Stories Around the Kamp Fire

Living under Tyranny

2012-02-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

When the founders of this country were debating the principles by which we would be governed, the first premise on which they agreed was that there would be no king. They knew what it was like to live under a tyrannical monarch. They also knew from study and analysis of the ages, how Ruler's Law did not normally work out well for people in the "realm." That's the problem; the people are the property of the king and therefore have no say in their lives. They do not have inalienable rights given them from God, they only have the rights issued by the king, and what the king gives--the king can take away.

Ah, but what if the king is wise, kind, and generous? What if the monarch treats his subjects with fairness and concern? Have you ever, in studying the annuals of history, run across such a benevolent dictator?

Isn't there a saying that "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely?" Something about the basic human psyche makes it nearly impossible for one person to possess huge amounts of money without greed, or be given unlimited power without despotism.

The Founders did not want a king, nor did they want a government behaving like a monarch.

Two Extremes

2012-01-29T21:13:00.000-08:00

There are two extremes of rule, on one side of the scale is tyranny, and on the other side, anarchy. Tyranny is when a ruler rules absolutely, and anarchy is where there is no rule.

Most people are more comfortable with a set of rules somewhere in the middle; a place where people rule with checks and balances. Enough government to protect, but not oppress.

Where would one find the most freedom?

Ground work

2012-01-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

People want the same things: freedom, prosperity, and peace.

My husband and I traveled through China several years ago, and out side a small village near the Yangtze River was a Buddhist shrine called, The City of Ghosts. It is 800 years old and filled with amazing statuary of ghosts and demons. To cross into the city we had to walk over one of three bridges: the bridge of a long and healthy life, the bridge of wealth, or the bridge of peace. If you could cross the bridge in three long strides the gods would grant your wish.

The point being is that these have been longings of the human heart in all times, with all people, in all places.

If we can start with this premise, then we can build a structure to analyze government in its relationship with these desires, without falling into the trap of political parties, or narrow thinking. Hopefully we can have a dialogue.

A Political Starting Point

2012-01-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Political conversations often end up in who's right, not what's right.

The USA in 2012

2012-01-24T09:38:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and an election year, and although I find myself excited about the opportunity of new chances, I'm also discouraged by the battle ahead to take back the wheel of the Presidency, and steer our country in a different direction. The present President was elected on the unidentified premise of "change" with no one but his insiders really understanding what that meant.
Change?
I would ask friends and family who were supporting Obama to explain his platform and what he stood for, and they would parrot back, "Change!"
"Well, what does that mean?" I'd ask them.
"Change!" they'd insist.
"Yes, but what does that mean? Change to what...from what?"
"Change from the terrible old ways!"
"Can you be more specific? What of the old ways don't you like, and what does this presidential candidate plan to put in its place?"
Most would look at me blankly. They didn't have a clue because the plans were never clearly outlined. If Obama had come out during the campaign and stated that once in office he would bail out failing banks and companies, increase the size and scope of government, cram a universal health care plan down our throats, plunge us into inexcusable debt, and put hundreds of thousands of people out of work, I doubt that he would have been elected.
But, sadly his nebulous campaign rhetoric worked on the numbers needed to place him in the highest job in the land where, within a short time, his unconstitutional vision of America sprouted. He is attempting to fundamentally change this country from a free enterprise system of production and a Representative form of government to a more Socialistic model. This is not conjecture as he has stated on several occasions that he would rather do without Congress, and has proven this by doing end runs around them with Executive Orders, thereby thumbing his nose at the idea of checks and balances so fundamental to our Republic.
During the next few months I will be setting out some basic ideas about the Constitution of the United States, and how, over-the-years, we've lost much of its original intent. I will also share my feelings about the miracle and majesty of this country.
I hope you'll join me in a discussion of these important principles.

3-2-1 2012

2011-12-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

Three days until 2012 and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
My New Year's resolutions are doable. I will eat more apples, eat less sugar, live one day at a time, and write a bit more often in my blog.
May 2012 be a year of laughter, love, and learning!

Christmas Snow

2011-12-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in my office watching the steel gray sky spit little bits of snow. I keep repeating "snow, snow, snow!" I want big fat flakes and at least six inches on the ground. Does that sound nuts?

Actually Christmas snow is magical, especially if you don't have to drive around in it. Of course, I grew up in Lake Tahoe, where it wasn't unusual to get five feet in one snow storm. I love it when the dreary bland ground is covered in a blanket of soft puffy white--it's dazzling. And it's the height of contentment to sit by the window, watching the dancing snowflakes, and sipping a warm cup of hot chocolate.

Many of my friends, who live in warmer climes, don't understand the fascination, but I guarantee that they would be mesmerised by the magic of diamond ice crystals glittering the dark night. We all become children with Christmas snow.

Snow, snow, snow!

It's December

2011-12-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

It's December. Halloween and Thanksgiving have passed and we're on to Christmas. I haven't posted for awhile...sorry. I've been caught up in the chaos of kitchen remodeling, business travel, and researching for my next book. And, I tend to get lost in the process when I'm researching.

Jonathan Hawaii Napela is the subject matter for my next book of historical fiction. He was one of the first converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from the Sandwich Islands in the 1850's. He was a prominent Hawaiian who helped George Q. Cannon translate the Book of Mormon into the Hawaiian language. He also helped establish the gathering place settlement at Laie, where the Mormon temple now sits, along with the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the BYU Hawaii campus.
Brother Napela traveled to Salt Lake City in 1869. He met with President Brigham Young, renewed his friendship with Brother Cannon, and became the first Hawaiian to be endowed in the Endowment House.

There are many other amazing accomplishments concerning Jonathan Napela, but you'll just have to wait for the book.

It's December, and I should be focused on getting my house back in order, trimming the Christmas tree, and hanging stockings, but I find myself thinking of green islands in an azure sea. I suppose that's the wonder and curse of being a writer; one tends to live with their head in the clouds.

Freedom

2011-09-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

"A nation of well-informed men (and women) who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins."

Benjamin Franklin

You may think that the two images and the quote by Benjamin Franklin have no connection, when indeed they do.

My novel, "Letters in the Jade Dragon Box" has just been sent to press. It tells the story of a family and a nation torn apart under the cruel dictatorship of Mao Tse-tung and the CCP. (Chinese Communist Party)

The tyranny which enslaved China from 1949 to 1976 (and beyond) came because the people were weary of chaos and war, and in their weakened state the words of the Communists sounded good to their ears. Because of their ignorance of the Communist's agenda, the people handed over their freedom to a flawed system and, on the most part, self-seeking despots.

The false system was legitimized by the media and the artists who were forced to only show the CCP in a glorified light. An example is the representation of the soldiers in the snow during the Long March. They are smiling and happy to be walking thousands of miles for Chairman Mao--happy to be dying by the thousands as only about 1,000 of the 10,000 men who began the Long March actually made it to journey's end.

In China there are still large pictures of Mao Tse-tung hung in public places. Many still revere him, although between 58 to 70 million Chinese died during his reign from hunger, imprisonment, torture, execution, or suicide.

In ignorance the Chinese people were enslaved. May we as Americans never find ourselves in such a place.

Stand up for Israel

2011-08-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

This morning me, my husband, and a group of friends watched the Glenn Beck "Restoring Courage" broadcast from Jerusalem. The message was powerful and poignant. It made me ponder about courage and personal responsibility. What am I giving to the world, or to my neighbor for that matter?

I've made a commitment to enhance a quality I already possess--a quality which can always use a little evaluating and polishing. I'm starting small. I have pledged to be more kind.

"The highest form of wisdom is kindness."
The Talmud

The China Book and Liberty

2011-06-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

The China book is finished and off to my editor. It was a difficult book to write, not because of the extensive research, or the shortened duration of time to get it done, but because of the subject matter. I became quite sick at heart because of what the Chinese people had to suffer at the hands of Mao Tse-tung. He was not a nice person. I used many first hand autobiographical book sources in my research, and their stories were wrenching. I also spoke to several people whose families escaped from mainland China when the Communists took over. They went to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and they were very candid in their feelings of Chairman Mao and the devastation he brought to the country they love.

Therefore, it amazes me that anyone would say they admire Mao Tse-tung. All one has to do is a little bit of research to discover he is not a man to use as a role model for anything. Of course, even in America, there are people with strong yearnings for a Socialist/Communist government who admire the brutality of Marx and Engles' philosophy. And it is brutal. You look at any leader and administration who has twisted their government into a Communist regime and it is always done through terror, torture, and brutality.

I am so grateful that I live in the United States of America. I thank divine Providence that this country of America was founded on principles of law and liberty. I honor the Founding Fathers for their deep investigation of all types of government which enabled them to forge such a miraculous document--the Constitution of the United States.

I ask that you think long and hard about where "we the people" want to guide this country in the coming crucial years. We still have the amazing ability to choose. Let's not lose it through apathy.

