. I think that your a very talented musician. You played the guitar beautifully. I wish I could be there in person to hear you play. I want to thank you for sharing your guitar playing with us at J-Land. It was sad when Judith left the AOL journals community I sure do miss her being here. I have to say that I wish she would return but I am glad that she still shares herself with us. I also have to say that its nice having you at J-Land. I want to thank you for allowing me to visit here at Dock Lines. I shall return to visit you again. Take care.

Anonymous said...

Only a fellow guitarist could know exactly what the possession was by the end of the first few sentences!
Sam, I know how a guitar can become such a treasured item in our lives. It gives back everything we put into it, and it waits until we are good and ready before it makes a sound. It goes anywhere we want it to!

Great essay!

Jimmy

Anonymous said...

Good one Sam.

Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

    Where I didn't expect you to be talking about a guitar, your lead up to this makes complete sense. Very good entry.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! What a great essay and thanks for sharing you playing the guitar :) Matthew use to love to play and taught himself. It was nice hearing music like that again.

Gretchen
http://journals.aol.com/ksgal3133/LivinginSavannah2

Anonymous said...

I figured it had to be a guitar, a boat, or Buttons.  The dog was eliminated early on.  I was pretty sure that you did not currently own a boat and that you would treasure your guitar more anyway.  So, I guess I still know my "little" cousin fairly well.  Love you.  Lynn

Anonymous said...

OK, so I lied.... I entered after all!  http://pixiedustnme.blogspot.com/2007/07/essay.html  (not that you HAVE to go read....but I know you want to LOL)

Anonymous said...

What talent!  And such a well written description of an instrument capable of more than just musical notes.

Tammy

Anonymous said...

Wonderful inspiration indeed! Doc (my other half) would agree with you wholeheartedly ! He's a lead guitarist, as well as a guitar teacher. He is very much a blues man to heart! (Hugs) Indigo

Anonymous said...

That was great.  You are very talented as a writer and musician...good luck in the contest....Sandi

Anonymous said...

Oh that was just so lovely. I'm just getting over a migraine...should have listened to this hours ago & maybe I would have gotten rid of it sooner. You need to put that to disk & sell it for people to chill! HA!

http://journals.aol.com/psychfun/MeThinksTooMuch/

http://journals.aol.com/psychfun/somethingelsetothinkabout/

Anonymous said...

Sam you are full of surprises my friend. Your possession is a beautiful treasure and the melody you played is immensely soothing. Is it a Gibson...Les Paul? Thank you for sharing this facet of your talented persona with us.  :) As a child I played the guitar but sadly did not stick with it.

Dona



Anonymous said...

In response to your comment...I don't know if you just had issues with it...but i've always been able to get alerts for Private journals on AOL! I've never heard of there being an issue with getting alerted for Private blogs Via AOL.

Anonymous said...

Hey there Sam !  How nice to see  AND hear you.  Thanks for sharing your wonderfully well written and expressed entry.  And best of luck, too.  I would love to see you take the prize.  Hope all is well in your life, my friend.  Tina

Anonymous said...

Sam?  was that your own piece of music.  You are very good.  I was actually waiting also for you too sing.  Will keep checking back.  I love inspiration too.  shona

Anonymous said...

How I envy you when you have your guitar at hand.

When I finished work, five years ago, I decided to try and do all the things that I had not time to do when working full time and bringing up a family.  Every project, ecxept learning how to play the guitar, has given me imence pleasure.

It was unfortunate that my teacher, when trying to learn the guitar, was right handed for my left handed strumming threw him completly and the only thing that he could recomend was for me to learn to play with my right hand; I stopped going for lessons when this was said to me.

John.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/jacksj989/OldJohnsMemories.

PS,

I did not know about this Internet site.  Would you mind if I had a look at it?

Anonymous said...

Rose here - just checking in from Vancouver. I wanted to put my two cents worth in and mention that I enjoyed your essay, as well as your guitar playing. My husband also plays, both an electric and an acoustic, although he played other musical instruments in High School. Too bad he is so shy, otherwise I would love to video tape him. Been pretty busy with family priorities, so I am very tardy with my own journal. Hopefully things will settle down in the Fall.
Sincerely, Rose~*