Author: Lisa

Lisa A. Listwa is a self-employed writer with experience in education, publishing, and the martial arts. Believing there was more to life than punching someone else’s time clock and inspired by the words of Henry David Thoreau, she traded her life as a high school educator for a life as a writer and hasn’t looked back. She is mother to one glorious handful of a daughter, wife to the nicest guy on the planet, and reluctant but devoted owner of three Rotten Cats. You can find her adventures and thoughts on living life deliberately here on the blog.

Park Bench – 15:00 Hours

Jean-Luc sat easily on the park bench, one arm draped over the back. He pulled a slow, hard drag from his cigarette, inhaling the afternoon heat. “Your first time in Paris, monsieur?” The man’s aroma suggested it had been some time since he bathed. “I’ve been…away for many years.” “I know places to see, monsieur.…

By Lisa January 28, 2020 Off

Silent Protest

Harold felt someone touch him. Or did he? It was hard to tell from behind the curtain of darkness shrouding his eyes. Every inch of his leaden body resisted all appeals for movement. His mind was too clouded for inquiry. He could probably rally himself, but the only thing he wanted was to let go,…

By Lisa January 21, 2020 Off

Where I’m Going and What I’m Doing

Last week I jumped back into the blogosphere with a post about where I’ve been for the last many months. Missed it? Interested? Check it out right here: Where I’ve Been and What I Did There. This week, I’m following the lead of the Finish the Sentence Friday gang over at Finding Ninee and talking…

By Lisa January 20, 2020 Off

Carried

She always felt like the one who needed to be carried. He was the calm to her bluster, the reason to her emotion. When she fretted and worried, he said, “just keep going” and “I believe.” She found his lack of excitability infuriating. Through all the changes, the struggles, the fears, he worked and simply…

By Lisa January 14, 2020 Off

Where I’ve Been and What I Did There

Once again, I start a blog post with the (obvious) statement that it’s been a long time since words graced this page. Aside from a brief post to celebrate the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop’s sixth anniversary, I’ve posted nothing here in over a year and a half. How did THAT happen? I’ll simply…

By Lisa January 14, 2020 Off

A Return to Thankfulness

It has been a very long time since I shared any words here on the blog. My last post was well over a year ago now and to be honest, sometimes it feels like so much longer. When I wrote that story, I had no idea it would mark the start of an unintentional hiatus…

By Lisa June 15, 2019 Off

Frozen Echoes

Echoes of laughter-laced music from last night’s party crept out from behind the tree line and moved across the field. The piney air carried the suggestion of alcohol-doused firewood and nearly frozen vomit, followed by something not quite appropriate to the occasion – the unmistakable scent of fresh blood. “What do you think it is,…

By Lisa May 9, 2018 Off

Undercover

To say that a bald man in a white suit and purple sunglasses at a funeral sticks out like a sore thumb might be the singularly greatest understatement of the year, but when I got the 5:00 AM call to show up for an urgent security job, I was in a mildly hungover state and…

By Lisa May 7, 2018 Off

The Fishing Trip

“Been forever since I fished these waters. Or any. Won’t be much good.” Joe watched as his grandfather stood in the shallows, silent and motionless. He hadn’t been himself since Gran died. “Ya know, Gramps,” said Joe quietly, “you always said it didn’t matter if we caught anything, just that we get our toes wet…

By Lisa May 1, 2018 Off

Uplifted

Winter came again last night. The wind takes icy bites of my neck. I turn my collar against the chill, seeking help from glittering sunshine that offers no warmth. The landscape has dressed in delicate white furs for the occasion of what is – hopefully – winter’s final farewell. Across the snow-laced field sits a…

By Lisa March 14, 2018 Off