It’s my philosophy that we spend the first half of our life buying and gathering as many “things” as we possibly can and the second half trying to get rid of them all. The problem is that often nobody wants what we have valued for so long.
Gone are the days when children appreciate the heirlooms handed down from one generation to another. We baby boomers couldn’t wait to inherit and cherish the treasures our parents and grandparents once owned. The younger generation wants what’s new and stylish and is for the most part not interested in our grandmother’s silver tea service or our mom’s antique chest of drawers.
So what to do if you have a house full of “treasure” that you had hoped to pass on?
Well, one alternative is to hold onto everything and let your heirs deal with it after you’re dead. They can decide then what they want, and you won’t be hurt if they want to get rid of it all. The drawback of this course of action is that in the meanwhile, your house is more of a cluttered storage unit than a home.
I actually know some people who want desperately to sell a bigger home than they need, but won’t because of the stuff they feel the need to pass on to their kids. This is lunacy. Ask your kids if they want anything and, if they do, give it to them now.
Artist and designer, William Morris, once said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
I believe that should be our barometer for deciding what we still really want, purging what we don’t need or use, and creating order from chaos.
Begin small. Start with your jewelry. Several of my friends have made a killing by selling their platinum, sterling silver and especially gold jewelry. The value is determined by weight, so it doesn’t matter if it’s broken or missing parts. Is anyone really going to wear again your charm bracelet or class ring from high school?
Tackle your closets, one at a time so the job does not feel so overwhelming. If you haven’t worn something for over a year, it’s likely you won’t again. Consider resale shops for gently worn clothes and accessories. Make sure the clothes are clean and on hangers. Be sure they have size tags.
Then onto cabinets….I am a firm believer in using all my good china, crystal and silverware, but if you don’t and no one wants them, have an estate sale, which yields more than a “garage” sale, sell to an antique mall if they’re heirlooms, or consider ebay. Take close-up photos so patterns are obvious and attach history of anything that has one.
The last and often most terrifying battleground is often the garage. If you don’t mind spending hours preparing for and conducting a garage sale, that might be the way to go, but remember that people come to those prepared to low ball. A friend just recently had one and said she felt violated because people wanted to give her very little for that which still had at least sentimental value.
If you’ve really decided to get rid of things (And make sure you have decided so you won’t feel any seller’s remorse), then refrain from sentimentality and look at the big picture--both profit and pleasure that comes with being clutter free and well organized. What you have left after the sale can be donated and considered a tax write-off. Call on a charity that will send out a truck and load for you.
After you have ridded yourself of the extraneous, you will be shocked at the elation you’re going to feel. Order offers a very special kind of peace and a tremendous amount of beauty.
Philosopher Lao Tzu said, “Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
I agree.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Fall Finally
Thank the Lord. It finally rained and nature responded. The cleansing water washed everything green and gorgeous. Dusty trees shine now and thirsty flowers plumped with color and vibrancy.
It wasn't nature only that blossomed. After almost 42 consecutive days of 100-degree heat in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and a drought they are comparing to the 1930s Dust Bowl, people too are celebrating. It was lovely to hear rain drops again. Even the thunder was exciting.
The rain actually cooled things down enough that I was reminded that September generally ushers in autumn. Well, I don't care that it is still in the low 90's. Believe it or not, it feels like a cold front has graced our area.
In an effort to honor autumn, I pulled out all my fall decorations. I put up wreaths decorated with pumpkins and chrysanthemums, changed table centerpieces to those that are lush with yellows, golds and deep orange, and I scented the house with vanilla and cinnamon.
Last, but certainly not least, I started cooking again. I don't know about you, but when it's hot, I lose interest in preparing big meals. Now, I still like eating, but I gravitate to salads and cold chicken. With the "chill in the air", I felt compelled to put on pots of homemade soup and thick chili. But nothing is as fabulous as a fall apple...in almost any form, so I baked pies.
Here is a fabulous recipe for what I call Candy Apple Pie.
Ingredients
6 cups thinly sliced and peeled apples (8 Granny Smith)
2 tbs lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tb. butter
Topping
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tb. whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Toss apples with lemon juice. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients and then add to apples and toss.
3. Line a 9 inch pie plate with the bottom crust pastry. Add the filling and dot with butter. Place the top crust, trim, seal and flute the edges. Cut slits in the top and bake for 40-50 minutes until golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, make the topping. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add brown sugar, vanilla and cream. Bring to a boil (five minutes) and remove from heat. Mix in pecans. Pour over top crust of the baked pie and bake again for three or four minutes.
Enjoy the pie and the cooler temperatures. Happy Fall!
