Aphelion is between July 3rd and July 6th in 2020 it was on July 4th 11:04pm in 2020, the Aphelion for earth is when the earth is farthest from the sun, in its eliptical orbit. If you consider the Perihelion the beginning of a year, then the Aphelion is the trust midyear point. Every planet around the sun has an aphelion. Earth's moon like all other moons has a similar action, called an apogee to a planet, where a moon is farthest from the planet it rotates around, by having an elliptical orbit.  
Story 1 https://aalbc.com/tc/blogs/entry/261-aphelion-day-art-or-text-craft-parade-good-news-blog/?do=findComment&comment=923  
Story 2 https://aalbc.com/tc/blogs/entry/261-aphelion-day-art-or-text-craft-parade-good-news-blog/?do=findComment&comment=924  
 
STORY 1
 

It is afternoon, a day on earth, a black woman sit in solace; Kalima look toward her photo of a prior penumbral eclipse, made in a roadtrip across the usa.  
She continue to ignore the yells from her sanguine downstairs; they are ready to go to the July 4th Fireworks parade.
“COME ON!!!… I know you can hear me K! We are now in phase three and I want us to enjoy being outside, none of us have been out in months! PLEASE!”
Kalima lay back on her bed and put on a video online.  
She can hear shuffling feet leaving the front door of the brownstone while she watch. She whisper: “see you soon” and continue to watch.
At the end of the video she sit at her writing desk and take out paper and pencil and ruler; she compose a poem using looped cursive penpersonship on clear paper using the ruler she crafted as a guidetool.  
A male red winged blackbird sitting on a tree branch outside watch Kalima and see the following on the page, Kalima finished.
 
I know I’m free, while in an unfree place  
To live in a free place… I must rally  
Against Time’s steady pace, mortality  
What certainty? The best finishing place  

Choices I see? Bliss be the unfree place  
Bliss out the unfree place, which choice is me?  
History state no case… I must rally  
Blind gamblin’ me, both length may eat my race  

A bird yell free! I wingless… stall my race  
Wait in the unfree place, one day for me  
I see Time with it’s pace, safe while I see  
I will rally, to live in a free place  

The small uncaged passerine fly away, singing. Kalima look to the window and go to her bed, and lay thinking, and sleeping.
…
A gentle nudge and a wet kiss on the cheek, wake Kalima up, from a figure unknown of body while familiar in voice.
“Come on K, we are all back now, we want to tell you about our trip, especially little Bee”
“Oh, hey Ma”
Kalima plus her mother embrace.  
“Here is some chocolate bars, colored like the flag, I know! but Mister Mohammed made them and I know you support Black business”
Kalima took a whiff of the chocolate, and smiled with yummies.  
Her mother pass her a photo of the clan, taken by uncle george.  
And, Kalima’s mother pass Kalima another of a firework by uncle george.
Kalima’s mother continue: “Fun…We will meet you downstairs and you can tell us about tonights eclipse ok”
“It’s late, little Bee will want to stay up, so we need to get the hammock out for him”
“ok”: Kalima’s mother leave, and Kalima look to the moon.
Kalima place her chocolate in her minifridge and open her door to the sound of laughter and joy. She smile in the night, for another day.
…
Thank you for reading, if you want to read more of my work read below
Bookbub
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/richard-murray-16885e64-6c28-459e-bf5f-45c7d458ce49
AALBC
https://aalbc.com/tc/blogs/blog/29-richard-murray-hearth/
Poetry or More Audiobook
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Poetry%20or%20More&fcsearchfield=Series&seriesId=06baba96-5af5-5d24-9b8a-f06360287dc9
Visasiki Audiobook
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Visasiki%20Series&fcsearchfield=Series&seriesId=965aea81-4e13-53fe-8bc8-22fcb6d28a39
Short Story Collection
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Richard%20Murray%20Short%20Story%20Collection&fcsearchfield=Series&seriesId=014c67c4-d29d-584e-ada0-62c0fa015714
 
