Being a Writer

     I have told people that I am a writer. I have told myself the same thing. I am a writer.

    I have written for a library newsletter, I have written stories, unfinished, and I have written letters.
It is hard to think like a writer. I really don't know anyone that profess to be writers. I really don't read like a writer.

    When reading like a writer you should ask how they got the words to go where they want and how they got the characters to do what they do. In all of the how-tos that I have read writers usually say that the book, story, article wrote itself. Now, what they mean by that is that when you write you have the facts, actions and reactions in mind, but the characters choose the where and when this all takes place.

    I was trying to figure this out while sitting one day, and decided that it is like a dress. When you ask a dressmaker how she does her work, she will tell you that you start with the basics. A pattern, thread, material and pins. Sometimes she knows how the dress will turn out, sometimes not. If you are a dressmaker, as opposed to a designer, you follow the instructions and the dress will pretty look like the picture on the pattern. If you are a designer, you start with an idea, and run from there.

    Writing is pretty much like that, too. You can start from a template and add your indredients and come out with a pretty good story. It may not be new, but will be unique. You learn what works and what doesn't, for you.

     However, practice makes perfect. No matter what you write.  Write.  Write. Write. And then write some more. In that writing, you have to edit. Make decisions on what works and what doesn't. What puts your dream out there.

    Now, if you will excuse me, I will go write some more. Have a great day and follow your dream.

Memorial Day

     When I grew up in southwest Missouri, we called it decoration day.  I don't have a lot of memories of going to the cemetaries and putting on flowers. I do have a memory of going to a little creek to gather watercress in the Spring. It was Clear Water creek and I think it was near the cemetary where all my mother's family is buried. I could be wrong. But that is how I have thought of that creek all these years.

    My next favorite memory of decoration day is when I was about 12 or so and we lived in Lebanon, Mo. I had gone to my aunt's out in the country for the week-end. They made crape paper flowers and dipped them in wax, to make them last, and then, we sorted through them to decide which ones went where. They had a dinner on the grounds of the cemetary, where we had gone to church earlier, that day. After dinner, read that lunch ( I am a country girl), we went to each of our relative's graves and placed flowers. My uncle was buried there close to his brothers and sisters. I remember my aunt always spending time by his gravesite and we went with other kids and played. Leaving her time to tell him whatever she wanted.

   My parents are now buried in that same cemetary, and we make the trek there at least twice a year to place flowers and remember. We always make it the week before Memorial Day, but usually not Decoration Day which is the week before Memorial Day, I think. They still have their dinner and decorate the graves. I find it really nice that someone always puts some flowers on my parents grave before we get there. It is nice to know they are remembered by someone other than our own family.

  We should always try to remember the person to whom we are delivering flowers. It seems that we just put out the flowers and say, " Well, that's done for another year." When you think of those gone, try to remember their lives. If they served in the military think on their sacrifice, even it is only the time they served and not their lives. It was a special time to them. Maybe they hated it, maybe they loved it, but it was special to them. It is special to us.

   Have a blessed Memorial Day.

Storms

     It seems there always storms in our lives. Whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. Sometimes they converge and affect all levels. Here, in Missouri it has been pretty miserable weather since December. There was a tornado in December, snows in January and February, cold weather in March until May. Then we started the rainy season with floods and dam gates having to be opened and causing more floods. Now, we are dealing with tornadoes and thunderstorms.

     We all know the suffering of the people of Joplin, Missouri. They are dealing with putting back together lives and their town from scratch. You do it one step at a time and pray for the wisdom and endurance it will take to do it.

      We sometimes we face similiar circumstances spiritually when all of our stuff is gone. We think all is lost. It isn't. Stuff can be re-accumulated and happy memories are made again. God is with us. He will give us the way to do all this. Even if, as my granddaughter says, " I don't hear his answers." They are there. Lift up your heart and praise him. Lift up your voice and say, "Thank you,". Lift up your hands..... and work.

     We will all get through this with love, laughter and tear.  Remember us all in your prayers and do what you can to help, even in your own back yard.

Wanting and Getting

   We all know the phrase:"What you see is what you get." That may true, but what really is is that what you want is not what you get.

    Everyone has wanted something really badly and when they get it, wonder what the attraction was in the first place. When the kids rush to open the presents that they just know contain what they asked for and twenty minutes later leave the gift, and the paper crushed on the floor, we say they are ungrateful.

    This may not be the case. It may well be that they got what they wanted, but it was not what they wanted.

    You have seen the commercials for baby dolls that blink, cry, eat, poop, and giggle. When Susie gets said doll, it does all that stuff. Susie is not happy with the baby doll. Why? Because Susie wanted a doll that reacted to her. None of this is reacting to Susie. It is just doing what it was meant to do. Sometimes that isn't fun. That may well be why Susie prefers a doll that does nothing on its own. She make it do, at least in her mind, what she wants it to do. She can make it cry, make it stop, and be happy doing that.

    When we ask God for things, we are asking for things to be the way WE want them.

