Just Jot about Spangly, Sparkly Stars and Stuff

Today’s prompt for Just Jot it January is “Spangly,” provided by Judy at http://www.edwinasepisodes.com/ and brought to you by Rosemary Carlson standing in for Linda Hill of https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/05/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-5th17/

Spangly is not a word I’ve used, not that I can remember, though I’ve sung “spangled” in the Star Spangled Banner, singing in private or with a group. In my habitual desire to be accurate, I looked up spangled, then spangle. Apparently, a spangle is like or can be synonymous with sequin.

In spite of my desire for accuracy, which I blame/thank on all those star-spangled Star Trek episodes I watched in my youth, I have a lighter side – the side that likes glitter and sparkles, and I guess spangles, but spangles sound bigger. I’m still trying to understand that word. (See there’s the accurate, Vulcan-like side again.)

The lighter side of me likes to leave the Christmas tree up at least until Martin Luther King day, sometimes later, like until spring buds start to emerge. It depends on how busy I am with other things. Un-decorating is always a gradual process for me. If I did it all at once, things would seem sparse, bare, empty compared to Christmas. Leaving the Christmas decorations up as long as I feel like is part of loving me, too. I love to look at the colored lights – the sparkles, and yes, the spangles. The only reason I don’t leave the tree up all year long, and decorate it for each holiday, is that I live in a small house and by spring, I’m ready for less clutter and more space.

But for now, I’m enjoying the sparkles and spangles and reminders of the star of Bethlehem that the wise men and shepherds followed leading to the epiphany of Jesus.

Now I’m feeling all spangly.

Wishing you light, love, and as Spock would say, “Live long and prosper.”

Here are the rules for Just Jot it January:

1. It’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list) counts as a “Jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

2. The prompts will be posted every day at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt word, but this will be where you leave your link for others to see. Make sure you link your post to the correct day’s prompt. There will be a post like this every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday, and Saturday, when you’ll find the prompt on my usual Friday Reminder post for Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS).

3. As long as your blog is on WordPress, you’ll be able to link via pingback. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! If you’re participating from another blogging host, just drop a link into the comment section. Note: The newest pingbacks and comments will be at the top.

4. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

5. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

6. The prompts are here both to remind you and to inspire you to write. However, you don’t have to use the prompt word of the day. You can link any kind of jot back here. Even your shopping list. Note: If it’s 18+ content, please say so in a comment with your link.

7. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge (above) in your post so that others can find your post more easily.

8. Have fun!