STORY 2
 
"It is really hot today": say a woman, chocolate skin sweating under an early June sun, her hand attach to another; she continue: "you need water raspberry pie"
"No mommy": say a little girl, same kind of skin, sweet or moisture, her frizzes capping her head.
The two keep walking on a simple dirt road, green trees adorning either side.
"Momma, Grandpa once said Tinkerbell was American"
"Of course, what did he say exactly": the mother giggle.
The little girl smile and imitate her grandfather's gestures: "An American Tinkerbell is like a woman, like Tinkerbell with a red white and blue bikini on, don't mind seeing that all out Raspberry... yeah, Tinkerbell on the beach"
The mother shake her head gently and say: "Your grandfather, called everything, like a woman, France, Joy, The spirit of America"
"How did he describe the spirit of America Mommy": the daughter giggle.
The mother smile and imitate her father's gestures: "The Spirit of America is like a woman, like a woman with a luscious afro with decorative hairpins like stars floating around her hair, she sits on a bed of fifty stars connected to the cosmos, and has a cape, like superman, but grander with the red and white stripes, feet bare and dangling like godiva chocolate statues waiting to be eaten...yeah, stylin spirit of America"
The mother continue: "I know he was referring to your great gran, she had the best afros"
"I love GG": say a stoic little girl.
"I love her too baby": equal in solemnity, say her mother.
The two walk and finally reach the house. Suddenly a man appear from behind a bush.
"You too need a glass of lemonade, try this homemade blend"
The little girl look toward her mother who release her arm, and she lunge for the lemonade and start to drink. The man patiently wait while he get a kiss on the cheek from the mother who take her glass of lemonade.
The little girl finish and the man inquire: "well..."
"It's a little tangy, not perfect Uncle": and the little girl smile. Her uncle throw down his hat in disgust and she continue: "You will get there uncle, we believe in you, you will make the perfect lemonade one day"
"Ahh... thanks Raspy, come on and help me with the cooking for the party later"
And the uncle and niece go to the back of the house, while the mother head to the far side. She soon notice her father's old car sitting in shiny glory, being taken care of by her brother Nicodemus.
The mother sit in the car and remember when she showed her parents, her first paid commission, the spirt of america. They made a cake for her and celebrated. She remember her father said: "I knew I was right, I may have not gotten the description incorrect, it seems the spirit of america is like lady liberty in her teenage years, no crown or lamp, hair flying, wearing wonder woman's clothes, wonder woman wouldn't mind and she needs the vibranium, can't imagine the skin getting cracked and she being chosen to stand before new york city, but, she is still, like a woman... yeah, the badass spirit of america"
The mother hyper ventilate and start to cry. She think to the day after when her father no longer said anything was like a woman. Between the heat side her sadness she fall asleep.
...
"Mommy!... mommy... MOMMY!": speak a little girl to her mother.
"hey my sweet Raspberry": the mother gently waken.
"Daddy say you need to eat... and here": the little girl kiss her mother.
"Ohh... thank you, give him this for me... and I want you to have fun with the firecrackers, with all your cousins and everybody, ok": the mother after taken the plate, hug her daughter tightly.
"Ok mommy, I love you"
"I love you"
"Don't be sad mommy": the little girl say walking away.
"I am not my little light in the sky, just remembering... go on now"
The mother eat a little food and place the plate on the dashboard, and lay back in the seat, back to sleep.
"Nzinga...why aren't you eating Nzinga": a gentle voice speak to the mother. Nzinga open her eyes and is in amazement.
"Pa..."
"Hey , surprised huh, do you know some people where I now live visit loving ones during the aphelion"
Nzinga is still in shock looking at her father.
He continue: "... you know, when the earth is farthest from the sun, but it seems to only work when one is missed a lot... and I am not even like a woman"
Nzinga lunge and embrace her father in the driver's seat.
"I miss you papa"
The spirit embrace his daughter and say: “ I know Nzinga, but no need, I am here just for a short while for a chance to get you not to miss me so much"
"How long?!": energetically state the daughter.
"Maybe only an hour"
"What will we do?"
"Drive around of course": Nzinga's father clip the seatbelt, and she smile, and he continue: "this is my car, that is a pretty special moon there". Nzinga look to the moon as her father stare at it.
Nzinga's father say while she look to the moon: "It will be nice having the penumbral eclipse escort us for our short time"
Nzinga become stoic: "why won't you come back..."
"I am having too much fun with your mother"
Nzinga burst a laugh.
Nzinga's father continue: "oh and she told me to give Raspy a message, she loves telling her stories in her dreams"
Nzinga's father start the car, and Nzinga look back.
He say: "Don't worry, let the magic happen"
"Death has not seemed to stop your sense of wit papa"
"Well, my little light, let me tell you something, ok, Death, is like a woman..."
...
Hope you enjoyed reading
If you like more of my stories check out my Short story collection series
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Richard%20Murray%20Short%20Story%20Collection&fcsearchfield=Series&seriesId=014c67c4-d29d-584e-ada0-62c0fa015714
And I am on Bookbub
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/richard-murray-16885e64-6c28-459e-bf5f-45c7d458ce49
My blog
https://aalbc.com/tc/blogs/blog/29-richard-murray-hearth/