Focus

2011-06-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

There are times when my mind functions well. I feel calm and organized. Other times? Not so much. Such has been the case the last couple of months. My mind has lacked focus. I've been working on my next novel on Mao Tse-tung and the Cultural Revolution, and have had to force myself to focus on researching and writing. Historical tidbits are the life blood of a historical novel and normally I have the discipline to endure the hours of reading, outlining, and refining necessary to get the historical events into the story. This time it's been tough. I think part of the problem was the subject matter. Mao was a despicable person and his reign from 1949-1976 was one of suffering and sorrow for the people of China. I became mentally and emotionally exhausted.

I think the other (and more poignant) reason for lack of focus was the personal grief I was experiencing as the first anniversary of our son's death drew near. We had been told by others who had lost children that the first anniversary was difficult. Without question. As we went through March and April and into May I felt my mind wandering and my heart sorrowing. I didn't want to deal with the everyday demands of life (laundry, grocery shopping, cooking) let alone writing a book, or fostering friendships. It was a tough time.

I'm better now. My hubby, daughter, and myself have a deep love for each other. We also have good friends that rallied around us, and a strong faith in God. With all this, we survived the horrendous time.

I also learned to be gentle with myself. There are going to be times when, for one reason or another, I'm not going to be able to be focused, and it's okay. Sometimes forcing focus in one direction keeps us from seeing a new vista.

Reverence For a Power Greater Then Yourself

2011-03-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

There is a Jewish proverb which states: "If God lived on earth, people would break his windows."

I agree. Even though there are bastions of faith and goodness, I often hear a lot of vitriol slung at God. "If there is a God, why does he let bad stuff happen?" or, "God is really mean, cause look at all the terrible things that have been done in His name." or, "God must really get a kick out of watching us suffer."

I am here to state that God is good. I am one of those who believe that there are opposing forces in the world--good and evil, and often the atrocities and sadness in the world are caused by that evil force. God is so good that he allows man free agency, even though His heart breaks with some of man's brutal choices.

When I think of God, I see kindness and forbearance. I also see that He has a deep respect for us. He allows us the freedom to figure things out, to stand up against injustice, to be less selfish, to reach out to others in need, to ease suffering, to bring joy to the world. If we see injustice or evil in the world, perhaps God intends for us to do something about it.

FRIENDS!

2011-02-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

I love my friends! They come in a variety of looks and personalities, and they are all precious to me. They are family and not; they are neighbors and not; they are mainlanders and not. I have met them over 50 some years of my life and they have enriched every day.

Over the years we've talked on the telephone, written letters (yes, actual hand-written letters), gone to lunch and movies, visited on vacations, worked together, and laughed and cried together.

My friends have been by my side during the best and worst times of my life. I would not have made it through some of life's trials without the hugs and kind words of my buddies.

I tell my friends often what they mean to me, but I want express here on paper a sincere thank you. Aloha nui!

Words for this Special Season

2010-12-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas celebration this year will be more about service and less about "stuff". It just feels right. Our focus will be on the precious gifts brought to earth with the birth of the Son of God: peace, love, and hope. I have a feeling those things will bring us serenity.

"Love cannot remain by itself--it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service."

--Mother Teresa--

Almost December

2010-11-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

The last time I posted a blog it was summer--the temperature was hot, the grass green, and the flowers blooming. It is now the end of November--the temperature is cold, the grass is covered in eight inches of snow, and the only flowers I see are the ones I buy at the grocery store.

I'm sorry for the lack of communication. Since Shawn's death in May, George and I have had a hard time getting back to the "normal" of life. In fact, we don't know what "normal" looks like anymore. We also lack energy, which means we take care of the necessities of life and little else.

Not to worry. Our faith is strong and we will move through this, but we have to be reasonable about what we take on and what we let go.

I will try and write a line or two every now and then.

In the meantime...cherish life.

I'm a Conservative

2010-07-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

Yep. I am.

I attended the Glenn Beck American Revival meeting in Salt Lake City this past Saturday--that's how conservative I am. The meeting was nothing short of inspiring! The speakers were knowledgeable, articulate, and truthful; the crowd of 6,000 was enthusiastic and respectful (sorry, no racism or short-sightedness); and the message was one of HOPE.

One of the speakers gave this quote--it sort of sums up how I want to go forward in fighting to bring America back to what the original Founding Fathers intended.

"Hope is born of Faith, grounded in Truth, and expressed in Action."

Losing a Child

2010-07-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

Parents--you know that feeling when you lose a child in a department store? One moment they're beside you and the next moment they're nowhere to be seen. Your heart drops into your stomach as panic sets in. Your focus becomes only them--finding them--making sure they're safe. You scramble down the aisles, praying silently, and calling their name over and over again. Others in the store sense your distress and helplessness; many come to help.

My husband and I had two very adventurous children, so we've experienced that panic on a few occasions. It's terrible. But, oh the great relief when you finally hear their voice or see their little faces as they come trudging down the aisle with one of the store clerks. After the initial breath and blessed relief, you go through a succession of emotions from joy to anger. It's all because you love them so much.

Almost two months ago, we lost our son. Not to distraction at the mall, but to death. He was thirty-two years old, not six. He was taken by illness, not a self-styled escape from Mom. Never-the-less, the resultant panic and emotion was very much the same. All those in the family who loved him felt absolutely helpless. Others felt our distress and came to help. But, there was no voice heard--no seeing of his face--no store clerk bringing him back to us. It is silence and desolation that goes on and on. We have been through many emotions, because we love him so much. It is pain that actually settles in your heart and makes it hard to breathe.

Here is where faith comes in.

We found ourselves reaching for strength and comfort in our testimonies of spiritual truth. We felt peace from the doctrines of eternal life and the promise of the Resurrection. We held the hand of the Savior as He wept with us and shared our sorrow. This isn't just a bunch of words; this is a tangible comfort that enfolded us and continues to enfold us during the most devastating earthly trial we've had to face.

I may not hear my son's voice right now. I may not see his face. But, I know one day I will. One day I will see him and I will breathe again and I will feel only joy.

The Fourth of July!

2010-07-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday will be the Fourth of July; the celebration for our country’s declaration of independence from the rule of monarchy of Great Britain. It is one of my favorite holidays. I love this country. I stand in awe of the brilliance of the founding fathers, I marvel at the strength and simplicity of the Constitution they scribed, and I cherish the liberty that came of their struggle.

It is a blessing to live in this country—a blessing that many Americans have been lax to appreciate and honor. I think the current attempts to twist this country’s foundational principles have brought a drowsing population awake. City and country Americans alike are renewing their commitment to the tenets of the original Constitutional concepts; they’re speaking out against a transforming of this nation’s purpose; they’re reevaluating their own virtue and values.

Samuel Adams said: “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.” Adams also said: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

George Washington referred to religion and morality as the “great Pillars of human happiness.”

My voice is small, but I concur with these great men who pledged their lives, property, and sacred honor, that in order for America to remain good, her people must be good.

As I pledge allegiance to the flag, this Fourth of July, I will also pledge to be a better person. One by one we can set America back on a path of greatness.

Normal

2010-06-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

I spent the day attempting to get my life organized. Over the past month my home, my work, and my mind has been scattered, messed up, and chaotic. And, none of those things denote calmness or equanimity. I've been feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. Then today I heard my mother's voice inside my head telling me that I'd feel better if there were some order to my space.

Another little voice screamed, "It's too much! You can't do it!"

My mother's voice won out though by reminding me to start small and only do a few tasks--her gentle voice reminding me to not try and tackle everything at once.

So, I started small. I sorted the laundry. Then, I washed a load of towels. Then, I put the load of towels in the dryer and placed a load of permanent press in the washer. I even remembered to put in the laundry soap.

Now I know this sounds mundane, but when you've suffered a great loss, it's very difficult to do anything "normal", or to watch other people doing "normal" things. You wonder how life can go on the way it does when your life is altered for all time.

I found there was something soothing about doing mundane everyday things, so I decided to keep on with my tasks. When evening fell I discovered a folding table full of clean clothes, dishes done, and even a trip to the post office accomplished. I also found it easier to breathe.

I know the grief will be sticking around for a long time, and there's nothing I can do about that. But, I know Shawn would be upset with me if I allowed sorrow to get the upper hand. So, tomorrow I plan to go grocery shopping and, the day after that, I might cook dinner. I know it will make me feel better, and...my hubby will be amazed.

Memorial Day

2010-06-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, George and I spent the entire morning at the cemetery where our son is buried. We went, not to be maudlin, but to feel the peace of shared grief, to pay tribute to the military heroes commemorated by this day, and to express feelings of love for our son.

We were touched by the thousands of flower arrangements placed lovingly on the graves, and knew they represented a family member or friend taking the time to share love and memories. In fact, there were several large family groups circled around grave sites and talking--some folks were even sitting in lawn chairs or on blankets sharing stories and passing on the legacy to the little ones of the family.

We listened to the music of several bands, and shed a few tears when the Scottish bag-pipers played their selection of tunes. It was a good day and a difficult day. We know it will be difficult for a long time. We know the pain is the price we pay for having loved our son so much.