It wasn't nature only that blossomed. After almost 42 consecutive days of 100-degree heat in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and a drought they are comparing to the 1930s Dust Bowl, people too are celebrating. It was lovely to hear rain drops again. Even the thunder was exciting.
The rain actually cooled things down enough that I was reminded that September generally ushers in autumn. Well, I don't care that it is still in the low 90's. Believe it or not, it feels like a cold front has graced our area.
In an effort to honor autumn, I pulled out all my fall decorations. I put up wreaths decorated with pumpkins and chrysanthemums, changed table centerpieces to those that are lush with yellows, golds and deep orange, and I scented the house with vanilla and cinnamon.
Last, but certainly not least, I started cooking again. I don't know about you, but when it's hot, I lose interest in preparing big meals. Now, I still like eating, but I gravitate to salads and cold chicken. With the "chill in the air", I felt compelled to put on pots of homemade soup and thick chili. But nothing is as fabulous as a fall apple...in almost any form, so I baked pies.
Here is a fabulous recipe for what I call Candy Apple Pie.
Ingredients
6 cups thinly sliced and peeled apples (8 Granny Smith)
2 tbs lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tb. butter
Topping
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tb. whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Toss apples with lemon juice. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients and then add to apples and toss.
3. Line a 9 inch pie plate with the bottom crust pastry. Add the filling and dot with butter. Place the top crust, trim, seal and flute the edges. Cut slits in the top and bake for 40-50 minutes until golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, make the topping. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add brown sugar, vanilla and cream. Bring to a boil (five minutes) and remove from heat. Mix in pecans. Pour over top crust of the baked pie and bake again for three or four minutes.
Enjoy the pie and the cooler temperatures. Happy Fall!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Catching Cancer
I think that cancer is perhaps the most terrifying diagnosis. It is a virulent disease that destroys our healthy cells and spreads quickly, particularly when left undiagnosed and untreated.
I lost my aunt to ovarian cancer. Only 14 years older than I, she was more like a big sister and I adored her. Her loss was awful to me and to all our family members, particularly to her mom, who never really recovered from losing one of her children.
In my aunt’s case, she went misdiagnosed for almost two years. When she was finally diagnosed properly, it was too late for any protocol to work, including several experimental procedures my aunt tried for the benefit of others when we found that nothing was going to work.
The last three years of her life were awful. Every month she endured terrible treatments that caused her to be violently ill for two weeks. The week prior to the treatments she struggled with depression that came with psychologically preparing for the pain of the treatments and the resulting nausea and vomiting. She had only one week a month for any rest at all.
She had been a strikingly beautiful woman, but with the weight and hair loss, she had, of course, become gaunt and colorless. She hated looking in the mirror, but until the end, she tried to stay strong for her family. She’d be the one to redirect the conversation or even tell a joke if any of us would get emotional or tear up.
When she and I had our last serious and, for me, most memorable conversation before her death (and she took time to have one of those with each of us), she told me that she was finally at peace with it all, that she was in fact ready for the end. She said her only regret was that she would not be there for her two daughters when they married and had children. She hated the thought of not being around to help her family. She was a remarkable woman and her loss was awful and unnecessary.
Diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages is the key to treatment and recovery. Please watch for the following symptoms and see a doctor immediately. If you are not comfortable with their diagnosis or their suggestions for testing, seek a second opinion. Doctors can be and often are wrong.
Common Symptoms and Signs of Cancer
•Change in mole or new skin lesions - A mole with irregular shapes or borders, uneven distribution of color or new growth in a mole larger than 1/4 inch, a change in texture, itching, oozing or bleeding.
•Abnormal discharge from any external opening in your body including your nose, eyes, ears, mouth, vagina, anus, sweat glands, and nipples.
•Unilateral pain and swelling in one knee or shoulder but not the other.
•Tumor / bulge / bump / lump anywhere
•Increasing lymph gland - Swollen lymph nodes may be felt in your neck, groin, and armpit, under your jaw and chin, behind your ears or on the back of your head.
•Obstinate fatigue, lethargy - Feeling tired most of the time and your energy does not seem to come back. Don't be too quick to blame your busy schedule. And no you are not a "wimp" if you are worried about fatigue.
•Neurologic deficit - A decrease in brain, spinal cord, muscle, or nerve function such as an inability to speak, numbness or tingling, loss of balance, weakness, visual changes, abnormal reflexes, incessant headache and intractable vomiting.
Source: Archie Bleyer, MD
Medical Director, Clinical Research, St. Charles Regional Cancer Center, Bend, Oregon Clinical Research Professor, Oregon Health and Science University, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Director, Aflac/CureSearch Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Research
15 Cancer Symptoms Women Ignore
written by Kathleen Doheny and reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out. Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to rule out the possibilities, one by one.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom. If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular
self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated. Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom. If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.
