December 15th, 2021

It's that time of year once again. Colored lights adorn houses, pine trees are affixed to the car roofs, little kids are drooling over the contents of toy departments. Our Jewish friends have completed the Hanukkah celebrations, while our Christian friends look forward to Christmas. The Holiday season is in full swing. Be Hanukkah, Christmas, Quanza, or any other holiday. We wish you the best.

Our little group met at the firehouse as usual for an annual holiday gathering. Goodies of all sorts arrived with the members. Cookies, Candy, Sweetbreads, and Casseroles filled the table. As per our usual Holiday Custom, we took up a collection for the Fire Department as they allow us to use the meeting room at no charge. This year we $255 and turned it over to the LT on duty. It will find its way to the Chief and Board.

Our little band of writers could not eat all the goodies. As usual, the remaining food was left for the firefighters to feast on for the rest of their shift. Thank You, Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department! 

Even with our mouths stuffed with delectables, we managed to work in some readings. Rod DiGruttolo started by reading a piece he'd received in an email. Entitled Christmas 1942, he felt it was appropriate for the occasion. A fifteen-year-old boy discovers the meaning of Christmas when his father takes him to help a neighboring widow with small children.

When Ernie Ovitz took the floor, he read a piece from his new collection recalling a Christmas Past upon which he and Linda found Bones Under the Tree. It seems a lovable canine was in the Christmas spirit as he deposited his most prized possessions under the tree time and time again.

Visiting the group for the first time this year, Ian Schagen brought one of his out-worldly stories to share. When the FSM (Flying Spaghetti Monster) called an emergency meeting in the Grand Hall, all the Super Heros and deities were shocked to hear how, within a few moments, they could all be deemed irrelevant. Upon hearing a report presented as a law-giving document by an earthly Cleric, despair and melancholy descended upon the group. The FSM ordered a word-by-word review of the paper. As the deadline for a decision approached, The least of the clan's heroes, The Tooth Fairy, found a flaw in the reasoning behind the Cleric's hypothesis. Valhalla was saved.

Undercover Angel is Tish Mcauley's working title for a fictionalized story based on her life as an Empath, recovering alcoholic, and drug addict. In this chapter, realization dawns on Angel as to what a gift she was born with. Is it a gift or a curse? Dealing with an abusive husband who turns their daughter against her, Angel finds herself living a life of pain and suffering, not her own. Even the anguish of insects intrudes on Angel's mind as she lives in a termite-infested house.

A piece of advice comes to us from Dennis Cathcart. Dennis enjoys delicacies as Tuna Heads, Roasted Parrot, and an exceptionally tasteful dish, eating with the local population in the Philippine Island Chain. Upon finishing the meal, Dennis inquires about the tasty course. When advised, the plate included Goat Lungs. He realized he'd violated his rule, "IF YOU LIKE IT, DON'T ASK WHAT'S IN IT."

Taken back in time to the late 1800s in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, James Kelly tells of a Calvery Officer preparing to go on patrol in the Indian Territory of Wyoming and the Dakota's. His son prepares to travel east for training and schooling at West Point. Young children and wives of the departing Calvery troop say their goodbyes with the unspoken fear of never seeing their loved ones again.

Have you ever heard of Bean County, Tennessee? Probably not; it's a fictional county from the mind of Richard Cope. A hound named Toby is the star of Toby and the Christmas Pagent from Richard this week. It seems the hound was not always welcomed at social gatherings in Bean County. But, due to the season, an attitude of forbearance was exercised. It was a fortuitous event that Santa arrived at the Baptist Church riding on the county's fire truck. It seems, being a rural community, Bean County used live animals in their Manger Scene awaiting the arrival of Baby Jesus. Well, lighted candles, a wailing siren, and a bolting hound dog led to a conflagration requiring the full use of the fire truck. In the end, Toby helped round up the livestock and watched over the Baby Jesus.

The Circus is Coming to Town is a product of Susan Haley's fervent mind. An avid environmentalist, Susan wrote about the encroachment of urbanization on the wildlife in a peaceful meadow. "Run, hide, find a new home," the animals cry as the rumble of machines and people come closer. Susan says, "this wrote itself." Words kept coming as she could see the world through the eyes of those unable to protect themselves from the encroaching thunder of so-called progress.

Closing the show this meeting was Peter Frickel. Africa is Peter's homeland. Its vastness and beauty guide Peter in much of his writing. The shadow of memory creates hunger. A writer must write just as they eat or drink to sate that hunger. They must taste the beauty and partake of the world's mysteries to create a story. 