Memorial Day has taken on a deeper significance.

Shawn

2010-05-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

I just opened my blog and realized that I last posted a thought on May 12. Latter in the afternoon my husband and I would find out that our dear son had unexpectedly passed away. He'd been sick with the flu for three days, but we certainly could not have expected such a devastating outcome.

Be kind to each other.

Nice People

2010-05-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

The world is made up of nice people. Oh, I know, the nay sayers will insist that there are bad, weird, and crummy people populating the planet too, and I would have to concede, but it has been my experience that the nice far outnumber the negative. I will give you an example.

I just returned home from a trip to Texas where I was privileged to be the key-note speaker for a meals-on-wheels fundraiser. I had never been to Texas nor had I met the people organizing the event. I'd surmised them to be people of heart because they were working to care for the seniors in their area, providing great services, one of which was the meals-on-wheels program.

Getting off the plane, I looked about for the two women who were to meet me, and was greeted by two smiling faces. Within the first few minutes of introductions I felt a calmness and connection. As we drove to the hotel we chatted amiably about this and that, finding common ground in family, faith, and service.

Later that evening I was blessed to meet more good people of substance as I went to a delightful dinner with members of the CSS (Community Senior Services) board. These were people who had decided that doing service was a good way to spend one's time. And, I knew that this altruism was repeated hundreds of thousands of time across the nation and the world.

Good people.

Vacation

2010-05-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

After a few months of intense work, George and I opted for a little vacation. We are at Disneyworld. It is fun. It is tiring (on the days we visit the parks). It is relaxing (on the days we sit by the pool). Vacations are necessary. In most countries in Europe vacations are called holidays, and bosses insist their employees take holidays to renew and rejuvenate. Makes sense to me. Vacations give the mind, body, and emotions time to rest, and normally a person returns from a vacation more alert and with a fresh perspective on how to solve problems in their field. Sounds good, doesn't it?

So, I am off to rest and rejuvenate. Heaven knows, in a few days I will be back at the grind and I'll need every bit of alertness I can muster. Alertness? Is that a word? Oh, who cares, I'm on vacation!

Writer's Conference

2010-04-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

I just returned home from a writer's conference in Provo, Utah.

Provo, Utah? Yes, and it was fabulous! There were over 400 participants, the workshops were informative, the keynote speakers were inspiring, and the food was tasty. It was so much fun to rub shoulders with other writers--some of us already published, and some just starting to put pen to paper, or fingers to computer keys.

I had the privilege of teaching a workshop about writing historical fiction, and my attendees had such great ideas and great enthusiasm. It was inspiring to see the passion many of these folks had for the written word, and the persistence they had in the face of rejection. (Of course, rejection comes with the territory).

I also sat down at "Boot Camp" with three very talented women who wrote children's picture books, and together we worked to structure the delightful pieces into saleable products. It was so much fun to be involved in that rudimentary process. Thanks ladies for the opportunity.

I would advise anyone, with the slightest inclination to write, to attend a writer's conference and get inspired!

Thoughts on Life

2010-04-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

We are experiencing a phenomenal sunny day! Where yesterday there were clouds, there is blue sky. Where there was snow and sleet, there is a soft clear breeze. My dog sleeps in a patch of sun on the kitchen floor, and I don't have to turn on a light at noon to read a book.

I'm not complaining about the rain and snow; we need it for the parched summer months, I'm just trilled with today--with the beauty of a spring--with having feelings of gratitude--with the metaphor I acknowledge.

I've been through some tough times recently (like the dark gloomy days), and now, for a time at least, things have settled down (sunshine). I made it through the tough times by giving things over to God. The mean and scary situations were nothing over which I had any control, so who better to pick up the burden? I do the best I can to be the best me I can be, and I leave the rest to God. It works out very well. I don't shirk my responsibilities, but I don't waste time in worry.

Here's a quote from Martin Luther that I repeat often to myself:

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

BOOK REVIEW

2010-04-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

The Cleansing of America

a book by Dr. W. Cleon Skousen

Anyone familiar with Dr. Cleon Skousen's book, The 5000 Year Leap, and its association with the founding of America will probably look at his newest book, The Cleansing of America, published by Valor Publishing, and surmise it to be a follow-up book. Not so. While it does talk about America's political underpinnings, it is much more a book of end-days prophesy and America's role in that process. Appreciation for the content requires a belief system grounded in prophets, latter-day revelations, and personal preparedness--spiritually as well as temporally.

The book reads like a textbook. Skousen himself states in the introduction that the book comprises seven chapters which were seven independent lectures addressing a common subject from different perspectives. The central theme is the way in which the land of America will be prepared for its place in the end days prophesies. At the conclusion of each chapter is a list of questions, which suggests that the book's most useful application would be in a group setting where discussion could take place.

Dr. Skousen maps destructive forces in this country pulling us from the values and ideals first established by the founding fathers. He talks about the scourge that the Lord will utilize to "cleanse and scour America" of its wickedness, and includes prophesies concerning the same. Indeed, the book delves into doctrinal areas not normally covered in Sunday study: The battle of Armageddon, the calling of the 144,000, and the ushering in of the millennium, to name just a few.

The book was simultaneously fascinating and disconcerting. It's that debate of having your fortune told...I'm intrigued, but do I really want to know the future? If your curiosity wins out, I think you will find, The Cleansing of America, to be informative and thought provoking.

The book seems well researched and documented, with copious source notes at the end of each chapter, and while it would be difficult to check all the references, at some point one must trust Dr. Skousen's scholarship.

I did have one peeve that deals with an editing blunder. Periodically throughout the text a word or phrase would be capitalized, I suppose to EMPHASIZE its importance, but the effect was jarring. I suppose Dr. Skousen included these CAPITALIZATIONS in his original manuscript to instruct the reader to a pertinent idea, but I would rather do my own underlining and highlighting. I think the editors at Valor should have removed the capitals.

The Cleansing of America is being published posthumously by Dr. Skousen's family. He told them that they would know the "right time" to dust off the manuscript and present it to the world for inspection. In America's current political climate, the timing seems right.

Thoughts on Life

2010-03-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

God gave us two ears, but only one mouth. Some people say that's because He wanted us to spend twice as much time listening as talking. Others claim it's because He knew that listening was twice as hard.

Thoughts on Life

2010-03-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

I am sad today. I woke up to a different America. An America transformed by the Democratic party into a place of deeper entitlements. With the passage of the health care bill we move not only steps away from the ideals of the Constitution, but miles.

The founding fathers intended that the federal government remain small. They limited the government with many checks and balances. They set forth that Congressmen should be practical working men who would come away from their toil in their fields or businesses for a short span of time to serve the people of the country. They would then return home and take up the cause of freedom in their own communities.

The founding fathers also knew a vital truth that today's elected representatives have obviously forgotten--they must follow the will of the majority. If the voice of the majority of people cried out for or against a certain piece of legislation, the members of the government were bound by their sacred honor to listen and abide by that voice. This is not the way of things today. Poll after poll showed that more than 55% of the American people were opposed to this bill, especially the sections providing government funding for abortion, and monies allotted for health care of illegal aliens. Did our representatives listen? No.

Of course, it must have been hard for those poor Congressmen with all the arm twisting, bribes, and backroom deals that were being done by the President and the Speaker of the House.

And this wasn't just about health care. Passage of this bill gives the federal government huge control over 1/6 of our economy, and huge control over our lives. Passage of this bill was about power not compassion.

So, I'm sad today, and I think the founding fathers are shedding a few tears too.

Thoughts on Life

2010-03-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

I Wonder What the Democrats are Thinking?

I am a conservative Republican, and here's why. I was raised by a father who grew up during the depression. His mother died when he was six, and not long after that he contracted polio. His legs were weakened and his left arm was completely crippled. Now, for Democrats this would be a sob story worthy of lots of government care and concern. The only thing is, my father would have found it offensive to expect someone to "take care of him" especially the government. He grew up in a time when people took care of themselves, their families, and their neighbors. A man worked hard at any type of labor in order to take care of his family.

So, were my father alive today, I know he'd be having a fit over the health care bill being argued in Congress. He would hate that it runs 2700 pages, that no one knows what's in it, and that the Dems are forcing it down our throats. I also think he would have agreed with the sentiments of one of the founding fathers, James Madison.

"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be tomorrow. Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known and less fixed?"

Hm...sound familiar?

Thoughts on Life

2010-03-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Words to the Wise

A teacher asked a student to sum up Socrates' life in four lines. Here's what he said:

1. Socrates lived long ago.

2. He was very intelligent.

3. Socrates gave long speeches.

4. His friends poisoned him.

On that note I'll keep this post short!

Thoughts on Life

2010-03-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

To break my cycle of not writing blogs, I'm going to flex my fingers, take a deep breath, and do a month long series about life. I love to collect funny and thought-provoking quotes from folks, and I thought I'd share some of them with you along with a few observations of my own.

So, here is the first thought by "author unknown".

"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake."