No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer. Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.
No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation. If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes. But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid. It could be colon cancer. Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer. Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer. Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag. It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.
No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer. Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 11: Pain
As people age, they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer. Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.
No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome. If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement. If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.
No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma. Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool. Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.
No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers.
No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored. You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.
I lost my aunt to ovarian cancer. Only 14 years older than I, she was more like a big sister and I adored her. Her loss was awful to me and to all our family members, particularly to her mom, who never really recovered from losing one of her children.
In my aunt’s case, she went misdiagnosed for almost two years. When she was finally diagnosed properly, it was too late for any protocol to work, including several experimental procedures my aunt tried for the benefit of others when we found that nothing was going to work.
The last three years of her life were awful. Every month she endured terrible treatments that caused her to be violently ill for two weeks. The week prior to the treatments she struggled with depression that came with psychologically preparing for the pain of the treatments and the resulting nausea and vomiting. She had only one week a month for any rest at all.
She had been a strikingly beautiful woman, but with the weight and hair loss, she had, of course, become gaunt and colorless. She hated looking in the mirror, but until the end, she tried to stay strong for her family. She’d be the one to redirect the conversation or even tell a joke if any of us would get emotional or tear up.
When she and I had our last serious and, for me, most memorable conversation before her death (and she took time to have one of those with each of us), she told me that she was finally at peace with it all, that she was in fact ready for the end. She said her only regret was that she would not be there for her two daughters when they married and had children. She hated the thought of not being around to help her family. She was a remarkable woman and her loss was awful and unnecessary.
Diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages is the key to treatment and recovery. Please watch for the following symptoms and see a doctor immediately. If you are not comfortable with their diagnosis or their suggestions for testing, seek a second opinion. Doctors can be and often are wrong.
Common Symptoms and Signs of Cancer
•Change in mole or new skin lesions - A mole with irregular shapes or borders, uneven distribution of color or new growth in a mole larger than 1/4 inch, a change in texture, itching, oozing or bleeding.
•Abnormal discharge from any external opening in your body including your nose, eyes, ears, mouth, vagina, anus, sweat glands, and nipples.
•Unilateral pain and swelling in one knee or shoulder but not the other.
•Tumor / bulge / bump / lump anywhere
•Increasing lymph gland - Swollen lymph nodes may be felt in your neck, groin, and armpit, under your jaw and chin, behind your ears or on the back of your head.
•Obstinate fatigue, lethargy - Feeling tired most of the time and your energy does not seem to come back. Don't be too quick to blame your busy schedule. And no you are not a "wimp" if you are worried about fatigue.
•Neurologic deficit - A decrease in brain, spinal cord, muscle, or nerve function such as an inability to speak, numbness or tingling, loss of balance, weakness, visual changes, abnormal reflexes, incessant headache and intractable vomiting.
Source: Archie Bleyer, MD
Medical Director, Clinical Research, St. Charles Regional Cancer Center, Bend, Oregon Clinical Research Professor, Oregon Health and Science University, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Director, Aflac/CureSearch Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Research
15 Cancer Symptoms Women Ignore
written by Kathleen Doheny and reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out. Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to rule out the possibilities, one by one.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom. If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular
self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated. Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom. If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.
No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer. Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.
No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation. If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes. But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid. It could be colon cancer. Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer. Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer. Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag. It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.
No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer. Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 11: Pain
As people age, they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer. Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.
No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome. If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement. If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.
No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma. Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool. Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.
No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers.
No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored. You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
An Open Book
I love to read, but my fading eyesight makes it a struggle now. I am nostalgic for the days when I didn’t have to worry about how lit the room was or where my glasses or magnifier were hiding.
I fondly remember when I read one lovely book after another with only a flashlight under my covers long after my mother called lights out. I was young then with fresh eyes and an insatiable appetite for the written word, beautiful storytelling, and memorable phrasing that created dramatic images.
I have also sadly noticed that I don’t remember the books I read now for as long as I did when I was young. I remember the classics, the historical fiction, and the romances of my youth like yesterday. Their plot and characters are still very much alive for me. I can even quote lines from my favorites. I fear I would have reread a book several times before being able to do so now.
However, I have recently read three great books that I want to recommend. Each has made a tremendous impact on me as they are all extremely informative, compelling and well written.
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. Stockett’s unique story about the black maids who raised white children in the South depicts the horror of racism, the sadness of loss, the loneliness that outcasts feel, and the triumph of courage in the face of evil.
