G is for Golden Grandioso

Day 7 of the challenge!

My theme is NIFTY NUGGETS. Little nuggets of writing based on a photo, a phrase and an object, which is designed to encourage lean, tight writing. I’m aiming for a word count of under 300 words.

Thank you to L.Diane Wolfe for providing the beautiful photo prompts.  You can visit her blog to check out more pictures.

GOLDEN GRANDIOSO

GOLDEN GRANDIOSO

PHRASE – opportunity knocks twice

OBJECT – bottle

Waiting for the golden opportunity, is like trying to drain the last drop of liquid out of an already empty bottle.

I look up from the newspaper, Mrs Cortez’s words echoing in my mind. I can see her clearly, hands on hips, favourite geometric-printed apron wrapped around her ample frame and that cigarette dangling from her cherry-blossom lips.

How I hated that dangling cigarette. It just didn’t match the lips.

She hated it too.

It clashed with the hint of beauty which lingered on her face.

But it served its purpose.

No pun intended. Parting shot delivered, she would turn to her husband, he busy draining the last drops of ‘whatever the contents of the moment’ happened to be. He would roll his eyes in that, oh-there-she-goes-again manner.

Whenever I’m faced with an important decision, I recall the conversation. My philosophy? Opportunity never knocks. You have to go after it with all you’ve got.

Mmph, fat lot of good it did me, going after opportunity. All I got out of the deal is this——-

She’d sweep her hand around the cramped apartment, with its decades-old counter tops and many layers of paint peeling in various places. On the sideboard, a golden statue dazzles in all its burnished glory. The deep rich glow juxtaposes with the faded paint.

Well, except for him. She nods in the direction of the statue, dropping ash to the lino floor.

I study the news article again. The headlines glare at me: Former Beauty Queen Gets Golden Opportunity Via Mentoring Programme

Good for you, Mrs. Cortez!

I hit the send button. Accept that internship vacated by the learner who pulled out of the programme.

Opportunity has tipped the scales in my favour.

I need to grab it with both hands.

36 Comments

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh on April 9, 2015 at 12:10 pm

    Very nice! Can’t sit and wait – you have to go after it.

  2. Stephen Tremp on April 9, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    Opportunity is impatient and doesn;t wait around very long. Got to grab it and go for it!

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 8:21 am

      I think opportunity favors the bold (isn’t that a quote of sorts?)

  3. Mary Aalgaard on April 9, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Grab the bull by the horns!
    Play off the Page

  4. C. Lee McKenzie on April 9, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    I’m in total agreement. And it takes a lot of energy to grab the opportunity, then follow through.

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 8:22 am

      At the moment, I feel my energy draining… but I’m hanging in there… 😀

  5. John Miller on April 9, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Glad she found her opportunity and seized the moment!

  6. Patricia Lynne on April 9, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    Great story. You have to go after what you want.

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Member of C. Lee’s Muffin Commando Squad
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 8:24 am

      Yes, you shouldn’t sit around and wait for things to come to you.

  7. L. Diane Wolfe on April 9, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    They both snagged an opportunity.

  8. Wil A. Emerson on April 9, 2015 at 10:40 pm

    Nifty notes…great site. Opportunity is something you prepare for…good work. Fun doing the A-to Z challenge!
    I’m posting mine on Facebook, too.
    Wil A. Emerson, Fatal Mistake, Amazon Kindle
    Good luck in your venture!

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 8:25 am

      Thanks for the visit and comment! 🙂
      I’ll pop by your place shortly.

  9. Wendy Dewar Hughes on April 10, 2015 at 1:16 am

    Fun story. I like the idea of grabbing opportunity when it comes my way.

    BTW, isn’t it H day today?

    http://www.passporttobrilliance.com
    http://www.creativecaravan.com

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 8:26 am

      Yes, it’s H-Day, but I’m a bit behind. 🙂
      Quite a few curve-balls thrown my way. I’ll make it up by Sunday.

  10. Trisha on April 10, 2015 at 2:05 am

    We need to make our own opportunities, for sure!

  11. J.L. Campbell on April 10, 2015 at 2:57 am

    Yup, I’d say make the most of what’s before us.
    Another interesting photo. Kudos to you and Diane.

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 8:28 am

      Hey Joy!
      We have to make it happen… a step at a time.

  12. Beth on April 10, 2015 at 2:58 am

    love it, makes me want to snag an opportunity! great writing as always 🙂

  13. Rosie Amber on April 10, 2015 at 6:30 am

    Great piece and I agree with the last line.

  14. Chicky on April 10, 2015 at 7:03 am

    True. Opportunity never really knocks. It just silently passes by your door. If you happen to be at the right place at the right time, then you might be able to make a grab for it.
    Thank you for visiting my blog and stopping by to say “hello”. Please do try to put in AddThis or Shareaholic in your blog. It will make it very easy for your readers to share your posts.

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 8:30 am

      “It just silently passes by your door.”
      Ah, I love that. So, so true.
      I’ll investigate the AddThis and Shareaholic buttons. Thank you for the advice.

  15. Nadine Feldman on April 10, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    Sometimes we’re motivated by people who have the lives we want. Other times, we’re motivated by the people who have lives we don’t want! Great story.

  16. Nilanjana Bose on April 10, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Precisely crafted, detail-rich characters. In less than 300 words. Fav line was about caoxing last drops out of empty bottle. Kudos.

    Best always
    Nilanjana

  17. Debbie D. on April 10, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    Succinct message, wrapped up in an interesting vignette. I can picture Mrs. Cortez and her dangling cigarette. 🙂
    Someone else mentioned putting sharing buttons on your blog – it’s a good idea and will give you more exposure. I took the time to look up your Twitter name, so I can share this post there, but most people won’t bother. Your work deserves recognition!

    • Michelle Wallace on April 10, 2015 at 11:13 pm

      Thank you! Thank you!
      A wonderful compliment. 🙂

  18. Celine Jeanjean on April 12, 2015 at 11:38 am

    That’s a great first line.
    And it’s so true, if there’s an opportunity there, you have to dive in head first, but it can be hard to do at times!

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