Laughter is a huge part of life. If I'm feeling down or cranky, I call up one of my friends and we go out to lunch and laugh our heads off about something. There's always something is this crazy world to make us laugh. Have you seen those E-Trade commercials with the little baby at the computer? If you have, you're laughing at this moment, aren't you?

So, be sure and have a good laugh today!

Hm...perhaps tomorrow I'll write something about chocolate cake.

Where Have I Been?

2010-02-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

My daughter lovingly (well, not so much so), reminded me that I haven't written anything on my blog page for quite awhile. I know...sorry. I've been a bit busy reading books. I was asked to be a judge for a book contest, and had to read 10 historical fiction novels in 4 weeks. It was intense, as some of the books were quite hefty...600 plus pages! That's a lot of reading. In fact, there was one point where my eyes got a bit bleary. I thought, "Oh no, I'm going cross eyed or something!" I know, it was a bit melodramatic, but at least I only screamed it inside my head. Luckily, with a little rest and some eye drops, I was back in business.

I've also been preparing my next novel for publication. This process is fun, exciting, and grueling. The book is historical fiction and takes place in 1917 Russia during the Bolshevik revolution. The title is, The Silence of God, and it's due out the last week of May or first week of June. I will attach several pictures of Russia which were taken during a research trip for the book. Let me know what you think.

I will take my sweet daughter's advise and try to do better at updating my post. Hey! Maybe I can talk her into writing a few blogs for me. That's only fair, don't you think?

Happy Birthday, George!

2010-01-26T21:13:00.000-08:00

I want to wish a Happy Birthday, to my sweet husband George! I won't divulge his age, although he's so even tempered, he probably wouldn't mind. He's a good hubby, father, brother, and friend.

We celebrate his birth.

Happy Birthday!

Drifting

2010-01-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

The sun is shining! The prospect of snow is in the forecast for tomorrow or the day after, but today--sun. I'm sitting in my office attempting to organize my thoughts and my writing schedule, but it's not working. My mind keeps sliding back to the just finished holidays with their subsequent lack of structure. It's like trying to write at the beach.

Have you ever read Gift from the Sea, by Anne Marrow Lindburg? (Amazing book). In one scene, she talks about taking all her writing implements: notebooks, paper, pencils to the beach with every intention of using the blissful peacefulness to compose a chapter or two. Well, she soon finds that the beach is not the ideal place to write. One's mind keeps drifting with the sound of the waves, the feel of the soft sand and warm sun, and the distant laughter of children.

That's what my mind is doing today--drifting. I keep gazing out the window at the snow covered mountains, while my mind thinks about friends, family, and funny childhood escapades. I suppose receiving cards and letters from these many loved ones during the Christmas season has conjured nostalgia in double doses.

BUT, I have five loads of laundry, an office to organize, and a chapter to finish by the end of the day! So, no more drifting! (Sometimes I have to get tough with myself). Yep! Sometimes I have to stop gazing out the window, brush the sand off my pants, and get to work.

Nearing the New Year

2009-12-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

Here's hoping your Christmas and holiday celebrations were wonderful. George and I had a great time with friends and family, although our son was ill and that was sad. We took food and presents to him the day after Christmas and had a great time. I'm all for extending holidays. I've been known to make birthday festivities last for a week.

Now we're creeping up on the end of 2009, and anticipating the opening of 2010. Although I'm dismayed with the direction our country has been shoved during this past year, I will not give up hope. I will continue to study the Constitution, attend Tea Parties, and speak out against anything or anyone that takes us closer to a socialist form of government.

My next novel, (the working title of which is) The Silence of God, will be coming out in spring 2010. It should be interesting to see the reaction, as the story takes place in 1917 Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution.

I wish serenity for everyone in 2010; the wisdom to stop amid the challenges and take a breath, the joy of sharing your laughter with a good friend, and the satisfaction of serving others.

Life is good.

Signing Updates

2009-12-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

I will be signing books at the Confetti Bookstore in Spanish Fork, Friday Dec. 18 from 1-3 pm, and at the Orem Costco that same day from 4-6 pm.

Please stop by if you're in the area!

Review of Dawn's Early Light

2009-12-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

Dawn’s Early Light is the third book in L.C. Lewis’ historical fiction series, Free Men and Dreamers. It is set in 1814 when America is fighting for its life against superior British forces. The book is a superlative example of excellent research and good storytelling; weaving the story of a fledgling country with the lives of backwoods’ patriots, Freedmen and slaves, and men in the British parliament standing on both sides of the “American” issue.

Ms. Lewis has a deft hand in bringing to life the dry events of history. I appreciated her even handedness in offering both sides of an issue for the reader to ponder. She did this masterfully by involving us in the lives of the characters, thereby allowing us to wrestle with the conundrums through their experiences.

It was also intriguing how the author flecked the story with aspects of the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s family. Though Joseph was only nine years old at the time of these occurrences, he and his family would surely have been caught up in the events shaping the groundwork of America—the bedrock upon which the gospel would come forth. I would like to have seen more of this aspect woven throughout.

On occasion the book could have used a bit of competent editing. Some scenes were ponderous and slowed the pace of the story. This was especially true at the end of the book with the story of the fallen British soldier and the capture of Dr. Beanes. The ending also became a bit muddled, as we were given several disparate scenes in rapid succession. There is a set up for a sequel, and I believe these final stories were in preparation for that event.

Overall, Dawn’s Early Light is a fascinating look into an important era of American history, and Ms. Lewis handles the subject matter with skill and talent.

Welcome to December!

2009-12-04T08:56:00.001-08:00

Did it seem like November flew by faster than a turkey with a fox on its tail? Whew! I suppose I didn't see the days disappear because I had my nose to the grindstone trying to finish my Russian novel. And...it's done! I sent it off to the publisher two nights ago, and I'm beginning to feel like a human being again, instead of a human doing.

I'm now trying to catch up with the laundry, grocery shopping (poor George had to eat cereal many a day), and just general house cleaning. I'm not complaining. It feels great to get up and move about.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was great! Everyone pitched in and brought something yummy to eat, for which George was very grateful. Mashed potatoes and gravy had to taste scrumptious after weeks of soggy Special K.

And now it's December and the magical spirit of Christmas is upon us! I love Christmas! Nat King Cole singing, The Christmas Song. Yep, that always starts it off for me. I love the lights and the music. I love the excitement and the sharing. It's not about big gifts, except for one--the gift of the birth of the Christ Child.

May you be surrounded by the gracious spirit of the season as you go about trimming the tree, hanging the lights, and humming those delightful Christmas tunes. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2009-11-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is possibly my favorite holiday--at least one of the top three: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Fourth of July. I love all the yummy food that is a big part of the celebration, but more importantly I love getting together with family, and thinking about the things for which I'm truly grateful. If I were to make a list, it would be looooong.

I hope you have a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving. You, my family and friends are right up there on the top of my gratitude list.

"Thou that hast giv'n so much to me, give one thing more, a grateful heart"

-George Herbert-

Autumn Leaves

2009-11-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

It's fall and I raked up a bunch of leaves in our back yard. It was a beautiful day and my body loved (and needed) the workout. After two hours of raking I had three huge piles of pale yellow, ochre, ruddy red, and brown leaves. It was lovely. As I stood admiring my work a thought struck me. What am I going to do with all these leaves?

I couldn't burn them, because now-a-days you have to have a permit, a special metal container, and a fire extinguisher near by. Besides Al Gore might give me dirty looks for contributing to the (bogus) green house effect.

I couldn't put them into bags and take them to the dump, because I would get a black mark for contributing to the land-fill problem.

I couldn't start a compost heap, because my neighbors would complain about the stink, and then ask me if I had the audacity of becoming a tree hugger person in the middle of suburbia.

So, I left them. Yep...they're sitting out there in the backyard; three huge piles of leaves enjoying the sunshine and waiting for the snow to cover them up. I figure the snow will dematerialize them during the winter and, come spring, my husband will just mow them into oblivion.

I guess I could just go back out and scatter the leaves around again. I mean, it's what Mother Nature did in the first place. Who am I to try and improve on her brilliance?

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-11-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

"A nation of well informed men (and women) who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is the region of ignorance that tyranny begins."

--Benjamin Franklin--

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-11-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

This week my sister is watching our two great nieces, ages ten and seven as their mom and dad are on assignment. You see, my niece and nephew are officers in the Air Force and will be away from home for weeks of special training. My niece will be away from her little girls for two weeks. She'll return home for a month and then be deployed to Afghanistan...for 6 months. Her amazing and capable husband will hold down the fort alone until she returns.

The family approaches this deployment stoically and with positive military grit. These little girls have lived in several US cities, Turkey, and most recently Okinawa. All deployments, until this one, they have gone together as a family. This time my niece goes alone, and into a very dangerous part of the world.

I'm trying to be brave and positive about the whole thing, but I haven't been trained in military grit and dedication, and I get emotional if I spend too much time thinking about the sacrifice. And then, of course, if you multiply their sacrifice several thousand times, you get an idea what these brave patriots put on the line to defend this country, and to help down trodden people around the world.