Stockett is a gifted storyteller who paints the perfect picture. Her palette ranges from atrocity to accomplishment and hardship to heroics. It is one of those magical books that draws you in, makes you weep, and lifts you up. I still have trouble believing that the book was rejected 60 times before some smart agent swept it up and gave it to the world. See the movie too, but not until you read the book. Then do both again for the details you may have missed the first time around.
The second book is A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. A quick read that you will not be able to put down, this coming of age book is peppered throughout with both comical and poignant stories. Recipes for delicious dishes that also served as a character in each story closed each chapter.
Wizenberg’s conversational style draws the reader in, and, despite her age, she has written a story to which even the oldest among us can relate. Daddy’s girls will empathize with her tragic loss, and we are all taken back to our first relationship, our first rejection and our first joy of true love found. Her descriptions of the food she prepares will compel you rush to the grocery store for the ingredients.
Her enjoyable book stems from her award winning food blog. It comes as no surprise that both have resulted in a second book deal. That is really good because I promise you will want a second helping of her prose.
The third book I have loved was written by a good friend, but I am not at all prejudiced. Lael Morgan’s sterling reputation as non-fiction writer (The Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush is just one of her many books.) and book publisher (Two Old Women) needs no help from me. Recently inducted into Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame for her work as reporter, author and historian, Lael weaves her tales of old in a way that begs reading and ensures learning.
Her latest book, Wanton West: Madams, Money, Murder and the Wild Women of Montana’s Frontier is a rich and rousing chronicle of the old west from the “gold rush to the election of the first woman to the US Congress”.
A superb researcher and writer, Lael fills her book with extraordinary detail and lively language. She brings this era in America’s history to life, and she evokes sympathy even for her characters of ill-repute. Her wanton women are strong and courageous and the first in our history to fight for a woman’s equality and her right to work and succeed with or without a man by her side.
You will find Lael’s book about Montana’s frontier riveting. Be prepared for a wild ride.
I fondly remember when I read one lovely book after another with only a flashlight under my covers long after my mother called lights out. I was young then with fresh eyes and an insatiable appetite for the written word, beautiful storytelling, and memorable phrasing that created dramatic images.
I have also sadly noticed that I don’t remember the books I read now for as long as I did when I was young. I remember the classics, the historical fiction, and the romances of my youth like yesterday. Their plot and characters are still very much alive for me. I can even quote lines from my favorites. I fear I would have reread a book several times before being able to do so now.
However, I have recently read three great books that I want to recommend. Each has made a tremendous impact on me as they are all extremely informative, compelling and well written.
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. Stockett’s unique story about the black maids who raised white children in the South depicts the horror of racism, the sadness of loss, the loneliness that outcasts feel, and the triumph of courage in the face of evil.
Stockett is a gifted storyteller who paints the perfect picture. Her palette ranges from atrocity to accomplishment and hardship to heroics. It is one of those magical books that draws you in, makes you weep, and lifts you up. I still have trouble believing that the book was rejected 60 times before some smart agent swept it up and gave it to the world. See the movie too, but not until you read the book. Then do both again for the details you may have missed the first time around.
The second book is A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. A quick read that you will not be able to put down, this coming of age book is peppered throughout with both comical and poignant stories. Recipes for delicious dishes that also served as a character in each story closed each chapter.
Wizenberg’s conversational style draws the reader in, and, despite her age, she has written a story to which even the oldest among us can relate. Daddy’s girls will empathize with her tragic loss, and we are all taken back to our first relationship, our first rejection and our first joy of true love found. Her descriptions of the food she prepares will compel you rush to the grocery store for the ingredients.
Her enjoyable book stems from her award winning food blog. It comes as no surprise that both have resulted in a second book deal. That is really good because I promise you will want a second helping of her prose.
The third book I have loved was written by a good friend, but I am not at all prejudiced. Lael Morgan’s sterling reputation as non-fiction writer (The Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush is just one of her many books.) and book publisher (Two Old Women) needs no help from me. Recently inducted into Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame for her work as reporter, author and historian, Lael weaves her tales of old in a way that begs reading and ensures learning.
Her latest book, Wanton West: Madams, Money, Murder and the Wild Women of Montana’s Frontier is a rich and rousing chronicle of the old west from the “gold rush to the election of the first woman to the US Congress”.
A superb researcher and writer, Lael fills her book with extraordinary detail and lively language. She brings this era in America’s history to life, and she evokes sympathy even for her characters of ill-repute. Her wanton women are strong and courageous and the first in our history to fight for a woman’s equality and her right to work and succeed with or without a man by her side.
You will find Lael’s book about Montana’s frontier riveting. Be prepared for a wild ride.
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