From all of us in the group,

 HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON.

and 

No matter what else, please, KEEP ON WRITING.

December 1st, 2021

We began our meeting with a question, “What are you currently doing?” I asked each attendee. The attendance was small; it usually is in December. There were only nine of us there, but we had 100 percent participation. Dennis has completed a manuscript; it is in the hands of his editor being formatted for publication. Ed is nearing the completion of a nearly ten-year project which hasn’t deterred him from producing many fascinating works in the meantime. Anne’s project is underway, and she’s scheduling interviews to begin after January 1^st. Don says he hasn’t done too much lately. He and his lovely wife are departing on a cruise; he’ll get back to work when he returns. Richard turned over some of his stories to be read on a podcast. He’s received great feedback and a request for more. Tish is engaged in a mid-stream change; she is reworking the mode in which she writes her story. Ernie works daily on the daunting task of editing, rewriting, and preparing his historical novel. He has the herculean task of completing a trilogy about the life and times of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Bruce says he’s tackled the most challenging writing job of his career. He’s beginning to pen his memoir. Rod is engaged in searching for another beginning in the ever-growing list of future works on his computer.

 The discussion was enlightening, gearing us up for the reading session.

***

 

Leading off the reading was Ernie Ovitz. A speech, written for an occasion this time last year, was as relevant as when it was written. The state-of-readiness of our Military and Businesses to meet global challenges is not as capable as it should be. It is reminiscent of the capabilities experienced by our country on December 7^th, 1941. Are we ready to confront China? Who makes the largest percentage of the products used in this county? Is our economy stable? The answers may be a bit frightening.

 

Writing a memoir is tough, especially when the memories aren’t the best. Tish McAuley has been doing that for over a year now. She’s had to face some harsh truths. Her journey has been cathartic, but now she’s ready to face the past. She’s changing her story from a memoir to a novel. Based on her life and the trauma she’s faced in it, the story may help others face similar obstacles in theirs. Good work, Tish.

 

Bruce Haedrich offered us the opening passages of his memoir entitled Goodnight Searchlight. As a youngster of six, he could look out his bedroom window and see the beacon of a nearby airfield. His desire to become a pilot was fostered in that action. Now, nearly seventy years later, after a successful career as a military and airline pilot, he looks back and tells his story. Great beginning.

 

A chance meeting with a retired Major League pitcher battling issues with retiring.  No longer being in the spotlight of fame, he is depressed. His dilemma sparked Don Westerfield to take action. Now, Don writes his story The Day I Think I Made A Difference. A chance meeting at an airport proves pivotal for the retiree as Don remembers him and strikes up a conversation where he reinforces the man’s feeling of importance. He made a difference. Don, you make a difference in all your fellow writers’ lives.

 

Two poems by Richard Cope were both inspiring and heartfelt. With the reading of Scott County, I was choked with emotion as Richard tells of a Christmas funeral for a relative. With the final words, “as I laid my Bonny to rest,” we know the feeling of a loved one lost. In Recycled, a simple Raggedy Ann doll serves to remind us we don’t need technology to bring happiness to the world.

 

Rod DiGruttolo read Pappy and the Bandleader to close out the evening. The story tells of a young Rod, who meets his grandfather’s musical hero and sets up a meeting. The bandleader invited Pappy to join in a jam session alongside several other band members. Pappy’s memory lasted him for the rest of his life.

 

Well, it was the end of the night, a good meeting with lots of insight into what we are doing and some excellent readings.

OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON DECEMBER 15^TH, IT WILL BE OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MEETING. BRING A GOODIE TO SHARE AND ENJOY. 

But most of all; KEEP ON WRITING!

 

November 17th, 2021

 

It was a beautiful evening for a meeting. We met at the firehouse, where the hot temperatures of summer gave way to the cool evenings of our Florida fall. Thirteen of us were there. A brief discussion about how to handle numbers in our writing opened the meeting. We moved on to the reading portion of the meeting as we had ten members wishing to present samples of our work tonight.

The Chicago Manual of Style (the writer’s bible) says numbers in a document are written in text (a, b, c, etc.) to spell out numbers under 100. Over 100, use numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.). As with any rule, it can be broken if needed. As I’ve stated, at least fifteen thousand two hundred and eleven times, all rules can be broken when writing. It doesn’t hurt anybody (at least not physically).