So, I'm asking you to say a prayer for our brave troops. And if you could add in a personal word of protection for my niece, and strength to her sweet family, it would be appreciated.

A personal note

2009-10-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm visiting my sister in Lake Tahoe for a few days. Today, four years ago, our sweet mom passed away, and we will go and stand near her graveside and share thoughts and happy memories. It is a beautiful day with bright blue skies, the pungent smell of pine, and not one bit of sorrow. Oh, we miss our funny, optimistic mom, but we know she's busy in a glorious place.

Some people may think that that kind of simple faith is delusional, but I have had too many confirmations of a loving presence and guide to be a sophist on the subject.

All morning I've been singing my mom's favorite hymn, Scatter Sunshine, and several times I think I've heard her humming harmony to my soprano.

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-10-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it."

--George Bernard Shaw--

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-10-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Freedom is a tricky thing. Some great thinker (either Cicero, or Voltaire, or Thomas Jefferson) said that "freedom without self-control is anarchy." I say, freedom without self-control is a scary proposition.

If some persons in a society don't exhibit self-control, what's to be done? We can't let them run amok and threaten the peace and safety of the other members of the group, right? What we do is institute laws--rules and restrictions to curb excessive behavior. The best laws are those that are not excessive or restrictive, allow for personal freedom, and at the same time protect the members.

Like I said, freedom is a tricky thing. Perhaps one way we could support the ideals of freedom is by exercising a bit more self-control.

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-10-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

"The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves."

--William Hazlitt--

1778-1830

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-10-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

"The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously."

--Hubert Humphrey--

I love that!

Haven't you ever had to sit and listen to somebody yammer on about this or that, and seriously wanted to amend the First Amendment...Freedom of Speech except for this yokel who is so irritating that he should have electrician's tape stuck over his mouth at all times except to eat and brush his teeth.

I was at a business party with my hubby one time, and was snagged by this fellow who went on and on about Medieval weaponry. I gave him his First Amendment rights for about twenty minutes and then I exercised a personal right, and...walked away.

My dad used to say, "Gale, you don't have to believe everything you hear." So true, and, I might add, you don't have to be bothered or worried by everything you hear. Shift through the rhetoric and take seriously the things that are true. And, if something is just plain silly, exercise your First and a Half Amendment rights, and...walk away. Ah, freedom!

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-10-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

I want to share this thought provoking quote with you. The words belong to George Washington, the first President of the United States. He offered these sentiments in his farewell speech when leaving office. I think they're amazing words to ponder.

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens...Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education...reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

--George Washington--

And in his reference to religion, I think Washington was inclusive of all spiritual sects which believe in a Creator, in right and wrong, in man's responsibility, and in an afterlife. These elements bring pretty much the whole world together, and make us stewards of the freedoms we are fortunate to possess.

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-10-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned--this is the sum of good government."

--Thomas Jefferson--

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-09-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

I figure if I'm going to write a series of posts about freedom, entitled, Let Freedom Ring, then I'd better start with a bit of background of why that phrase rings familiar in American heads and hearts.

All we have to do is sing a few stanzas of the song, My Country 'Tis of Thee, written by Samuel Francis Smith, and feelings about freedom begin to surface.

My country 'tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing.

Land where my father's died,

land of the Pilgrim's pride,

from every mountain side,

let freedom ring!

When someone rings a bell, it's usually to get your attention.Wake up! Listen! I have a message! Perhaps Samuel Smith had such sentiments in mind when he penned those words. Maybe he saw himself standing on a mountain side, ringing a bell, and proclaiming the virtues of freedom. Maybe he saw us all as bell ringers for freedom.

In silence people tend to sleep, to drift, to forget. I think we've seen that over the past several decades; Americans sort of snoozing through the political process and forgetting what an amazing legacy was left to us by our founding fathers. Perhaps it's time to wake up!

If we're going to let freedom ring from every mountain side, then each of us will need to pick up a bell and make some noise! And what a wondrous noise it will be.

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-09-28T07:32:00.001-07:00

Elections for Congress are looming, and I believe some of our Representatives are nervous--as they should be. People in America are waking up and speaking out, and I'm thrilled with the cacophony of voices filling the air. For the most part they're good voices; they are voices who are finally questioning where our country is headed, and how different it looks from the America of our Founding Fathers. These are voices who are asking about state's rights and basic freedoms.

Freedom. It's such a vital component of who we are as Americans.

Hmm. I think I'll do a month long posting about freedom...perhaps not every day like I did with service, but let's say we get together two or three times a week and think about this most wondrous of topics.

Let Freedom Ring! (I don't know exactly what that means), but let's find out!

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-22T10:52:00.001-07:00

Day 30**The End and the Beginning

Today is the final day of my month long posting on service. It has been a pleasure to offer thoughts on such a good subject. I hope you've enjoyed it. And I hope it may have prompted you to continue incorporating a tad of service in your walk through life. And remember, service does not need to be grand to be meaningful.

I will leave you with a poem about service. It's actually a hymn I found in a 19th century hymn book.

Have I Done Any Good

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad,

and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has any one's burden been lighter today

because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help, was I there?

Then wake up and do something more

than dream of your mansion above,

doing good is a pleasure,

a joy beyond measure,

a blessing of duty and love.

A true sentiment.

Please leave a comment and you may win a free copy of my book, The Route.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Day 29**Be Brave and Serve

Tomorrow will be the final day of this month long tour about service. Hopefully you've pondered a bit about the topic as I shared quotes, thoughts, and feelings. It's been a chance for me to discover what people of merit have said about the subject, and to evaluate my own life focus.

(sidebar) Did you know there were graduate programs in Philanthropy? Yep. Click here to check it out. www.naccouncil.org

(another sidebar) Think all billionaires are greedy louts? See what computer genius, Bill Gates and his wife Melinda think about service and volunteering at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. www.gatesfoundation.com

Today we're going to get down to the nitty gritty about service opportunities.

If you google the word volunteer, you'll come up with over a million sites to wander through. If that seems a little mind googling to you, narrow the search to the words: volunteer and the name of your state. Keep narrowing the search until you arrive at someplace close-to-home.

Following are some search sites which will also match you to volunteer opportunities in your area:
www.networkforgood.org
www.volunteermatch.org
www.handsonnetwork.org

You can also go to specific sites for: Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, United Way, and many many others.

Match your search to your area of interest or expertise. Example--if you go to one of the .org search sites above, they'll ask for a zip code and an area of interest. Say you're a computer person...type in mentoring, and the site will most likely take you to community centers or Boys and Girls Clubs in your area that need computer people to help teach young people, or the elderly, computer skills.

You can do the same for construction, medical, musical, language, reading...the list goes on and on. Do you love the outdoors? Your local state park's service site will offer volunteer opportunities to help in the parks. Love animals? Numerous chances exist to serve our four legged and feathered friends. You can even serve internationally if you want to go father afield.

If you want to stay closer to home, look around your neighborhood. Is there a nearby school, or hospital, or assisted living center that could use some extra help? Perhaps it's as simple as looking out your window and seeing a neighbor with needs. Sometimes it's looking within the walls of your own home.

Go on! Check out some service opportunities. Perhaps there's one custom fit to you!

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

Day 28**Service and Soup

Okay, I know...my comments are being posted late today, but I've been busy. True, Sunday is suppose to be a day of rest, but opportunities to serve sort of came up and hit me over the head (gently, of course). Although I'm tired, it's actually made for a very nice day.

Now I have my feet up, and after I finish this blog, which will be very short this evening, I'm eating a little dinner, and then maybe reading a book. Life is good.

I think my soup has finished cooking, so I will sign off for tonight and leave you with a wonderful quote.

"It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving."

--Mother Teresa--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

Day 27** Love and Service

"Love cannot remain by itself--it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service."

That's a quote from Mother Teresa, and it perfectly corresponds with the way she lived her life. Those weren't just words to her; she saw the suffering around her in India and decided to reach out and care for the poorest of the poor. Her service taught us so much about love. And when she died, the world honored her for her life of grace. Kings and presidents presented flowers of respect to this little woman who died with only a sweater and two pair of sandals as her worldly possessions.

Why? Why was the world interested in her simple life?

Perhaps because we long to see sainthood in action. We long to be reminded what the best of the human spirit looks like. At times, each good person stops and says, "What am I doing on this planet? Is running around in this hamster wheel really getting me anywhere? What's really important?" It's at these times that we look for guides. We look for people who have found a different path through life. People who bring goodness and light into dark places. People who build and lift.

None of us can live the life of Mother Teresa. That was her life, her calling. But, we can be inspired by her life to do a little something more regarding our service to others...it just means putting love into action.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

Day 26**E=MC2 and Service

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

--Albert Einstein--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

Day 25**Service and Sacrifice

This morning I was watching a You Tube video of the combined Military Academy Choirs singing the national anthem. I had to run for the tissue box. It was very appropriate and meaningful for them to sing about the flag, and freedom, and sacrifice. They sang with simplicity and true hearts. For them it was all about the song and its meaning. It took my breath away.