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Where Are They Now: Salvadore - Jaws
In a comment in the deviantart post linked below in 250 words or less, in your own words and without the assistance of AI or similar machine learning tools, write a short fan fiction detailing the continuing story of Salvadore from Jaws and his fishing or non fishing exploits after that fateful July 4th season in Amity Island. Help Jaws aficionado's solve the mystery of this resident! 
Here’s the rules and rewards for this @CRLiterature activity: 
All entries must abide by the DeviantArt Terms of Service, Fair Use rules for submissions, and the group rules for CRLiterature; off topic or inappropriate entries will be removed.  
Share your entry as a comment to this journal for reward considerations.     
Only submit one (1) comment for this engagement that is your very best work; all entries must be original concepts and human-written, no AI-assisted entries are allowed and will be removed.       
Comment with your entry by the end of the day on Thursday July 31, 2025 for rewards consideration for this activity.  
Winners selected at the sole discretion of CRLiterature group admin; all decisions are final and non-negotiable. We will select four (4) winners by Friday August 8, 2025, to receive the following rewards::
Each winner will get 500 points and a quartz badge
One of the four will get a hype badge
https://www.deviantart.com/hddeviant/journal/Where-Are-They-Now-Salvadore-Jaws-1210527648
 
the standalone story 
https://www.deviantart.com/hddeviant/art/Where-is-Salvadore-Now-1216988248
Audio
https://www.tumblr.com/richardmurrayhumblr/791594297330892800/where-are-they-now-salvadore-jaws-by-hddeviant
 
https://www.tumblr.com/richardmurrayhumblr/791594297330892800/where-are-they-now-salvadore-jaws-by-hddeviant  

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Bill Withers born 1948

So many artist are deemed singer songwriters who can't sing or who can't write, but Bill Withers truly is both
all the following is from Bill Withers outside one
Ain't No Sunshine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuKfiH0Scao

Lyrics
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone It's not warm when she's away Ain't no sunshine when she's gone And she's always gone too long Anytime she's goes away Wonder this time where she's gone Wonder if she's gone to stay Ain't no sunshine when she's gone And this house just ain't no home Anytime she goes away And I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know Hey, I ought to leave young thing alone But ain't no sunshine when she's gone, whoa, whoa Ain't no sunshine when she's gone Only darkness every day Ain't no sunshine when she's gone And this house just ain't no home Anytime she goes away Anytime she goes away Anytime she goes away Anytime she goes away
Grandma's Hands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdrChyGb574

Lyrics
Grandma's hands Clapped in church on Sunday morning Grandma's hands Played a tambourine so well Grandma's hands Used to issue out a warning She'd say, Billy don't you run so fast Might fall on a piece of glass Might be snakes there in that grass Grandma's hands Grandma's hands Soothed a local unwed mother Grandma's hands Used to ache sometimes and swell Grandma's hands Used to lift her face and tell her She'd say, Baby, grandma understands That you really love that man Put yourself in Jesus' hands Grandma's hands Grandma's hands Used to hand me piece of candy Grandma's hands Picked me up each time I fell Grandma's hands Boy, they really came in handy She'd say, Matty don' you whip that boy What you want to spank him for? He didn' drop no apple core But I don't have grandma anymore If I get to heaven I'll look for Grandma's hands Hmm-mmh
Use Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuYDKzky4z0

