A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in the comments.
Thanks to Sammi Cox for the challenge.
HELTER-SKELTER
When I decorated retirement cakes in the bakery I dreamt of ocean cruises or relaxing strolls in the park.
Three years ago, I walked out of said bakery for good. I don’t miss the helter-skelter of appeasing fussy customers. Nor do I miss genuflecting before managers who expect the case to be filled with twelve dessert cakes, fifteen flowered sheets and thirty dozen cupcakes in five hours—by one decorator.
Retirement has given me more time to devote to painting and writing, to facilitate a blog challenge, enter art shows, sign books and serve on a writers’ league board. I’ve no complaints, mind you. This kind of helter-skelter is my passion.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Someone tossed that apron into the garbage by mistake … 😉
Glad you have time for the helter-skelter of your choosing!
🙂
hugs
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Oh yeah…huge mistake…NOT 😉 I had four more of those cinnamon coats. We burned them at my retirement party. Thanks for the hugs.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, seems apt to burn them (in the oven, I presume, with icing on top?) 😉
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The hats you wear now suit you so much better! By the way, I thought for a second that you were writing about my book Helter-Skelter!!
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Aw, sorry for the confusion, Liz. I’ve yet to read your book. I thought it a little odd to choose helter-skelter as the word of the week. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love your description of cake decorator’s workload -thirty dozen cupcakes in five hours -wow ! Your sense of liberation from that role comes through loud and clear. Bravo.
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Dear Francine,
It may sound like an exaggeration but my former coworkers would back me. I’m glad the sense of liberation came through. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t know how you ever had time to work. I see you less now than when you worked full time. Now you work double time for little pay except satisfaction. Helter Skelter indeed.
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My door isn’t locked you know. 😉 I do wish the pay was better. 😀 ❤
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It’s hard to be creative on demand! 🙂
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Dear Jennifer,
I really didn’t find it hard to be creative on demand. I had more trouble with production on demand when there were customers to wait on and orders to complete besides filling the case to appease the almighty bosses. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a delightful pictography, as well as some well thought out prose. Thank you Rochelle.
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Dear Violet,
i wasn’t too sure I didn’t get carried away with the photos. 😉 Thank on both counts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
A different helter-skelter than the one imposed by a full-time job. At least with this one, it is of your choosing. I’m thinking of doing the prompt, too. Maybe.
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Isn’t it funny that the word sent me back to bakery hell? With all my anxieties I wouldn’t choose my life for anything…now. Thank you, my friend. Looking forward to reading your take.
Shalom and hugs,
Rochelle
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It truly is… We all have our crosses to bear 😉
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Dear Rochelle,
I really enjoyed reading this wonderful take on the prompt. Good for you for finding your own kind of helter-skelter. And the photos are great!
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
These word prompts keep sending me into memoir/musing mode. Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Couldnt have said it better Roch! I think what we all need at end of the day is contentment and we often look for it in the wrong places
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Dear Aks,
I really do love my life now. The joy of not having to drive clear across town to a job that I dislike never leaves. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So glad you are now able to pursue your dreams fulltime, away from the helter skelter of decorating cakes. Which I’m sure were beautiful!
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Dear Brenda,
The cake decorating I did enjoy. 😉 It was the rest that wasn’t fun. But what I’m doing now is what I truly want to be doing, for which I’m grateful. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s what life’s all about. That’s how we should all live life, pursuing and enjoying our passions. Mazel Tov!
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Dear Nobbinmaug,
I am most definitely among the fortunate. I’m happy to be living out my childhood dreams. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent take on the prompt, Rochelle. I love the photos accompanying the prose, and the final line, “This kind of helter-skelter is my passion” is wonderful 🙂
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Dear Sammi,
I’m so pleased you took the time to read and comment on my take on your weekend word prompt. For some reason they continually lead me down Memory Lane. 😀 Not complaining. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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