I'm very sentimental about these young men and women who love America with such passion that they're willing to put their lives on the line. They serve with honor in the most dangerous places on earth. They serve with dignity and compassion. Yes, compassion. You and I have seen the pictures of tough American soldiers interacting with village children or cradling a wounded infant in their arms. And no, those pictures aren't staged.

Interesting that we call it military service. "What branch of the service are you in?" Isn't that how we ask a military patriot if they're Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine? And they answer, "I serve in the Navy."

Service is love, and the greatest love is manifest by those who would lay down their life for a friend. It's a principle those young service men and women, who sang the national anthem with such commitment, understand with perfect clarity.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Day 24**Now and When?

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

--Anne Frank--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

Day 23**Sour Cream and Service

"Little acts of kindness can add up to a lifetime of happiness."

I'm putting quote marks around that little sentiment even though I don't know who actually wrote it. I took it from the lid of the Daisy sour cream carton. I figure the marketing people came up with this endearing idea to place uplifting messages on their sour cream cartons to brighten people's day.

I can imagine the business meeting:

CEO: Hey, Fred (the marketing executive). Let's put some happy thoughts on the lids of our Daisy sour cream cartons.

Fred: Great idea!

CEO: Get advertising on it right away.

Fred: Will do. Janice (ad lady). Have your team come up with happy thoughts, okay?

Janice: Happy thoughts? Great idea! Love it!

Fred: Any ideas off the top of your head?

Janice: Sure. How about "Little acts of kindness can add up to a lifetime of happiness"?

Fred: Perfect. Let's run with it.

And there you have it--thoughts about service along with my sour cream. Now every time I dip into the tub for sour cream on my baked potato I can be reminded about the joy of doing little acts of kindness for others. It certainly is making me smile.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

Day 22**Actions and Results

On day 13, I wrote about the touching story told in the book, Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White. The story is one of friendship between the spider Charlotte and the pig Wilbur, and the connection they share because of the threads in Charlotte's web.

I suppose I'm thinking about it again today because of this quote I found by Herman Melville. "We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results."

I love the image. Delicate silken strands running between myself and every other person, and whatever I send out along that strand, eventually coming back to me.

Sometimes we have the misfortune to be the recipient of negative vibrations from someone else's strand. I've come to realize that I can't worry about that. I really only have control over what I send out. Charlotte chose to send out friendship, service, and hope along her strand, and because of it, good things happened in Wilbur's life.

As I think about the thousands of precious strands that connect me with others, I find I want to be a Charlotte.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

Day 21**Christ and Buddha

It's Sunday again. Sunday is a good day to reflect on service because every true faith teaches service as one of its main principles. Jesus taught service in every aspect of his life. One can't help but see this thread of goodness in the story of the Good Samaritan, or in the edict to share one's coat and cloak with another in need.

The first great truth of the Buddha is that, life is suffering, and the way for one to purify their life is to serve others. Enlightenment.

I think this might be a good day to ponder concepts of truth which have survived for thousands of years. And perhaps to put those principles into practice.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

Day 20**The Service of 9/11

I'm always pensive on September 11th. The events of that day stunned my spirit, and as the anniversary of the day arrives every year I find myself pondering the events and praying for this country I love.

The images that were most riveting were those of the brave policemen and fire fighters who ran toward the terror to save human life; people on the street holding each other; complete strangers caring for a wounded hero. Service was in its purest form that day. Service that overcomes fear and selfishness. Service that uplifts and sanctifies.

Our hearts grew larger that day. Our souls grew brighter. In a day of utter darkness, service was a beacon of light.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

Day 19**Me and You

Do you sometimes think that life is giving you a raw deal? Maybe things aren't going the way you planned. I know this sounds like a conundrum, but the best thing to do when suffering a bout of self pity, is to forget yourself and serve others. I know it sounds nuts, but it works.

There's a wise saying I read somewhere that goes, "Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive."

I wouldn't suggest this to you if I hadn't tried it myself and found great peace and fulfillment when I've moved beyond my troubles to reach out, in healthy ways, to someone in need. So, if you're having a down day, look up, and find someone to lift. You'll lift yourself at the same time.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Day 18**Meals and Memories

My book, The Route, is a fictionalized account of my experiences delivering meals-on-wheels to an interesting, feisty, and funny group of seniors. Each Thursday I'd drop off meals and spend a few minutes with people whose lives were filled with stories and wisdom. In the process, I assure you, I got back much more than I gave.

That's the magical thing about service--you plant a little seed and all of a sudden you have an apple tree of abundance. Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

I found this to be true. What a joy in my life that I met, and grew to love the wonderful folks on my route.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

Day 17**East and West

"He who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own."

--Confucius--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Day 16**Happiness and Service

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

--Albert Schweitzer--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Day 15***Work and Service

Today is Labor Day where we celebrate the American worker by taking a day off to play and be with our families. I love that juxtaposition.

You may be wondering why I'm writing about work on my series of blogs concerned with service. This is my approach. Often we think of work as drudgery...something we slog through from day to day just to earn a paycheck. We're not aware of the service we're providing, nor do we appreciate the service other workers provide us. Perhaps if we turn our vision ever so slightly we can see work in a different way.

I get up in the morning and go down to breakfast. Thank you people in the factory who boxed the cereal that I'm eating. Thanks Mr. farmer who raised the cows that produced the milk. Thanks to the truck drivers that drive stuff all over the country. Thanks to the checker at the grocery store, the person who dry cleans my clothes, the bank teller, the road workers, the girl who cuts my hair, the police officers, the military men and women. The list of people to thank for their service is long.

Now, pat yourself on the back for the service you provide to others, and go out and enjoy your Labor Day by playing!

Oh, and don't forget to thank the girl who scoops your ice cream cone.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

Day 14**Bells and whistles

It's a beautiful day today: blue sky, puffy white clouds, just the right temperature. It's the kind of day where I want to take a walk and whistle a happy little tune as I'm strolling.

Do you feel sometimes like a day is a gift and somehow you need to say thank you? Well, it's that kind of day for me. Along with all the tough things I've had to face in my life, there have been tons of amazingly good things; things that have lifted my soul and made me know I was loved.

It's Sunday again (as it is every seven days) and the church bells are ringing. Perhaps the best way to say thank you for sky, and clouds, and the ability to stroll is to sit for a few minutes in meditation in church and get a little inspiration from Heaven. It's truly a marvelous place to get insight into the reason for being on the planet, and it's interesting how often the message from the pulpit concerns service. It's also a great place to add drops to your cup.

So, I'm heading off to the Big Service Station to refuel and say thank you. Hear me whistling as I go?

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

Day 13**The Spider and the Pig

I just reread, Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White. It's a lovely story about Wilbur the pig and his friendship with Charlotte the spider. In this little book are big doses of truth about life. Contained within 184 pages are thoughts about the ebb and flow of time, gentle warnings about being judgemental, and sentiments about service; all told in a style of whimsy and delight.

I wanted to share a little bit of the book with you because it tells a perfect truth about friendship and service. I won't spoil the story for you if you haven't read it, but Charlotte has saved Wilbur's life in a miraculous way, and Wilbur wonders why.

"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."
"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all the trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."

Indeed.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Day 12**Service and a Simple Soul

"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

--Dr. Martin Luther King--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

Day 11**You and Not You

"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

--Andrew J. Holmes--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

Day 10**You and You

Most of the time service is about others, but once in a while you have to take care of yourself. Yep. It has nothing to do with being selfish, but about being able to share. Remember that 'cup of love' theory we talked about last time? Well, it's pretty hard to give drops away to others if your store of drops is depleted.

Stephen Covey, in his book, 7 Habits for Highly Effective People, calls it "sharpening the saw." A lumberjack has a hard time cutting trees with a dull saw. Covey suggests taking some time for yourself to get the saw blade sharp. If you do that, you'll be much more efficient. The same goes for service. If you take some time to fill your cup with drops, then you'll have more to give away. Makes sense, huh?

So, accept compliments, pal around with friends who make you laugh, take a walk in the mountains, eat chocolate, or graciously allow others to serve you. You'll be healthier and happier.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-09-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Day 9**Love and Caring

I heard this analogy about love and caring many years ago, and I want to share it with you. The person who shared it with me called it the ‘cup of love’ theory.

When we’re born we have a little cup in our hearts filled with liquid. When something good happens to us, drops go into the cup. When something bad happens, drops are taken out of the cup. When our cups get low on drops we become sad, cranky, or mean. We don’t share drops with others for fear there won’t be enough left to keep us going.

We’ve all come across people whose cups are low on liquid: surly store clerks, sour folks at the bus stop, or pushy people at the market check-out. Doesn’t their offensive behavior annoy you? Me too, and I find myself wishing that they’d just drop off the planet. Not nice, I know, especially since I’ve had my share of cranky days.