Lyrics
My friends Feel it's their appointed duty They keep tryin' to tell me All you want to do is use me Ah-huh, but my answer (Ah-huh) Yeah to all that use me stuff I, I, I, I Yes, I wanna spread the news That if it feels this good gettin' used Oh, you just keep on usin' me Until you use me up Until you use me up My brother Sit me right down and he talked to me He told me That I ought not to let you just walk on me And I'm sure he meant well Yeah, but when our talk was through I, I, I said brother if you only knew You'd wish that you were in my shoes You just keep on usin' me Until you use me up Until you use me up Ah-huh, sometimes It's true you really do abuse me Ah, you get me crowd of high class people And then you act real rude to me Ah-huh, but oh, baby, baby, baby, baby When you love me I can't get enough Ah-huh and I wanna spread the news That it feels this good gettin' used Oh, you just keep on usin' me Until you use me up Ah, until you use me up Talkin' 'bout you usin' people It all depends on what you do It ain't too bad the way you're usin' me 'Cause I sure am usin' you to do the things that you do Ah-huh, to do the things that you do
Lean on Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZ-MySzAac

Lyrics
Hmm... hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm Sometimes in our lives We all have pain We all have sorrow But if we are wise We know that there's always tomorrow Lean on me When you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on... For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill Those of your needs that you won't let show You just call on me brother when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you'll understand We all need somebody to lean on Lean on me When you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on... For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on You just call on me brother When you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you'll understand We all need somebody to lean on If there is a load you have to bear That you can't carry I'm right up the road I'll share your load If you just call me Call me If you need a friend (call me) Call me (call me) If you need a friend (call me) If you ever need a friend (call me) Call me (call me) Call me (call me) Call me (call me) Call me (call me) If you need a friend (call me) Call me (call me) Call me (call me) Call me (call me) Call me (call me)
Lovely Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEeaS6fuUoA

Lyrics
When I wake up in the mornin', love And the sunlight hurts my eyes And somethin' without warnin', love Bears heavy on my mind Then I look at you And the world's alright with me Just one look at you And I know it's gonna be A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) When the day that lies ahead of me Seems impossible to face When someone else instead of me Always seems to know the way Then I look at you And the world's alright with me Just one look at you And I know it's gonna be A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) When the day that lies ahead of me Seems impossible to face And when someone else instead of me Always seems to know the way Then I look at you And the world's alright with me Just one look at you And I know it's gonna be A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) A lovely day (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day) (Lovely day, lovely day)
Just the Two of Us featuring Grover Washington Jr on horns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6POZlJAZsok

Lyrics
I see the crystal raindrops fall And the beauty of it all Is when the sun comes shining through To make those rainbows in my mind When I think of you sometime And I want to spend some time with you Just the two of us We can make it if we try Just the two of us (Just the two of us) Just the two of us Building castles in the sky Just the two of us You and I We look for love, no time for tears Wasted water's all that is And it don't make no flowers grow Good things might come to those who wait Not for those who wait too late We gotta go for all we know Just the two of us We can make it if we try Just the two of us (Just the two of us) Just the two of us Building them castles in the sky Just the two of us You and I Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us I hear the crystal raindrops fall On the window down the hall And it becomes the morning dew And, darling, when the morning comes And I see the morning sun I want to be the one with you Just the two of us We can make it if we try Just the two of us (Just the two of us) Just the two of us Building big castles way on high Just the two of us You and I Just the two of us (yes, the two of us) We can make it just the two of us (Let's get it together, baby) Just the two of us (yes, the two of us) We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us We can make it just the two of us Just the two of us
Hope She'll Be Happier With Him - my personal favorite and he got to sing it in Zaire of all places...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWU6nRJzeKw

Lyrics
Maybe the lateness of the hour Makes me seem bluer than I am But in my heart there is a shower I hope she'll be happier with him Maybe the darkness of the hour Makes me seem lonelier than I am But over the darkness I have no power Hope she'll be happier with him I can't believe that she don't want to see me We lived and loved with each other so long I never thought that she really would leave me But she's gone Maybe the lateness of the hour Makes me seem bluer than I am But in my heart there is a shower Hope she'll be happier with him
 

If you haven't heard Grover Washington jr. check out
Winelight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPH1IuMtFGc

Mr Magic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo9lI_cn2wo

Winelight one more time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sd5HLFolDs
 

 

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