    You all have been there. You asked for nightgown and got hammer. Neither of things has anything to do with the other. Except, if you have a husband who is going to build you a new bed and wants you to help. It works out well and you get the nightgown, too.

    I have had people ask me if God answers my prayers. I simply cannot tell you. Mainly because I don't keep track. I pray believing that God will answer my prayers and that is all I need to know.

    I have asked for a loving husband. I got one. I asked for a 5 foot 6 inch blond, curvy body. I did not get that. Did I get a body? Yep. Do I like it? Sometimes. Am I grateful for it? Yep. I just know that I am really looking forward to heaven where I can endure cold without covering my head and seeing without glasses. Both of which I have had to do/have since very young.

   The point to all this wordiness is to accept what we are given, make the best use of it and giggle now and then with wonder of it.

   

Do I Matter?

   That is quite a question. I know that I matter to many people and God. Perhaps that should read God and many people. I know that I matter to God. He sent His only Son to die for me and I accept that with gladness.

   However, the other day I was visiting with a couple of ladies and of course, talking. We hit a great many subjects, but what got my attention was when I chimed in on the conversation, they went back to their comments. You know what I mean.

  " So, Sally, how are the kids?"

  " Oh, doing well, Nancy."

 " How are you're kids?"

 " Oh, the other day my daughter called and told me the cutest story about her daughter. Breath.

" Nancy did you say you were going to Branson next week?"

   You will notice that when I introduced my daughter, they went to another subject.

 Perhaps, I was not supposed to introduce family names. Anyway, the conversation continued.

" Nancy, where have you worked?"

"Oh, no where, acutally. I was a stay at home mom when the kids were little, and now, a stay at home wife." Nancy said.

" Where did you work, Sally?" Nancy asked.

" Oh, I was an admin til I retired and now, I  do part-time secretarial." Nancy replied.

" What did you do?" and they both looked at me.

" I was an alligator trainer." I replied.

" How nice."

" Nancy, where would you like to go for lunch?"

 I held my tongue.

We went to lunch at a nice little restaurant where they serve specialty sandwiches.

Mine was a tongue sandwich.That way, I could talk with tongue in cheek.

Birthdays

  This past week was my birthday. Now, with a birthday at the end of the month, I tend to claim the entire month of March as my birthday.

   It did not start that way. It used to build until THE day, and then it was done. I was queen for a day.

   Well, that's not enough. As someone told me this week, " At my age I start at the beginning of the month, in case I don't make it to the end!". That is not entirely the reason I like to take the whole month.

   Have you ever felt you had failed the person you really liked just because you forgot the DAY of the birth? Well, I am just trying to make you all feel better if you happen to forget the day of my birth, but remember it sometime. Trust me. Sometime is better than never.

   Did I have a good birthday? I had a great birthday. We have a tradition in our family between me and my hubby. We go to Presleys' show on each other's birthday and anniversary and also to Circle B Chuckwagon. If they are both available on the day we do both, otherwise, we go when available. That is what we did this week and we had to do it on two different days, which brings us back to the longer celebration of birthdays. Several people commented on how much I celebrated my birthday. Just enjoying being a year older.

   Have a great day.

Being Positive in a Negative World

     I just reaad an excellent newsletter put out by C. Hope Clark on negativism and writing.

     The point was we are all hit with negative news all the time, whether it is national or personal. News people thrive on the horrible and worse. We get to where we seem to be looking for nothing but the bad news.

     I have always thought that I was a positive person.

     However, recently, I have been listening to my conversations with people and think that I see only the irritating habits in people. Why is that?

     I have an amazing God who has given me an amazing life and, even though there have been rough spots and dreams not realized, He has been beside me and held me up. That alone should keep me on the positive side of life.

    I have had family that have not behaved the way I want, or treated me with the respect I THINK I deserve. That is no reason to see only the bad in people.

   I have been trying to remember the little boy who cried when his kite flew away and allowed me to hold him and comfort him. Kind of hard when said little boy is now a man who tells me he doesn't feel like part of my family. Well, he is part of my family and how we feel really doesn't change that. I will love him and his family no matter what.

   I have a grandson who thinks that he does not want us around for his special days. That is his option. We will still love him and remember the little boy who stood in a restaurant and said," Tol' you I'd be here." He will be in our prayers and thoughts as he has always been.

   Do I have a special relationship with my granddaughter who looks at me and says, " Grams, I remember the snow."? I kept thinking she wouldn't remember. Yes, ma'am, I do. Can that relationship go the way of the others? No. It is a different day and I have learned what I did before and will not repeat that. Now, could something happen, oh, yeah, but you don't go through life worrying about that. You enjoy the day you have.

   Will I try to "fix" my relationship with my other grandchildren? No. I will continue to love them, pray for them and remember the good times.

   In a negative world people would think that all is lost with our grandchildren and children, but with God all things are possible, and they will enjoy their lives and I will enjoy mine.

    The daffodils are blooming and the woods are bright with purple of the redbud trees. The dogwood cannot be far behind. Spring is here.