 

Arriving early and signing in upon arrival has its advantages. That is how I call upon the readers. First here is first to read, unless there’s a hold-over from the previous meeting. Tish was first to sign in, but she was not prepared to read this week. Cindi Buchannan was next on the list. A poet, Cindi writes from her heart. She presented three examples of her work this evening. I don’t think they were titled, but the emotion was enough to give them titles. 1. In leaving, a man walks away, ignoring the woman. She thinks, Is that all I’m worth to him? 2. A rainy day, depressing but beautiful in its own way. 3. A break-up in July, the weather replaces the heat of love’s passion. – Keep writing, Cindi. Your work shows your heart.

 

We never know what to expect when Ed Ellis reads, but tonight was an even bigger surprise. He claims to have told her, “We are going to be together for eternity, so I don’t want to do anything in this life to piss you off.” Guts Ed, guts!

 

Ernie Ovitz is a family man, and he relates a speech he once gave at a Toastmaster’s s meeting. He read from his newest book submitted for publication by Amazon, Reflections. Always the ambassador of peace, he understands, If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy, good luck, Ernie.

 

Admitting his latest project is the most challenging piece of writing he’s ever undertaken, Bruce Haedrich starts writing his memoir. From an early age, a pilot bemoans the old days when pilots were in control of the aircraft. He calls today’s so-called pilots “Airmen.” Bruce asks the group, “How technical can I be?” Of twelve answers, there were eleven opinions. Sort that out, Bruce.

 

Life Unbuffered was the title of Dennis Cathcart’s newsletter article. While employed, others made everyday decisions and handled complex issues. Life was buffered. Once he became self-employed, the buffer between him and the natural world was gone. Yes, he could do the things he liked without asking permission, but the parts he didn’t like fell to him. It was always a balancing act between the two. Ain’t retirement fun, Dennis?

 

A traveler, poet, and writer of novels, Peter Frickel, presented a dialog piece between a mother and daughter, with a final insertion of a visiting boyfriend in conversation with the daughter. Humor and simplicity abound in Bikini. Words flow naturally, filled with sarcasm and innuendo as the characters speak to each other. Two other short pieces were also insightful. The Changing Garden describes the tribulation of his garden in a dry spring. A few words of wisdom carry a life-changing message.

 

Poets are always welcome, and Don Westerfield is among the best we hear. Your Voyage follows a life filled with hope, sorrow, happiness, and strife. The message is clear and spot-on. The American Fighting Man left several in the audience with moist eyes as Don read of the conflicts and how soldiers died for our right to be free from Valley Forge to Afghanistan. Thank you for your service, Don.

 

An ode to a grandmother was Susan Haley’s offering as she read Cleland. Spending many hours in her Grandmother’s care, Susan recalls the tenderness and loving guidance given her. A grandmother’s love cannot be discounted. Thank you, Susan.

 

Peace of π (Pi) is the title of a mystery novel Ed Demarco is working on. A man dies mysteriously on a flight to Atlanta. In chapter 2, his daughter and her abusive drug-addicted husband prepare for her father’s funeral. Oh, how the reader might want to throttle the miserable husband. Without saying so, Ed has made the man seem despicable. Good job!

 

Our final reading was a pair of poems by Richard Cope. Walking to Jerusalem took us into the mind of a traveler through life. The Buttermilk Colt tells of a desperate man and his horse as they turn from the law.

 

It was 8:45 PM when we closed the meeting. I hope all had an enjoyable evening. I was handed two pieces of work to look over. I hope to have them finished by the next meeting. Please be patient. Until December 1^st, KEEP ON WRITING!

Two Meetings in One Blog

 

Hello again;

Here’s what happened.

I decided to take a vacation. Why a retired auto mechanic/writer needs a break is a mystery to some. With ten great-grandchildren living in the town, you might understand. But in any case, I’m back.

Here is the best I can do in reporting the activity of two meetings. If I miss something, I beg your forgiveness.

On October 20^th, I was somewhere in North Carolina, I think. I might have been in Georgia or even South Carolina. Hell, I was lost most of the time. But anyway, the writers were right here at the Firehouse, and Ernie reports they brought some good stuff.

 

Don Westerfield’s poem entitled An Old Soldier Died Today is a poignant piece that brings a tear to one’s eye with each reading.

A prankster today, I often wonder how Ed Ellis survived his early years without someone taking him out. His story The Prank takes us back to 1961 at the U.S. Naval Air Station in San Diego. It seems Ed’s buddy Jack and he were assigned there. Shortly afterward, a Crusader Jet went missing. Something about a Poker Game, the Bone Yard, and not finding the jet even into the 1990s. I don’t know the statute of limitations on misplacing a Navy Jet, but I don’t think I’d publish that story while I was still alive.