Anyway… this is a time to put the theory into practice. First, stop and think that maybe this person is having a really terrible day, or month, or life, and their cup is really low on drops. Just thinking that thought, changes everything. Now, take a few drops out of your cup and give it to the person: a soft tone of voice, a smile, an offer to help them with something. You’ll be amazed the change that usually follows in the person’s demeanor. Even a few drops will make a difference.

Trust me…now that you know the theory, you’ll find yourself applying it just to see what happens. Enjoy the results!

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

Day 8**Work and Love

“Work without love is slavery.”

--Mother Teresa--

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Day 7**Sunday Services

My nephew, Brian sent me some notable thoughts about service, and I thought Sunday would be a lovely day to share them as they're taken from the Christian New Testament.

In the book of John, chapter thirteen, we find a tender story of the Savior and his disciples. Jesus knows that his ministry is about to end and he desires to impress on his followers one of the principle doctrines of the kingdom--service. He therefore instructs each of his disciples, in turn, to sit and allow him to wash their feet.

Feet washing in ancient times was done as a sign of respect. The guest's sandals were removed and the dirty feet were washed in a bowl of clean water. The task was usually performed by a member of the family or a servant.

Jesus knelt on the floor and washed not one pair of feet, but twelve. When his disciple, Peter began to protest that the Lord was too grand a person to wash his feet, Jesus gently reminded him, "You call me Master and Lord, and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

Peter learned that no one is so grand or important that they are above serving others, and that true service is not done for show or aggrandizement, but is offered in humility and anonymity. It's a good lesson for Sunday...and every day.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

Day 6**Push and Shove

There's a lot of anger and angst in the world. I shiver when I watch the news and see all the violence and hatred. It makes me feel meek and weak. How can I possibly make a difference against all that mess?

Do you feel that way at times?

Mother Teresa said, "If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

We belong to each other in the world, in our communities, and in our families. Most of us can't do anything about bringing peace to the world, but we sure can do something loving in our communities and our families.

So, don't be overwhelmed. Pick out someone in your neighborhood or family who needs some love and attention and make their day better. It may seem like a small thing, but I think any act of service pushes back the ugliness and darkness.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

Day 5**You and Me

Marian Wright Edelman (1939- ) is an American activist for children. I am simply going to quote her this morning and leave her words for us to ponder

"A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back (and I would add, Mother Teresa)--but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you."

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

Day 4**Scrooge and Marley

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, is one of my all time favorites. Every Christmas season I look forward to watching the movie (in one of its many forms), or reading the book. It’s a timeless tale of service featuring delightful ghosts, magical travels through time, and, of course, the wonderfully reprehensible character of Ebenezer Scrooge.

One of my favorite scenes is where Scrooge is haunted by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. The ghoul is weighed down with strong boxes, accounting books, and heavy chains. “These are the chains I forged in life,” Marley informs Scrooge, and warns that the burdens allotted for Ebenezer to wear upon his death are many times more ponderous.

Miserly Mr. Scrooge repudiates Marley’s warning by assuring him that he was always a good man of business.

“Business!” Marley wails. “Mankind was my business! Their common welfare was my business!”

That scene scared the stuffing out of me when I was little. It obviously scared Ebenezer too, for he agrees to allow other spooky spirits to visit him in hopes of undoing his fate.

In the end it all turns out well, with Mr. Scrooge changing from a selfish man, into a man who reaches out to others, and in the reaching discovering an interesting benefit—he’s happy. I love the final scenes where the once grumpy Ebenezer can’t stop giggling for joy as he contemplates different ways to serve others.

I suppose the moral of A Christmas Carol is, if you don’t want your sleep disturbed by a parcel of pesky poltergeist, be on the look-out for a Bob Cratchit or Tiny Tim who might need your generosity.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

Day 3**Mother Teresa and me

Mother Teresa is one of my touchstones, and although she has passed away, I speak of her in the present tense, because her words and her example are living things. Her wise thoughts concerning service will be scattered lovingly throughout these posts, and we can all be assured that this little mighty woman practiced what she preached.

"The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace." Mother Teresa

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

Day 2**Cloud and Sunshine

Are you feeling cranky today, tired, unappreciated? Take a deep breath, look around, and find someone to serve. James M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan said, “Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

Here are the words to a hymn by Lanta Wilson Smith, entitled Scatter Sunshine.

In a world where sorrow ever will be known,
Where are found the needy and the sad and lone,
How much joy and comfort you can all bestow,
If you scatter sunshine everywhere you go.

Slightest actions often meet the sorest needs,
For the world wants daily little kindly deeds.
Oh what care and sorrow you may help remove,
With your songs and courage, sympathy and love.

So, put on your sunscreen and go brighten your day by cheering someone else.

Stops at the Service Station

2009-08-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

Day 1**Salamanders and Sea Stars

I imagine that many of you are familiar with the story of the little boy and the sea stars. For those who are not, the premise is that this little boy is walking on an ocean beach and comes upon hundreds of stranded sea stars. Fearing for their lives, he begins to pick them up, and throw them back into the ocean. An older gentleman watches the little boy’s efforts and comments on the futility, suggesting that there are so many stranded sea stars that all his toil really doesn’t matter. The little boy ponders the gentleman’s words for a moment, and then throws another sea star into the water. “Well, it matters to that one,” he responds.

I was four years old when I had a similar experience. My saving efforts involved salamanders. My family lived in Placerville, California and we had a small creek next to our house. After a rain the salamanders would migrate out of the creek and settle onto the rural roadway where they would inevitably be squished by the neighborhood cars. It was traumatic for me, so I’d spend a good deal of my playtime picking up salamanders and throwing them back into the water. My two older sisters complained that it was gross and stupid and pleaded with my mom to make me stop. To her credit, she ignored them, and left me to my salamander saving.

The moral of these stories is that service need not be a huge deal to be significant. Edmund Burke, the eighteenth century Irish statesman and philosopher said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”

Perhaps today we can go out and do a little something. Save a sea star or a salamander, or lift one person who is sad.

Service Stations

2009-08-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

How many of you remember ‘Service Stations’? Raise your hands. Well, I remember them well. They were places where you went to get fuel for your car, and the experience was very different from the one we have today. You didn’t jump out of your vehicle, swipe your credit card, and start pumping the gas yourself…oh, no. You would pull into the station, roll down your window, and wait for the young man to come up and ask what you needed. These champions of service were always dressed in spiffy uniforms, and they not only filled your car’s gas tank with fuel, but checked tire pressure and oil levels, and washed your windows. It was wonderful. As a woman, I always felt pampered. I like being pampered once in awhile. I like it when a man opens a door for me. It’s not that I can’t open a door for myself or pump my own petrol; it just takes away a tiny bit of the burden of having to slog through this world by myself. And, it connects me to someone else. I like that. It feels good to be served and to serve.

Today I’m talking about service for a reason. Beginning tomorrow, and continuing everyday for a month, I will offer anecdotes, quotes, and observations concerning service. I will, at times, be asking for your insight and input. This concentration on service will correspond with a blog tour that’s being done to promote my newest book, The Route; a novel based on my experiences delivering meals-on-wheels to a group of wondrous and wacky older folks, and the life changing lessons I learned from these encounters.

I’m looking forward to the month of daily blogs on service. I have titled the endeavor, Stops at the Service Station, and I hope you’ll join me.

The Route

2009-08-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

My book, The Route, is a fictionalized account of the years I spent delivering meals-on-wheels to a wonderful and wacky group of seniors. Sometimes the loaded food baskets were a bit heavy, many of the home situations were difficult, and some of the older folks were cranky, but I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. It taught me to value the lives of the seniors, and presented me with the opportunity to evaluate my own choices, and where I was headed on life's highway. It also taught me the great joy of service.

The Buddah instructed that to reach Nirvana (heaven) one had to become selfless and serve others. In fact, the word Nirvana means "the putting out of fire." The fire is the fire of selfishness.

It didn't seem possible that the simple act of dropping off a meal and chatting for five minutes at each stop would make a difference, but it did, especially in my life. The folks I served had made it through a myriad of life experiences and struggles, and most had come through with more resilience, compassion, and humility.

I grew to love Mary, with her down-to-earth sense of humor, Tom with his fascinating stories of growing up in China, and Bea with her quiet kindness. I even grew to love crusty ole Viola with her acerbic tongue and unreasonable demands. Service and love can accomplish amazing things.

I had a great time writing, The Route, because it gave me the opportunity to go back and remember all the wonderful characters and life changing lessons. It was also a way of saying thank you to the amazing older folks who let me share a part of their lives.

Heros

2009-07-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

I’m sure most of us had to write that fifth grade English assignment to commit to paper the name and background of a person who’d caught our eleven-year-old attention, a person who was larger-than-life, a person who had qualities we admired.

It’s been so many years since 5th grade, I’m a bit fuzzy on the person I chose—it was my dad, my mom, Helen Keller, or Abraham Lincoln. I think it might have been Abraham Lincoln because I clearly remember how taken I was when Mrs. Panatoni (my 5th grade teacher) read us a book about Lincoln as a young man. I liked that Lincoln was a poor backwoods yokel, I liked that he was honest and hard working, and I really liked that he loved a good book and spent many hours reading by candlelight.

