The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Interesting reading with a compelling storyline that definitely held my attention to the end. The characters and their flaws just kept coming but not in a way that detracted but instead pulled me into the story tighter and tighter.

The main character seemed weak which irritated me on a few levels until I started to understand her need to help, become involved in or part of something and her secrets.  Over a period time she created a story about a couple she watched each day from a train window and developed an attachment to them.  One of them goes missing and her already upside world becomes even more of a challenge.  Every character had secrets that drove them and she was someone that they all had in common.

She was also an alcoholic who experienced blackouts.  As she starts to remember things from her “blackout” periods, she sincerely wants to connect not just with people again but the truth, however deadly.

 I must admit to feeling exhausted by the time the book came to an end but not from disappointment. Since the books is full of liars, cheaters, beaters and a murder it is a small wonder why Hollywood would find the appeal for possible movie viewing.  My surprise is that it was not a TV movie until I actually finished reading the book.

Simple Reflection

This day is a time of memories and making more where possible. My memories provide such comfort, especially tonight. Yes. I am a thinker and thankful for my thoughts of those so dear to me that are no longer here on this earth to celebrate this season of joy in Christ. However, I know in my heart and mind that we will be together again. 

I am being reflective, not depressed, so it would be difficult for some to understand that in my mind I am experiencing the "silent" personal joy of having those people to share in my life during their stay here on earth. Being quiet and needing to wind down my mind does not mean sadness. For me it's just taking the time to recall those special moments in life that cannot always be fully expressed to others that I also love. 

May the joy of this special day make your heart lighter and your laughter louder as you celebrate with your family and friends. 

God is good always and in all ways.

Merry Christmas 

First time off schedule

I have an organized way of completing my Christmas and New Year’s Day baking of pies, 35-60 ready and waiting just for New Year’s Day with five particular pies saved as gifts for our sons, daughter in law and grandson. I enjoy this so much and have been doing it yearly since we moved into our current home. 

This year I am off my schedule considerably but not for anything bad. One could say that I am having a blonde senior citizen moment but I will not go there.  I am smiling even now while writing. 

For the first time in my 42 years of being a mother I will not be sharing Christmas Day with any of our sons.  The oldest has a nasty cold, my youngest is celebrating in heaven and my son Jason, his wife and their 22 month old son (our only grandchild) will not be joining us either but for good reason.  His little family will be celebrating Christmas Day together, just the three of them together.  It is time for them to start establishing their own traditions and we are still thankful that they were here last year.  I certainly understand and do support their decision. They will be here Wednesday and through New Year’s Day which is truly wonderful. The real reason for the Christmas season is celebrated every day in our hearts anyway.

Yes, I am happy but my “mental” schedule of doing things is out of balance.  I will need to reset it before next year and I will.  If not then no desserts will be ready when needed or desired which would be travesty (of sorts). Until then I will happily spend my Christmas Day baking but only after the hubby and I enjoy our standard Christmas breakfast fare together but this time “alone” for the first time EVER on Christmas Day. I am smiling already at the new memory in the making. 

As an aside, where are my Christmas Betty Boop socks?  I have twice checked my collection of Betty Boop socks that are kept together in the middle of the bottom right hand side dresser drawer.  Alas, yet another reason to bake myself into the right frame of mind.  Yes, I am laughing.

Merry Christmas 2016 from my home to yours.

2016 June 1st National Pen Pal Day

Wow! The thoughts that come to my mind are many so here we go.  This may include communication at its best … sort of.  Please, please begin with a good pen which is of course for me is a fountain pen.  Nothing is better even now than a handwritten note filled with sincerity and kindness which also coincides with another national day for today “National Say Something Nice Day”.  Oops, I am off topic.

I remember sending pen pal letters as a young girl back in high school.  They were each in various military branches of service from a list found at church or a magazine from church.  I understand that the parents, probably a mother, submitted the names to whatever publication I used back in the 60s. It was at the height of the Viet Nam war so one can easily understand the importance of mail and hearing from someone “at home” in the states.

I did not really expect a response but wanted each of them to know that someone was thinking about them, praying for them, and praying for their safe return.  I wrote a letter every couple of weeks to two different people; one soldier and one sailor.  The names changed but for the most part the letters were about the same.  It was important these guys received something from someone so that they knew that they were not forgotten.  Shame on me for not continuing the practice with the same dedication after graduation.

Now we have many more options available to reach those we know and countless others in computer la-la land: text, email, Tweets, Facebook, LinkedIn for business, and my personal favorite of blogging.

You may reserve your most private thoughts for your journal (the 21^st century diary) but sharing with others is so valuable.  Someone could benefit from the sharing of ones thoughts like the pen pal from times past.  The Internet may be an unregulated industry but it has an inherent value in communication for each of us. 

