Articles written by Sally OQuinn

What is Helium

About me - Sally O'Quinn

I have always written-stories, poems, plays-since I was a child. I was also an avid reader from the beginning, thanks to my mother, who read to me from the crib! I am a stagehand by trade, working through IATSE local 631 in Orlando, and in the past year I

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Childhood memories: 3 of 391
Lessons from the GardenAs a child I walked between the rowsof my mother's garden,kicking up bouquets of dustfrom soil so richwe felt like theRockefellers.Summers were spent there,out of school,tending and gathering cropsunder dragonfly blue skieswhile the garden taught melessons.I learned from the beansto climb into the sunan... More..
Health & Fitness > Aging & Longevity Reflecting on aging: 1 of 62
I turned 50 this year, so I figured this would be a good time to write something profound. You know, make some sage observations, evaluate my accomplishments thus far and measure myself against other icons reaching the half-century mark. I'm in pretty good company, I guess. In 1958, the year I was born, NASA was formed, the V... More..
Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories and lessons learned: 1 of 24
I grew up in a rural family community where everybody had a garden, so it was a tradition I carried proudly with me when I married and moved into my own house on my own plot of land. However, that first garden taught me a lesson about humility and about karma, which can wait a long time to catch up with you. It was a late aft... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Atheism & Agnosticism Why atheists can still be spiritual: 2 of 24
As a child I was raised in a Southern Baptist home and attended church literally every time the doors opened. I learned early on that God had a wicked temper and a very defifite set of rules for us to follow, and any deviation from those rules would result in some awful retribution. By the time I was 8 or 9 years old, I had ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Arts & Entertainment Jobs What to look for when selecting an internship in the media and entertainment industry: 2 of 22
What to look for when selecting an internship in the media and entertainment industryInternships in the entertainment industry are a great launching point for those people with little experience wanting to "break in" and learn more about the field. As a prospective entertainment/media intern, let's assume you have reached the... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Birthdays: 1 of 9
Storyteller The sun was just balancing on the horizon's edge as Liz turned her car into the iron gates of the cemetery, and its long, slanting rays caused the granite headstones to sparkle as she passed. Spanish moss swayed in the oak trees as a late April breeze brought the scent of orange ... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Self-reflection: 55 of 485
I have performed my roles behind a veil,changing costumes, repeating linesfor an audience who never saw me.I have lived behind walls of stone,safe-very safe-from a curiousand painfulworld. But in a careless moment with youI lifted the veil and the words I spoke were not rehearsed. And even as I hurry to cover myself again I n... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) Great places to travel to for the Fourth of July: 3 of 26
Typical Independence Day trips for American families may include visits to Washington, D.C, Philadelphia, Boston and New York, but for something a little different, let's not forget Monticello, the Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson.Thomas Jefferson - author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Re... More..
Relationships & Family > Communication Skills Communicating across cultures: 6 of 33
I do not believe the events of our lives are random and meaningless. I believe that every day we are presented with lessons, and if we'll just pay attention, we are made greater by them. Our home was purchased from my husband's mother, who had it built in 1984 on land deeded to her by her late father. It lies between the ho... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: What the summer solstice means to me: 2 of 10
I grew up in a farming family, so the phases of the moon and the patterns of the sun were important to us. Planting and harvesting were scheduled around these cycles to insure abundant crops each season. I didn't realize until I was grown that this was an ancient tradition which had been used since mankind first began tilling... More..