Yes, Yes, Yes! I'm Pretty Sure... Success!

Dear Mom,

Yes, socializing is exhausting. Do you feel that way? As an introvert, it wipes me out. I had three days in a row of it… Saturday and Sunday, I helped my daughter Rita with her two craft fairs. Yesterday (Monday) was the event Rita created for me to do a reading of my story, Mistletoe, published in Fifty Shades of Santa, by Welkin Press. Fifty Shades of Santa is 12 (Nice, Not Naughty) Humorous Holiday Romances.

I worked through my nerves all day long… researched mistletoe, bagged the prizes for the drawing, tried on what I was going to wear. Had I filled my mouth with any more of Sioux’s fudge, my pants may have split… I practiced reading. I made numbers for the drawing, and a sign-in sheet. I piddled around all day getting prepared for the event.

Then the time arrived for me to leave. I couldn’t find my phone before I went down to hubby’s work to get the sign he made for me. He had been waiting… what can I say? However, I did give up looking or he might still be waiting. I stopped for gas and when I got back in my car, I could hear my phone vibrating. It was in my purse. Nerves will do that, right? Hubby was calling to see if he could hear it in the house some where.

Rita and Terry (her beau) met me a The Gelateria to set up for the event.

All set and ready to go

Ho Ho Ho!

We’re a pair, aren’t we?

 

Rita and Lynn

Then people started trickling in… Kristine and her mom, Karen. My sister, Sue. My WWWP gals, Sioux and Tammy. Sioux drove some other writing friends, who are also published in Fifty Shades of Santa… Donna Volkennannt and Marcia Gaye. Marcia’s husband, Jim came along too! Other friends of Rita’s, John and Krista joined us. The gelato maker, Carrie stepped on in. My other sister, Ruth and her hubby, Bud and son, Josh arrived. It was past the starting time, and I wasn’t sure if anyone else was going to make it. My BFF, Susan said she was coming, but you never know about these things, so I got the show on the road… err… the stool and began to read.

To the left where that door opening is, 

there's a little cubby hole, Bud and Josh were in there!

That's my favorite spot to sit and write at The Gelateria.

Nearly half way, three more of Rita’s friends popped in, Bryan, Kristin, and another young lady, but I didn’t get her name. If you read this, tell me who you are!

I finished reading without my tongue getting too twisted. Yes, a success. And I’m so grateful to all who ventured out as I know it’s a pretty good trek for some. Let me say, I really appreciated it from the bottom of my heart. You made me feel comfortable and I hope you all had a jolly good time… that was my intent… fun and silliness... and let's not forget the love... or the chocolate. Rita made the container holding the chocolate that looks like Santa’s sack.

Terry and the Santa Sack

I had to get some pics with the other authors from Fifty Shades of Santa.

Donna Volkenannt (left), me, Marcia Gaye (right)

 

Here we are, just the three of us (pretend you're singing that one song),

but here we are with the sign.

If it weren't for my WWWP peeps, chances are my story might not have made it... those gals are wonderful. 

 Tammy (left), me, Sioux (right)

Missing in action are Linda and Beth.

After it was over, I hung out with Rita, Terry, John and Krista to settle myself down. Gelato will do that, don’t you know? 

 

 John, Krista, Terry chilling

Rita chilling

When I was in my car on my way home, I checked my phone and had a voice mail from my BFF. "Hey Lynn, it's Susan. Give me a call." It was late and I didn’t want to wake her. By the sound of her voice, I didn't think anything was wrong, so I chalked it up that she’s like me and just plum forgot.

I called her this morning and found out that she was on her way to the reading with her mom Elsie, her aunt Audi and her other BFF Cindy when they were rear-ended. Smacked hard! Eye glasses, soda, hair barrettes flew through the air. Elsie felt the worst of the impact. Paramedics were called and they checked her over. Having a pace-maker raised concern. She refused to go to the hospital. Susan took her home and called her sister, Katie who’s a nurse and she came over and took care of everything.