That old expression “all things in moderation” certainly applies to current media outlets.  Another expression that seems appropriate here is “exercise caution”.  This certainly applies to privacy issues and the relinquishing of same through its use with theft of our thoughts, expressions, and even photos.  Unlike “snail mail” the recipient and response cannot be controlled to the same extent.   “Return to Sender” takes on an all new meaning, dynamic, and dimension.  What you say can be used against you and be evidenced as proof. 

To say that we are leaving footprints is an understatement.  Tread lightly. 

The Ruby Locket by Anita Higman

A widow with a teenage daughter that might be financially challenged but they are rich in love and devotion to each other.  Enter a wealthy suitor who seems a dream come true for the mother, Dauphine.  Anne is the daughter who is ever watchful which proves to be life saving.

This is an engaging book by a favored author.  It has some interesting characters, a mystery that held my attention, and an ending that I did not fully expect.  While I am not generally a fan of serial reads I really want to know what happens in the next chapters in the life of Dauphine and Anne plus how they can turn the gothic mansion and their tumultuous, near death experiences into a positive situation. The mansion is quite the inheritance considering it was to come with their respective deaths. 

The writing of this author keeps getting better and better so far as I am concerned.  

Donald Paul Harriman Scholarship, My Nephew and My Memories

I was quite honored when my sister asked me to write a letter to the scholarship recipient this year. It is awarded annually in memory of her son, my much loved nephew, Donald Paul Harriman.  It is important that the recipient understand what he valued and how he lived his life vs existing in life.

Donnie was a remarkable young man who truly knew how to appreciate the many moments that came his way.  He took nothing for granted. He was a great athlete who excelled in Cross Country track.  He practiced even during his summer vacation from high school.  During our family weekend trip to Corpus Christi he got up much earlier than anyone, went for a run and got back in plenty of time for our family breakfast time.  He valued education and clearly understood the long term benefits it afforded.  He worked full time after high school graduation, attended college and made good grades. He liked to tease but was not a bully. He was an encourager and valued his family relationships above all else.

I must admit to being most proud of Donnie earning the level of becoming an Eagle Scout. He continued to practice that code of ethics throughout the remainder of his life.   

Donnie loved to laugh and cherished life.  His life was cut short but his appreciation for education lives on through the scholarship awarded in his memory.  His high school renamed their track meet in his honor to reflect his name. 

 I am equally pleased that the scholarship will help move dreams and goals forward. Donnie wanted to make a difference and this scholarship will make a difference in the life of another. 

Houston Post vs Houston Chronicle or Leon Hale

I was a faithful subscriber to the Houston Post.  This was in a time when you had three options for a newspaper in Houston, Texas: Post, Chronicle or Press.  The only woman that I knew who loved the newspaper more than me was my mother. We read every single page, even the Classifieds that held no real interest to either of us.

I saw an announcement which changed my mind.  As a result, I switched to the Houston Chronicle.  The following month I received a lengthy phone call from a representative of the Houston Press.  He inquired as to the reason I had not renewed with them since I had been what he called a loyal customer of many years.  My response was this “Leon Hale is now with the Chronicle.” He proceeded to sell me the benefits of switching back to the Post and said that he would have delivery resumed immediately and follow-up with an invoice.  I said “No thank you.” Again he asked why.  My response was the same.  His response followed “What could I offer you to come back to the Post? A discount perhaps?”  I said that it would take the return of Leon Hale.  He naturally said that he did not have the authority to make that happen.  I said “Goodbye. Have a nice day.”

News is just news for the most part.  Yes, presentation and method of delivery of information is important but it is the columnists that give it a personality and add the real value to the publication.

With Leon Hale there is never a blah-blah-blah experience.  One can feel the warmth and sincerity in every written column. I could and still can see (feel) the words come to life.  He writes with humor and truth, plus I feel like I am sitting on his porch or his porch steps with him. 

Current so called columnists pale in comparison.  Their passionate bias is so thick that the best knife money could buy could not cut through the bile.  It feels forced, not fresh, and no longer interesting.  My 30 years+ subscription to the Houston Chronicle is now canceled but at this point was not tied to my fierce loyalty to Leon Hale. 

Thankfully technology has come to my rescue for catching Leon Hale’s blog plus various mediums for obtaining other types of news. 

It is so nice to have options and I will enjoy my freedom to choose, while it still exists. 

Justice or Revenge

For some reason I am on a roll of thought these days and it is not even near Christmas.  Here I go again.

In a book, article or on TV recently was this quote: Justice is better than revenge.  I wrote it down in order to really think about it later.  Now is that later.

