Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Confidence

~ John W. Howell

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

When brewing coffee using a magic machine, you have to have confidence that everything will work. Much like a sophisticated car, the magic machine does not suffer incompetent fools lightly. No butterknife screw removals or fork probes are going to fix the problem, so if it goes south, there is only one thing to do. Cry. Oh yes, and a call to the magic machine helpline can be of benefit.

Today is not the day to worry, however. Like the previous 365, the saving grace fluid flows from the twin spouts like it looks forward to my lips. A few sips and the clock once again comes into view. The power of being able to set it to December 2, 1923, is a great feeling. The time is set for one hour, and the plunger is pulled.

It looks like the clock took us to a hospital in New York City. The name on the stuff in the hallway says Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital. Looking ahead, the sign over the door says “Maternity.” It is anybody’s guess as to why we are here. There is only one baby still in a bassinet, and above the baby is a large tag with the name Sophie Cecilia Kalos.

While scratching my head at what this could mean, the alarm goes off, and I drop back into my living room. It seems one hour in the time travel business is too short. Looking at my phone gives me the idea of looking up Sophie Cecilia Kalos. The stunning answer comes in an instant. We just visited Maria Callas when she was born.

I also have a text from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “confidence.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/12/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-2-2023/

Confidence by John W. Howell © 2023

“Well, that was fun.”

“You pulling my leg?”

“No, I am serious.”

“You usually have some critical words to say.”

“Where’s your confidence, my man?”

“Well, sometimes I do take some weird turns.”

“The idea of an alarm clock that allows time travel is weird, but I’ve bought in.”

“Nice of you to say.”

“Besides, this may be a don’t look a gift horse in the mouth situation.”

“Meaning?”

“You are my sole source of VooDoo Ranger.”

“Nice to know you are kind, so you don’t lose your supplier.”

“That’s not the whole reason.”

“Name another.”

“The bar nuts.”

“Fine. Order Uber.”

“Done, he’s right over there.”

That’s a 1966 AC Cobra. We can’t fit in there.”

“Sure we can.”

“How?”

“We can squeeze together.”

“This I have to see.”

“Let’s go.”

 

90 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Confidence”

  4. Morning time travel — what fun! Before the second cup of coffee brings reality with each sip, we can dream. And who better to conjure than a woman who embodied confidence? Well done, John. 😊

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    1. Thank you, Gwen. When I was a kid I had a crush on Maria. Tried to figure out what she saw in Aristotle. Then I found out he was worth millions and it made sense. I hope you have a super day. 😁

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  8. Having been absent for a month, John, I was surprised to be given a history lesson rather than hear about cartoon characters or security systems or strange happenings on your porch. On the other hand, I will give you points for time travel because who doesn’t love a story wrapped in science fiction? Enjoy the Voodoo and whatever the weekend brings.

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  9. I am also buying into the idea of the time travel alarm clock, John. Of course, I had to go look up Sophie Cecilia Kalos. 🙂 What a fun surprise. Great post today, and an interesting Uber ride. 🙂

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  10. Reading about time travel is more fun than actually doing it, in my mind. I’d always be second guessing myself. But, if I could, I’d go back to the first day that my dad took me fishing. I think I caught a turtle🥴

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  13. That would be a fun ride in that Cobra, John, even if it was crowded. 🙂 I wonder if the driver would have some Maria Callas he could play for you during the ride. Puccini’s Madama Butterfly?

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      1. Good grief = I guess you survived because here you are. My Dad got a new Jag with each model XK140, 150 and and E-type. THe water pumps were a disaster. My Mom used to get out of the car when it stopped, take a rubber mallet, and bang the water pump so the car would start up.

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        1. I love that story. I lost a girl friend when I was driving an Alpha Romero back in 1962. The stupid Alpha would sometimes fail to go into reverse. One time I asked her to push the car while I steered. (it rolled very easily) She left me there and then. That wasn’t the only reason and in fact I detailed the reasons in The Last Drive. The car was a catalyst though.

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  23. You keep this up and we will be learning all sorts of stuff. Maria Callas was an interesting lady, that is for sure! Wonder who we will learn about next week? That is gonna be a tight squeeze – well, if your buddy is not as slim as you are, that is…

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  24. How thrilling that we went back to the birth of Maria Callas.
    Usually a sports thing comes to mind here, but you have outdone your clock.
    Where are we gong next week?
    I guess only “time” will tell! 😆 Egads I’m funny!
    🐂🐂🐂🐂

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