Nothing serious, thank God. The paramedics made Elsie promise she’d see a doctor today and she plans on going. I sure hope everything is fine.

And Yes again, I’m incredibly grateful the accident wasn’t any more serious. They were all sad they missed it, so I promised them a private reading of their own!

P.S. A special thank you to Chris, the owner of The Gelateria! And those who worked that evening… a big thank you.

And now for some more pictures…

 Santa's little helper, Rita

They look like they're having fun. 

In the hand of Kristin is a little hand-made by me ornament,

something all attendees received. Purchase a copy of Fifty Shades of Santa

and I'll send you one... while they last.

Another Book Launch!

Dear Mom,

Remember that good news I said I had in my previous letter to you? I almost can’t believe this, but I just found out that another story that I wrote will be in another anthology. How cool is that?

St. Louis Reflections Book Release Party & Last-minute Holiday Book Fair
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
7-9pm at the Kirkwood Train Station
101 W. Argonne Dr. Kirkwood, MO 63122

There will be readings by the anthology authors. They'll be serving wine and cheese. Of course there will be books for sale for $9.99. And other books written by St. Louis Writers Guild members will be for sale also.

St. Louis Reflections anthology was created to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the St. Louis Writers Guild. Written by members of St. Louis Writers Guild, there are 45 pieces in the anthology, a mix of poetry, prose, and personal essays. It also includes a list of every member in 2010.

My piece is written about Hendel’s Market (titled “Hendel’s Market” pretty creative, huh?) and of course, you know where that was in Florissant, just two blocks away from where we lived when I was a kid. I hope I did it justice—there were a lot of us Sacred Heart school kids, and others who frequented Hendel’s. But what a place, that's for sure.

I'm Perplexed

Dear Mom,

I’m perplexed. I can cook a French gourmet dinner for two, or prepare enough food for one hundred people for a surprise party for my husband without him knowing. I can transform a mud pile into a gardener’s delight, or sew a prom dress with the complexity of a bride’s gown in less than two weeks. I can move out of a home in one afternoon (okay, with some help) without the (now ex) husband having a clue. I can provide day care for 5 four year olds and 4 under the age of two in diapers, along with my three children without losing my mind, errr… okay, well, maybe I was a bit nuts by the end of the day and made a mental note—never do that again. I can change the oil in my car or I can unstop a toilet—the list is endless. But when it comes to making a DVD play on the TV, I’m lost.

Logically thinking, hitting “play” on the remote would work. Notta. After an hour and a half of hitting every button on all four remotes—yes, four remotes, nothing. Zip. I even hit the play button on the DVD player. Nothing worked. I gave up. I wanted to toss it all out of the window, but instead I grabbed a book, curled up in bed and read. God forbid if I ever have to use a Kindle.

So what’s the deal? Why can’t I hit play to watch a movie? Tell me mom, what is the lesson for me to learn?

Reading, Dreams, and Poetry

Dear Mom,

I don’t remember you ever reading, but you did crossword puzzles. To me, that’s harder.

Last night before I went to sleep I finished Meet Me: Writers in St. Louis by Catherine Rankovic. Excellent book. I had no idea we’re so fortunate to have so many writers from St. Louis. My reading list just got longer.

I also listened to Sightlines by Janet Riehl. It touches your heart in so many ways, and what a beautiful tribute to her family.

Then I read a chapter from Stranger by the River by Paul Twitchell.

I knew when I went to sleep, traveling to other places, writing—particularly poetry—would surface. And sure enough as I entered back into semi-consciousness, here’s what I heard:

Pounding head!
I stay wrapped in the covers.
My bladder demands more attention—
slither out of bed,
drag my body,
feet shuffling like my Parkinson’s Dad,
back and hip hurt too,
shoulder has a kink,
eyes less than a slit.
This cleanse gives you energy?
Hurry up coffee maker!