IWSG Nov. 2018 Bones and Bridges

Welcome Readers and fellow Writers, to the November 2018 online meeting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh and comprised of writing members just like you (and me), featuring writing tips, resources, articles, contests, and IWSG swag! See what we’re all talking about here and join us as we share our writing journeys.

*We meet on the first Wednesday of every month – join us and enjoy!

Visit our gracious Co-hosts, and let them know you’re here: Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Ann V. Friend, JQ Rose, and Elizabeth Seckman!

Today is National Tongue-twister Day! Can you say Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers three times, fast?

Here’s one for National Young Readers Week: Big black bugs bleed black blood! I may as well eat large marshmallows for that one ;-)

By now, many of you have submitted your stories for the annual IWSG Anthology contest – Best Wishes! Are you well into your November Novel or Memoir (in a month) project yet?

In honor of Historic Bridge Awareness Month, I decided to check out my own state of Arizona, since I happen to be aware that The London Bridge spanned the River Thames in London in 1831 - before being moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona in 1971. 

That should count, right? It didn’t.  

However, my search led me to one right at the northern edge of one of my favorite non-places! The Canyon Diablo Bridge (part of the National Old Trails road in 1914) was a handy accessory for the old Route 66 as occasionally; the river does run like a herd of startled gazelles. And sure enough, the people came. Once Mr. and Mrs. Cundiff built a store, gas station, and a campground the people started to stay awhile too. One of those people was a Mr. Miller who thought he could make the little town called Canyon Lodge an even hotter spot on the map with a Zoo and a couple of shacks from which he sold fake artifacts. 

Business was booming right along until Mr. Miller dug up some authentic old skulls from a nearby “Death Cave,” where a group of Apaches lost a game of hide-and-seek with a group of Navajos several hundred moons before, and things took a sinister turn for the worse. Mr. Miller became obsessed with the idea of changing the name of the town to “Two Guns”; a name he liked to call himself. After a name-change was repeatedly denied, and the zoo animals inexplicably revolted, Mr. Miller marched over and murdered Mr. Cundiff.  Mr. Miller pleaded self-defense and was acquitted, though wounds from a vicious mountain lion attack left him near-death himself. 

Meanwhile, Route 66 was re-routed, and the town all but dried up and blew away. Some call it “Death by Highway” others wonder why a weather-beaten sign still reads “Two Guns.”

Are there any historical bridges where you live? Do you have a favorite tongue-twister?

By the way, Happy Movember, guys! Did you know the average man touches his mustache 760 times a day? Can this be true?

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!