I feel strongly that one allows for personal growth and relief (sort of) while the other comes with possible regrets.   Before you get all in my face with “What do you know about it?” please know that my family has endured four separate robberies: three involved a firearm and each of them was shot, one of the shootings resulted in a fatality with the trial for two of the five involved in the crime and convicted, the fourth was an elderly cousin beaten to death with both of them apprehended, tried and convicted. My youngest son was a passenger in a driving accident where there were no survivors. I am more than familiar with the notion of justice and revenge. 

Justice is certainly open to interpretation and goes beyond a dictionary definition.  I believe in our justice system even when the convictions are not enough to make us feel better. How much justice would be enough to make the loss of a loved one feel any less painful or fill that void in our life?  Is there even enough justice available in our lifetime? I desperately wanted and needed to have someone to blame and held accountable.  Please do not belittle what I found to work for me and it was the only way for me. True justice allows for God to prevail. I am not talking about the here and now.  I am talking about the “pay now” or “pay later” justice.  Regardless of what a court will determine as justice for each of the offenders, I have and take great satisfaction in knowing that they will face supreme justice before God, their everlasting judge and juror, when their earthly life is over.

Revenge can bring more regrets and lead to more revenge.  Where would it really end? Violence begets violence. One can see this on various forms of media throughout the world today and in our history.   Revenge is not always physical violence but emotional or professional in nature. Each act requires another action and can spiral into a situation that was not intended.  Maybe the end result is to your satisfaction but at what cost. 

Everything comes at a cost. Is it worth the price paid? Only you can answer that question for yourself.  Just remember that you will face the same judge in the end.  Pay now? Pay later? Choose wisely and exercise great discernment.  

2016 April 9 National Cherish an Antique Day

The first thing that comes to mind is my vintage fountain pen collection that dates back to 1874.  While I do love my many, many fountain pens which directly relates to the name of my blog, I have other thoughts to share on this matter.

Okay, so here are my personal feelings about these pens that I absolutely cherish. 

·         How many lives were saved or put together by the written words from each pen? 

·         What sentiments were shared or secrets? 

·         How many greetings and what types of greetings?

·         What secrets were hidden in a diary or even now a journal?

·         How the answers on a written test or research paper grew to support a career choice or change the course of a career?

·         The information and signatures on a marriage license or a birth certificate?

·         Our wonderful historical documents, particularly The Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

·         Handwriting analysis?

·         Beautiful cursive that might change with each emotion from happiness to sadness?

All of these things are changed with technology.  Yes one can easily change the font but to me it lacks the fluidity from the pen, up through the fingers, the hand and to the heart.

Yes, I wrote most of this out in pen before posting it here.  I think better with a fountain pen.  This is a true statement, happily acknowledged and written in Serenity Blue Waterman ink dispensed through a much favored Waterman fountain pen with a fine point nib. It is a younger model of about 20 years old.  Your inquiring mind just might want to know.    

Laughs and Love in Flowers

I can always count on the Hallmark Channel for entertainment that does not need to be filtered for the unmentionables, brain dead words, or objectionable body stripping that adds no value to stories for me. Tonight’s program “Hearts of Spring” included a great line that is perfectly in line with my love of flowers. It is actually a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The earth laughs in flowers.” Before tonight I had never heard this great quote.

In the instance of the program it provided direction to a young single mother who needed something beyond the supporting of her daughter.  It provided a career that allow her the time and work hours to rear her then young daughter. To me there was even more though nothing is more important to me than being a mom.

For me flowers spur thoughts, encouragement, comfort, even emotion that at times produces action.  I read a wonderful a book titled “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh which opened a whole new world for me in the meaning behind flowers and how it affected the life of that young woman in the book as well. Believe me there are a lot of meanings and those meanings have changed over time.

I was particularly taken by the yellow roses in the program, the memory of that book and an especially fond memory of my own.  As a new single parent back in 1983 I had no plans to date and especially not have a relationship  that might turn into the direction of marriage.  The journey to where I am now included expanding my circle of friends and acting on my fears to either lessen them or eliminate them.  My friends in my church Sunday School class were the best which of course included the male species.  There was a particular man whose feelings towards marriage tended to mirror my own so we considered each other “safe” to be around more than on Sundays. On the first anniversary of my divorce I decided to send someone flowers to commemorate this new courage that I was experiencing.  Yes, I sent yellow roses to my safe male friend and made sure he understood that it was to celebrate this new phase in my life with my sons and nothing more. Fast forward.  I am now married to that guy and have been for over 20+ plus.  Thinking back, it started with an article read about the meaning behind each color of roses.  

Yes, for me the earth does laugh in flowers and I do laugh often.