My Corner

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

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At the Beach #WednesdayWords #WritingPrompts #Inspiration

On a hot Florida summer afternoon, I was boogie boarding near the water’s edge, marveling at how calm the ocean was and thinking I should visit Florida more often during the summer. Suddenly, the wind came up, making the waves choppy, and the sun disappeared behind dark clouds. I tried to send a telepathic message to God about this turn in the weather, but either he didn’t get it or wasn’t listening. Disgusted, I made my way on shore, as it started to rain.

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Thanks to Cheryl Fisher and Kathy King at Writing Works Wonders for inspiring the above true story with their current prompt to write something in 100 words or less, using the words “wind,” “rain,” and “send.” You can click here to read other responses and post your own.

In the summer of 2014, when I was in Florida for my brother’s wedding, we all went to the beach one afternoon. After eating a picnic lunch, we had fun in the water. I decided to try using a boogie board, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

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P Is for Prom #TuesdayTidbit #Life’s Alphabet #Poetry

My senior prom was memorable and unusual, as evidenced by the following poem. You can click on the title to hear me read it.

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Yellow Prom Memories

A long yellow skirt and yellow blouse with three-quarter-inch sleeves

I wore to my senior prom in 1980.

Dad reluctantly agreed to be my date,

as no boy asked me, and I had no courage to ask a boy.

I don’t remember the color of Dad’s suit

or the corsage and boutonniere Mother ordered.

I do recall Dad and me dancing,

me taking off my garter,

placing it on Dad’s arm,

him immediately removing it, embarrassed,

the picture taken of the two of us

that Grandma displayed in her music room for years.

Dad and Grandma are gone.

Who knows what happened to the yellow skirt and blouse,

the flowers, the garter, the photo,

but the memories remain.

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What do you remember about your senior prom? Please share in the comment field below.

Thanks to beetleypete for inspiring my Life’s Alphabet series with a similar one of his that he posted on his blog last December. Every day, he wrote about a different aspect of his life, using words starting with consecutive letters of the alphabet. Mine is a weekly series, and this week’s letter is P. Thank you for reading.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

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In the Kitchen #MondayMusings #OpenBookBlogHop #Inspiration

Welcome to another edition of Open Book Blog Hop. This week’s question is: “What skill do you wish you had, either as a hobby or career builder?”

I’m a writer and a musician and can’t think of any other skills I want. However, when my husband Bill was alive, I wished I’d taken time to learn to cook from him. If I’d known he would have two strokes that would prevent him from cooking, I would have paid more attention to what he was doing in the kitchen.

After his strokes, when he lost the use of his left arm and leg, he could only tell me what to do. He couldn’t give me hands-on instruction on peeling and chopping vegetables or mashing potatoes, skills at which he excelled. I rarely made scrambled eggs, oatmeal, or meatloaf at the right consistency.

The good news is he seemed happy with my cooking. He offered lots of praise and encouragement. His love was all the reward I needed for my efforts. You can read our story in my memoir, My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds.

How about you? Is there a skill you wish you’d learned? You can click here to participate in this week’s hop and read other responses.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

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Sips of Wine from the Grapevine #SaturdaySurprise #Reblogs #Inspiration

Thanks to Patty Fletcher for publishing one of my poems and an advertisement for my latest novel on her blog today. Enjoy!

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The Writer’s Grapevine Summer Solstice Edition will be here before you know it. To give you an idea of what’s to come, a few authors took the time to answer my call for Sips Submissions and here are their offerings for you.

Read the full post.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

Photo Resize and Description by

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

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