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Veterans’ Day 2013 – 30 Days of Thanks – Day 11
Thank you to our Veterans and those men and women who continue to serve in the Armed Forces.
I have written posts about my deep respect for men and women in uniform, as I did not serve. From family members, including my beloved Hubby, to friends and coworkers, I have known Veterans from too many wars. They are some of the most incredibly gifted, loyal people, with an enormous capacity for love. My personal commitment to them, is to continue to shatter stigmas about PTSD and shine a light on the ongoing, immediate need for full medical and psychiatric benefits for all of them, for the rest of their lives. It is the least our Country can do for the people who sacrifice themselves for us.
Sadly, I have received “private” notes from those who see my progressive views as “unpatriotic” and have questioned my feelings. To those “people,” (who know NOTHING about me or my family), I simply say, “Karma, finds everyone” and delete their negative remarks. Then, I donate to VoteVets.org, to ensure that we elect progressive Veterans, who continue to be committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of all Americans. Patriotism is neither liberal, nor conservative, it knows no socioeconomic boundary, and is not ascribed to a specific sex, creed, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age. To me it is a feeling of humbleness whenever I encounter someone who has given freely, and openly of himself or herself, in service of our Country.
30 Days of Thanks – Day 7
Today I give thanks for the women I have met in my sorority, and other sororities. We created a unique bond during our college years and it was the first group I truly belonged in without compromising any part of my personality. Completely different from my high school experience, where I felt like I had to downplay one aspect of my personality, depending on the group I was around – the dancer side, the geek side, the heavy metal chick side, etc. It was refreshing to fully integrate all the pieces into one.
This list will put a smile on all the Alumnae out there. Some do not apply to those of us who are a little “older,” but I still buy jewelry with my sorority’s symbol on it and know these women will always have my back. Enjoy 35 Signs You Miss Your Sorority, Snaps!
30 Days of Thanks – Day 6
I am blessed to have parents and in-laws who are supportive, loving and still “worry” about me, even though I’m middle-aged. I shared the news of the temporary pause, yet again, of my nursing education journey with them. While they were upset for me – probably more than I was – they immediately had words of comfort and support for me.
This marks a new chapter in my life, into uncharted waters. Do I want to continue on the same course, or try something different? Is this my passion or something that seemed like a good idea at the time? Am I ready to make another leap? These questions remain unanswered at the moment.
What I Know
1. I have a passion for reading and writing. Until this Summer, when I was writing consistently, it was only a hobby.
2. I like to help others. In the broad sense. I am the person you turn to when you need tough love, or when tough choices need to be made.
3. I like to work for myself.
The key will be to combine 1, 2, and 3. Stay tuned.
30 Days of Thanks – Day 5
Today I am thankful for the many people who came into my life through Nursing school. We will soon be parting ways, but they will live forever in my heart.
30 Days of Thanks – Day 4
I am thankful for my Nursing school friends, who have become like family. They are some of the most amazing, caring, patient-centered people, I have ever met and I am blessed to be among them.
Today, we took our last exam as Level IV student, and are waiting for the result. For many of us, our final grade hangs in the balance of the outcome of this exam. May we all pass the Level, our End of Program exam, Nursing Care Management and finally, the NCLEX. Namaste.
30 Days of Thanks – Days 1 and 2
November 1st – I am thankful for an amazing Level IV clinical group. These are 11 of the most patient-centered, thorough, compassionate people I have ever met. I am blessed to have done my last ADN school rotation with them and would be happy if any, or all, of them were my, or a loved one’s, nurse.
November 2nd – I am thankful for my Husband and Zeke, Hannah Bean and Charlotte (aka. Charlie), my K9 kids. They are all keeping me company as I study for my Level IV Final Exam and I am feeling the love.
Meg Cabot’s 9/11 Post and My Thoughts as I Remember
Link Posted on Updated on
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning. The sun was shining and there were no clouds in the skies over Tampa Bay. The waters were serene and there was a break in the heat and humidity of the Summer.
I was parking my car under the building, ready for another day at my job, which I loved. I was listening to the popular morning radio show at the time. My office was less than a mile from Tampa International Airport.
Then the unthinkable happened as we watched on television. The events were horrific, and yet, they were real.
Unable to form words or thoughts, my co-workers and I either cried together, hugged each other or retreated into a quiet meditative space. I learned that our organization had no disaster plan of any type. As someone who had worked as an Urban Planner, on Emergency Management Plans and helped update our County’s Home Host Program, this was inconceivable. (That organization still did not have a Disaster Plan when I left for other opportunities. I doubt that they have implemented one, to this day).
I received the phone call from my husband. Hubby, my beloved US Army Veteran, was no stranger to terrorism, having been stationed in West Berlin. He immediately began to tell me what safety protocols needed to be activated, because terrorist attacks were suspected. To this day, he cannot explain how seamlessly his Threatcon persona appeared. In the weeks and months that followed, we remembered events from out pasts triggered by the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Hubby helped me understand some deeply buried PTSD of my own (Panama – Operation Just Cause), while he opened up about some of his demons.