I myself spent many hours reading by sunlight, 60 watt bulb, or flashlight.

Through the written word, Lincoln’s world, wisdom, and sense of justice expanded. His soul was basically a good soul made more compassionate by the precious words he devoured as a young man. He would go on to study and practice law, serve as an Illinois state legislator, and eventually become the 16th President of the United States.

As we approach the 4th of July, I’m a bit sad that our political leaders seem to have lost the ideals of grace and grit that make up a great leader. Our country’s Founding Fathers were not perfect men, but they perfectly understood the principles upon which this great nation should be built: democracy, checks and balances, small federal government, and state’s rights. It is a system in which the innate desire for individual freedom has freest reign; a system to which oppressed people around the world have looked for a pattern.

How tragic if this great country loses the sense of itself as a beacon of freedom, if, because of complacency, the citizens of the United States of America forfeit their basic inalienable rights, and certainly tragic if our elected leaders delude themselves into thinking that they are above the desires of the majority.

As I celebrate my country on the 4th of July, I will recommit to voting, contacting my Senators and Representatives in the House on vital issues, attending town meetings and rallies, and reading books and literature that will keep me informed.

I’m reading a great book right now entitled, The 5000 Year Leap. I think my hero, Abraham Lincoln, would have liked it.

Sister Time

2009-06-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

I've been derelict in my blog writing, but I have a good excuse. My sister was visiting from California and I put all my focus on her and having fun. Not that writing blogs isn't fun, it's just that the thrall of technology must once in awhile be broken for adventures in the real world: walks in the mountains, sitting on the back porch and eating ice cream, reminiscing about childhood tomfoolery, going out to lunch, shopping for shoes, doing genealogy, going to movies, riding ATVs; the list goes on and on. Real things in the real world that stick to your soul. It's an amazing place, the real world, with dazzling noise, wacky people, and wondrous smells. And what about periwinkle? I was mesmerized by that color in my box of Crayola crayons.

My sister left for home yesterday, and I will miss her. I'll talk to her on the phone and send her letters...I'll even email her, but it won't be the same. I won't be able to see her face when she cracks up over something I've said and I won't be able to feel how much she loves me through a hug.

Yep. There's a lot to be said for technology, but it can't hold a candle to the real world.

I think I'll go out and prune my rose bushes.

Sleep, Anyone?

2009-06-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

I'm tired today. I was going to blame it on allergies, but I think it's actually because I only slept about five hours last night. My dog was snoring, my hubby was away on a business trip, and I'd eaten radishes from the garden late in the afternoon. These things, combined with having many decisions to make about book marketing, caused a whopping insomnia.

I know that all of my sleep depriving mongrels are insignificant when compared to the worry monsters that other people have to face, but try telling that to your active brain at 2 am. Oh! I did try telling that to my active brain at 2 am. It didn't even get me a drooping eyelid.

I thought about my grandmother's cure...warm milk toast. Yuck! I thought about my grandpa's cure...a shot of Bourbon. (sorry, Mormon girl). I thought about my mom's cure...a soothing hot bath. That sounded nice, but who wants to get up at 2 am and run bath water?

Through all this frustration, my dog continued snoring.

Sometime around 3 am, I drifted off, which is a nice way of saying I crashed through sheer exhaustion. So, today, I'm tired. I'm slogging my way through laundry, dishes, writing, lunch with friends, and blogs. Please excuse the meandering thoughts. Hopefully, I'll be more coherent next time.

I'd love some of your thoughts about sleep helps. I'll make a file and peruse it the next time the insomnia monster strikes.

Brave or Dumb?

2009-06-03T14:48:00.000-07:00

I caught a bat, once, with my bare hands. My dog and I were home alone, tucked in bed, reading a book. Well, I was reading, my dog was—I don’t know, occupied with doggie thoughts. Suffice it to say, we were minding our own business when this little brown bat flies into the room. My blood temperature went to 32 degrees in six seconds flat. And my dog? She did nothing except watch—her head going back and forth, up and down like one of those bobble head dogs on a dashboard. She looked like Ted from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” I knew I was on my own.

I’d been washing the windows that day and the screens were propped against the wall. I slid out of bed, grabbed one of the wobbly units, and took a swing at the flying fur ball.

You’re laughing, aren’t you? You’re probably thinking I’d forgotten about sonar, or radar, or whatever super power it is that bats possess, and…you’d be right. Hey! I was in panic mode. I’d like to see what you would have done in the same situation.

I took another four swings and the bat disappeared. I thought I’d scared it out into the front room, but as I looked at the screen, I saw sharp little claws clinging to the wire mesh—claws, and wings, and teeth! I stared at it, and it stared back. I clamped my hand over it. Yes, that’s what I did. I clamped my hand over it. Hey! I was in panic mode. I’d like to see what you would have done in the same situation.

I prayed that it wouldn’t swivel its tiny head around and bite me with those needle-like teeth. I walked slowly to the front door talking to the manic mammal in soothing tones…“Don’t bite me. Don’t bite me. Don’t bite me, okay? I’m not going to hurt you, okay? I’m just going to put you outside. Everything’s fine. If you bite me though, I might just stomp you to death out of panic and terror. I wouldn’t mean to, but it’s better not to find out, okay?”

By this time I’d reached the front door. Luckily, we have the kind of front door knob that’s not a knob, but a handle. I pushed it down with my foot, and the door opened! I maneuvered my way out onto the porch and released the critter into the dark night. Such a relief! My dog ambled to my side, sniffing the night air, and thinking to share in the rescue credit. Huh! I did it! I did it all by myself! Me, all by myself. In your face. Take that! It was then I actually thought about what I’d done, and my body started trembling. I looked down at my hand and realized holding onto a frightened frantic bat was probably not such a good idea. Ya think? I tossed the window screen, raced to the bathroom, and washed my hands with every kind of bar soap, liquid soap, and bath gel I could find.

The moral of the story? Sometimes we do things without thinking, and sometimes those things come off as brave or noble, and other times…not so much.

Tomato or Tamato?

2009-05-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

The English language is brutal. Of course, I don't know Japanese or Mongolian, so they may be bad too. It's just that I get tied in knots over words like immigration and emigration. As I read over my last blog I hollered, "Hey! is that the right word? Is that the right spelling?" I guess either one will do as they both mean a movement or migration of some sort, but does one more accurately describe people and the other a flock of birds?

Life is complicated enough without having to worry about every word that flies out of our mouths, or finds its way from our heads, to our pens, to the paper, and don't even get me started on punctuation. What's with semi colons, anyway? Sounds like a mini disease that would interest a gastro enterologist. On the other hand, I guess it would be really tough if I had to deal with that mystical picture writing the Japanese have to conquer, right? So, I should just cowboy up and count my blessings.

As an author, words are my stock in trade, so I suppose I should be praising the little lettered creatures, but, in all honesty, they often snarl and bite, and all I want to do is get after them with a rolled up newspaper.

I feel better now that I've vented. Ahhh, deep cleansing breath.

I'd love to hear about your word peeves. Share them with me, and we can grumble together.

Who Has the Marshmallows?

2009-05-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

The first word on a blank page is a scary proposition. It means you’re going to start writing down thoughts, feelings, and opinions, and those very personal thoughts, feelings, and opinions might be considered by the reading public to be rubbish. It’s taking a chance to make an idea concrete by writing it down—yep, scary. But I’ve decided to do it anyway. Not that I think I have anything earth shattering or profound to impart, but I do have a quirky sense of humor and some great stories from my childhood. Actually, I have some pretty funny stuff that happened just yesterday. I also have some very weird and wonderful friends and family members I can talk about, though I promise to change their names to protect their anonymity. Then again, if I compliment them in some way, I will be forthcoming with accurate identities.

I call my blog, Stories Around the Kamp Fire, because, one, I love a good story; two, I love the out of doors; and three, I love campfires (safely contained in a fire pit, of course). I have to state that emphatically, because I have a nephew who is a commander with the US Forest Service.

The reason I spell, camp fire—Kamp fire, is not to be cutsie, but to pay homage to my maiden name which is, Kamp. My crazy Danish Great Grandpa emigrated over the pond from Denmark in the late 1800’s, and changed his last name at Ellis Island from Kampf to Kamp. So, there you have it.

If you opt to join me around the Kamp fire every once in awhile; I’ll be delighted. I will make one tiny request. Please don’t be overly critical of my grammar and punctuation. I’ll do the best I can with knowledge stored from Mrs. Panatoni’s 5th grade English lessons, and the few creative writing classes I managed in college, but I’m only human. I do promise to proofread, and to take advantage of the wonders of modern technology in using spell checker, thus saving the English wonder kids from too much teeth gnashing. If something is glaringly unEnglish, point it out, and I’ll put in my notebook of self-improvement.

The first word of my maiden blog is down and the last word is fast approaching. Thanks for joining me on this storytelling adventure.

“And they lived happily ever after.”