Write From The Soul

 This is how I feel about going to the beach!!! 

A good friend invited me to go with her , her 17 year old granddaughter, and the grand's friend for 5 days to North Myrtle Beach.

(heaven, I'm in heaven....she hums as she dances around)                                                                

At first I felt guilty because I planned to use this week to do manuscript revisions in prep for Chautauqua. I don't have a laptop, so I couldn't write at the beach. BUT..... my friend DOES have a laptop and will bring it so all I needed to do was toss that thumb drive into the suitcase. So no guilt and I can beach/pool in the day and write at night.

I've had my suitcase packed since Thursday. Morning. We don't leave until tomorrow. Sunday. Not very excited, am I?! 

I suppose I could blog from the beach. But there's no WIFI in the condo and besides, when will I have time between the beach/pool, reading, writing, and eating??? So au revoir until June 25thish.

And....yes mom, I do have my sunscreen and hat.                                            

Visualeyes

               A Purpose Changed


 I have always felt that I had a calling. It's name was teaching, for many years, but in truth, it really is more than just educating kids, it's about helping others.

I never gave a second thought to a request from someone for a ride to the doctor or a store. If someone needed help in moving, I gladly filled the back seat and trunk and carried boxes.

But now that darn sight has gotten worse and I've had to give up driving. And while I still offer to help, people usually say "Oh so kind of you to offer, but I'm fine" or "No thanks, I've got it covered" and what they're really saying is how can you help me when you don't drive?

I must tell you, that hurts. I'm still the same person. Yes, I've learned to be more resourceful for myself in getting around. However, it doesn't seem fair to take away my 'Good Samaritan wings'. 

I've been missing helping others during this past year of non-driverhood. I think that's why I offered to restart the 'Neighborhood Watch Program'  in my condo community.

Then an opportunity presented itself to me this past week. And although the timing isn't ideal (since I'm preparing for my writers' workshop at Chautauqu), it felt right. So I took on the challenge. I offered my home and myself to a friend for her week's convalescence following surgery. We have some logistics to work out but I know it will work out fine.

And the space in my soul that was feeling kind of empty, you know the part that fills up when you think of others instead of yourself? It's feeling more full.

I like feeling that way.                                        

Disclaimer: I tried six times to get "The Rules" section to line up correctly and it JUST. WON'T. Not very stylish, I know. Sorry. GH

                                   For Me?

One of my blogger buddies awarded me the "Stylish Blogger Award" and like many awards in the blogosphere, it comes with rules.



                    The Rules 
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to that person's blog. 
2. Share seven things about yourself.                                                                                                  3. Pass on the award to seven deserving blogs.
4. Contact those who you have nominated and congratulate them.

Thank you, Susanne Drazic!
 You are a faithful follower and always leave comments; I appreciate you!

Now for my 7 things about me.

1. I have a thing about the texture of the food I eat. I can't eat "gloppy" stuff without gagging. (This would include things like hot cereal, oatmeal, grits)

2. I love musical theater!

3. I'm participating in Highlights Foundation's Chautauqua workshop this July and I'm thrilled!

4. I had a fantasy, as a kid, of becoming a dancer in a Broadway musical- never had a dancer's body, but I could dream. :-) 

5. I channeled that dream into taking ballroom dancing lessons in my 20's and actually won a few awards, including a 1st place trophy in cha-cha. Okay, so it's not the mirror-ball trophy on Dancing With the Stars, but I did learn to do some of the same fancy steps.

6. I can't swim....I've taken lessons several times as a kid but water bigger than a bathtub or maybe a swimming pool puts me in a panic. And while I can't swim, I do love going to the beach. Go figure.

7.Bad swimmer = good drown er. I almost drowned- for real- once in Hawaii. I had visions of washing up on shore in California. Actually, I probably would have been shark food long before then. 

Now to pass on the award to some stylin' bloggers I know (and who are just plain inspiring to me).

Lisa and Laura Roecker

Laurel Snyder

Vicky Alvear Shecter

Cathy C Hall

Doraine Bennett

Irene Latham

Pat Weaver

Hugs to all these women for being who they are, writing from their hearts, and inspiring me to keep working at my own writing.