John Holton is our host for Writer’s Workshop. Here are the prompts for 10/9/25:

  1. Write a post inspired by the word possession.
  2. Write a post in exactly 7 (seven) sentences.
  3. Write a story starting with the line “The worst thing about being at the top of the career ladder is that there’s a long way to fall.”
  4. What obscure interest do you have? Tell us about it.
  5. Tell us if you’ve ever dated a friend’s sibling, or if a friend dated your sibling, What was it like?
  6. Tell us about something you learned in September.

This song is a whole ass bop — fun, catchy, easy to sing along at the top of your lungs. And because I listen to lyrics as much as the music it caught me all the way up. A plan to squirrel away that pretty little girl at bible college only to have her learn more than what they tried to teach her? Yes, please.

Which brings us to verse two:

“Now people cross the street when you walk in their directionTalk between their teeth throwin’ epithetsAnd the doctor thinks a devil musta got you by your sensesBut to live the way you please doesn’t sound like possessionIt’s four long years studyin’ the BibleInfidels, Jezebels, Salomes, and DelilahsBack off the bus in your own home townSay you didn’t like me then probably won’t like me now”

This speaks deeply to my soul in a way that only someone who’s been talked about understands. I’ll leave the religious demonification of things they don’t approve of for more learned scholars than me though I’ll note it seems convenient to say someone’s possessed because they make different choices than your pastor says are proper. Just my thoughts on the matter.

Cue up verse four:

“Said your soul needed saving, so they sent you off to Bible schoolYou learned a little more than they had heard was in the Golden Rule‘Be good to everybody, be a strength to the weakBe a joy to the joyful, be the laughter in the grief’And give your love freely to whoever that you pleaseDon’t let nobody tell you ’bout who you oughta beAnd when you get damned in the popular opinionIt’s just another damn of the damns you’re not giving”

Josh Ritter makes me reaffirm my faith in what I know is right every time I sing along. Be good, be strong, be joyful, and love.

badge by Patty