Science and Technology is a favorite of our Bruce Haedrich. This week he presented an Essay about The Shocking Naked Truth. Attending a lecture based on the title and a picture of a scantily clad female outside the lecture hall, the audience was introduced to a series of truths about Electric Vehicles and the costs incurred in using them. The dollars and cents needed to put them to work are considerable but the embedded expenses are not easily seen. Read this essay; you may be surprised.

Ideas, thoughts, and beginnings often linger in a writer’s mind. Peter Frickel has an active brain. It’s not unusual for him to allow thoughts to spill out as he speaks with us. Phrases, sentences, and even a single word can evoke ideas for stories. Peter used some examples from his repertoire.  “He approached her. How the hell did he know?” Mermaids swimming in the Seine… how many more things can guide a writer. Almost everything has a story attached.

Stories of the Lakota Sioux flow from the pen of Jim Kelly. Shadow Hawk is becoming a warrior. He passes the test of manhood in the Black Hills of the Dakota’s. Where will his future lie? Is he on a path of war and destruction? Will he foster peace with the white man?

I didn’t hear the poem from Susan Haley. But, if it follows Susan’s previous work, I’m sure it was outstanding. Soaring Epitaph is a title worthy of Susan.

Poets are remarkable. I don’t know how they do it. Time after time, Richard Cope delivers work that ranges from humorous to heartbreaking. Each tells a tale, often from his childhood. Imagine a Tennessee farm on which Old Red, a long-eared mule, resides. Acquiring a Taste for Oysters might not be for everyone. Now, who would think a poem about Grave Robbers would spark interest? Richard accomplishes the near-impossible every meeting.

I’m sorry I missed out on these delightful offerings. Maybe I’ll get to see them in print one day.

 

 

November 3^rd, 2021

Being back in the saddle for this meeting felt good. I’d taken a hiatus from writing for two weeks. That was a needed break.

We opened the meeting with a discussion on Using an Editor. What do you expect from an editor? What is the editor’s job, really? Do editors rewrite your story? Think about it.

 Dialog: How do you use dialog? What are the advantages of using it in your work? How can you make dialog work for you? Does it help you tell your story?

The intent of our discussions is to inform and make writers think. Sometimes the best learning comes from our minds as we mull over an issue and hear suggestions.

 

The reading and critique portion of the meeting fell to Tish McAuley. Reading a piece entitled, The Gift, she explained how as a youngster, she had no knowledge of her gift as an empath. She knew that somehow she instinctively knew things about other people. She thought everybody did. Her gift was becoming a curse. Now, after research and conversations with other empaths, she realizes how she allowed herself to be controlled by narcissistic people. Understanding how she had premonitions of events and why she could spot Cops almost instantly has given her an insight into what she is. Her memoir is progressing along with her plans to bring help to others who suffer her plight.

Tonight a first-time attendee was on hand. Welcome to Cyndi Buchanan. A poet, Cyndi, brought several verses to us tonight. Not all her work is titled. That doesn’t make it less impressive. Most of her work is based on relationships as they invite the poet in her to come out. Maybe we’ll see a collection of her work someday.

A sampling of Peter Frickel’s work included Truth, it’s always with you, carried on the wing of an angle. A Creaking Door waits for the slightest breeze while an author listens as an empty Room talks to him. It may be inanimate but has personality. At the Beach, one must watch and listen as the wind and water interact with everything.

Richard Cope fell in with our poet’s corner this evening. He-Man and the Bathing Beauties was inspired by a photograph. The adoring eyes of his female companions fall on the bare-chested he-man. In Solstice, the night sky promises a new beginning, not the day’s end. A poem of love tells of the pleasure-pain of infatuation in The Torch. I know this is wrong, but I didn’t get the spelling for Eu Ale Vue (phonic spelling), Richard says, is best read in a Honky Tonk.

Tonight, the adventures in the Dakota’s by James Kelly told us of Woman Who Walks Alone. The beautiful maiden waits for Shadow Hawk well past her usual time of betrothal. At last, she is rewarded as she rewards him with her love.

A Drop of Water surprises Bruce Haedrich by talking to him. Actually, it’s only a single molecule of water talking as it explains how, where, and when it got here. How many are left? Are there a lot of the little creatures around? Where are they hiding? Being a grandparent and great-grandparent, I wish these things were presented with such an interesting story to the little ones. Thank you, Bruce, for the education.

That pretty much wraps up the blog for now. I hope to see you next time and hope you can join us at the meeting on November 17th. We'll be at the Firehouse. Until then - KEEP ON WRITING.