Twelve years have passed. Some things remain the same, while others have changed. Unfortunately, the closeness we found in each other, as human beings, in the immediate aftermath of the attacks has been forgotten. Sadly, it has been crushed by intolerance and hatred.
I pause to share the eloquent words of Meg Cabot’s 9/11 post. Meg, a bestselling author, lived in New York City at the time and her words still have the same impact as when she first published them.
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning.
Etiology of a Book Trailer – “Searching for Moore,” by Julie A. Richman
Summer of 2013 has been the Summer of books and reviews, where I rediscovered the joy that leisure reading brought me. My newest ventures have been writing book reviews and beta reading books for independent authors. I am still learning how to do both, but writing reviews is definitely my favorite of the two.
Earlier this year, I read and reviewed Searching for Moore by Julie A. Richman (Book 1 in the “Needing Moore” series). Julie’s book kept me up all night, deeply invested in Schooner and Mia’s story and I was emotionally drained but my mind kept spinning. That inspired my best book review to date, as words flew, organically, off my fingers, onto the keys, and onto the screen. When I hit “publish” on the blog post, the sun was rising and I knew I had to know more about the woman who wrote Searching for Moore. I had to talk to her.
I “met” Julie on Facebook. There was the initial awkwardness of the clichéd OMG-when-are-you-releasing-book-2 comment. Followed by the blubbering on of a fangirl who had too little sleep, too much coffee and not enough Schooner Moore or Mia Silver. Finally, we started to talk. Like lifelong friends. Who had never met before. The more we talked – about music, college, jobs, life experiences, relationships, etc. – Julie and I found that we had been separated at birth! Synchronous would be the best way to describe our connection.
Our friendship brought three other women into my life. All fans of Searching for Moore who had similar reactions to the story. As, we began “hanging out” together on Facebook, the bond became stronger. Sure we talked about our favorite parts of the book, but we talked about ourselves. If someone had a bad day, there were four other women to help her through it. If we needed a laugh or bawdy comment, we were there.
Together.
Together, we decided to create the following book trailer. Kristen was our computer guru, taking all the pieces and creating something that represented all of us, even after the infamous crash of “Video Version 1” (shudder). Cleida brought us Mia and Schooner and had the uncanny eye to spot the right photos of them. Samantha was our cheerleader, keeping everyone in good spirits. I suggested “If I Should Fall Behind,” by Bruce Springsteen as the accompanying song and critiqued the final product. We accomplished this in about two days and presented it to Julie, on Sunday, just past midnight.
As we waited, impatiently, for Julie to view the video, so many thoughts went through our heads. “What if Julie doesn’t like it?” “What if the fans don’t like it?” “What if it’s not good enough?” “What if it doesn’t capture the essence of Schooner and Mia?” These were the longest three minutes of the entire process!
Julie loved it!
She immediately posted it on her Facebook page. It was received warmly by other fans, who then shared it with their friends and family. Now, I share it with you. Please share, reblog, buy the book and fall in love with Schooner and Mia. (Book 2, “Moore to Lose,” will be released in September 2013.) Amazon Barnes and Noble
After reading Searching for Moore please visit Julie’s author website for additional scenes, written in the point of view of other characters, and find her on Facebook.
Here is our labor of love for Searching for Moore .
Time May Change Me, But I Can’t Trace Time
Life is change. We have the choice to accept and embrace change, or not. The hardest part is knowing change is inevitable but not being ready for it. Or watching helplessly as people we love are hurt by changes in their lives. A natural instinct is to protect – but, from what or whom?
As I’ve moved through adult life and collected experiences, I am struck by how different my life was 20 or 30 years ago. I envisioned myself as an attorney and created an elaborate life of excess. It was the 1980s and “excess” was the “American dream.” Once I went to college, that vision evolved as my views on social justice and politics were refined. Excess seemed distasteful and wrought with greed. It was the wrong fit for me, even though I attempted to make it fit. After college, I started to find my voice. It has been, and will be, a lifelong process.
But, what happens when someone I care for is experiencing difficult changes? Especially, when I recognize the process and know it will be painful, albeit necessary, for that person. Should I “nag?” Should I leave them alone? Should I wait to be contacted? Each situation has been unique and while I want to say I handled them well, that would be inaccurate. If I’m lucky, I’m breaking even on the “supportive friend/family member” role.
Changes are part of the life cycle and, in some respects, “expected.” However, “everyday” life changes like starting a new job, marriage, divorce, losing a job, having children, not having children, etc., may be unexpected. We can attempt to prepare ourselves for them by being the best version of ourselves and staying connected with those we love. For me, this means not retreating into my cocoon of solitude, or we call it at my house, my “bear hibernation cave.” I am naturally extroverted and have an opinionated, over-the-top, bull-in-a-china-shop, overwhelming personality. But, when I become quiet, introspective and retreat into myself, I am either angry or very sad.
So, as I reflect back on how I manage change, I am struck by Bono’s quote, “I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me.” I think he is talking about growing older and learning from previous experiences. Then, using the knowledge, understanding and possibly, maturity gained to move forward.
David Bowie expresses it beautifully, in the song “Changes”
Onward and upward.
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Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 