September 15th, 2021

The meeting night opened with a general discussion about what was going on over the past two weeks. Most of us have been working away at what we really love. I’ve found out writing is a time-consuming passion. Once retired, I thought I’d have plenty of time to write. Now, I don’t know how I found time to work, let alone do all those other chores life brings my way. Oh well, I guess the windows won’t get washed this week; I’ve got a chapter to finish.

 

With fourteen attendees, and eleven of them wanting to share their work with the group, we got right to it.

 

Peter McNally had the first spot. At the last meeting, we didn’t have time to allow him a full slot. His memoir, REWIRED, follows his life leading up to, during, and after multiple strokes, seizures, and other debilitating incidents. Peter alternates his chapters between present-day activities and recollections of the onset of his issues. It has to be frightening when you lose all emotion, although without feeling, can you experience fear? With no memory, no understanding, losing half your vision, can’t speak, read, or write; how do you exist. He did, and now he’s writing about it. A demanding job at best, impossible, does not exist for Peter. Great job, Peter, hang in there.

 

LONG BEACH is the title of Ed Ellis‘s presentation. All dialog without attribution, it was a challenge, and Ed met it with gusto. A couple driving in thick fog (it was in California, maybe it was Smog), a couple looks for an address. Who drives? A debate. Where are they? Another debate. Could this scenario be confusing? The final line is,” turn right here…left.”

 

Is there anyone in your life who has addiction issues? Our Tish McAuley has been there and is brave enough to write about it. How would you feel if you had to inject powerful drugs into your body just to feel normal? A little girl is born; by the time she’s five, she knows about drugs and how to use them. When she comes out of the bathroom with a belt wrapped around her arm, is it time to make changes in life? But when Daddy takes her out of state and gets arrested, the police give you 24 hours to pick her up, and she’s a thousand miles away. You’re one brave woman, Tish.

 

When Dennis Cathcart visited Costa Rica in 1968, he met a military doctor and researcher named Major Herschel Flowers. Dr. Flowers was there to develop an anti-venom serum for the people of Costa Rica. An elderly teacher there taught Dr. Flowers to speak Costa Rican Spanish. She gave a speech lauding the Major’s accomplishments; Dennis will include it in his memoir.

 

THE BALLAD OF THE MAGGIE ABBOT by Bruce Haedrich came next. A ballad written in iambic pentameter tells the story of a young sailor on his first voyage. Sailing in a three-masted schooner to the tropics to procure teak logs, the ship is caught in a Hurricane. The captain’s skill and God’s good graces save them from sinking, but they suffer heavy damages. When finally back in port, the captain looks to Jack and pronounces, “Now you are a sailor, Jack.”

 

Remembrance seems to have a theme in tonight’s readings. Don Westerfield departed from the poetry of which he is so proficient to give us a glance at his boyhood. WORLD WAR II was in full swing when Don was but ten years old. The infamous day Pearl Harbor felt the wrath of the Japanese bombs fill a space indelible in his mind. Paper drives, rationing, and men who didn’t come home echo in his memory as much as those of his own military service on active duty and in the Indiana Air National Guard for the next forty years. Thank you, Don, for your service and the wonderful stories it allows you to share with us.

 

Simple things can inspire writings, as Peter Frickel often shows us. A WALK, BIRDS, thoughts of  PARALLEL UNIVERSES, or even THINGS I NEVER KNEW inspired beautiful words as few can express themselves as Peter does. These simple thoughts grace a sheet of paper, and as his sonorous voice delivers them to our ears,  always evoking pictures in the minds of his listeners.

 

James Kelly’s rendition of life on an Army Post in the Dakotas after the Civil War is awe-inspiring and filled with adventure. Young Joshua McKenzie meets a BEAUTIFUL REDHEAD as a new First Sergeant’s family arrives at Fort Laramie. Caught between childhood and womanhood, this stunning 16-year-old auburn-haired beauty Erin Bernadett O’Connor captures the boy’s heart. Set against a backdrop of beauty and terror, a new romance blooms.

 

Twenty years ago, Anne Moore began a project. As a child, and even as a young woman, Anne felt as if she was expected to be SEEN AND NOT HEARD. Reaching the age of fifty, she set forth with an idea. She would travel the world and interview women turning fifty. Anne believes women have every right to be heard and wants to hear how others her age feel. Unfortunately, the project didn’t get off the ground because the so-called backers didn’t listen to Anne. She was Seen but not Heard. Now, twenty years later, Anne is embarking on her quest. We offer our support as she sets off to interview women turning 70 and record their opinions on the world today. Good Luck and keep us in the loop.

 

COOLANGATTA is a town in Queensland, Australia. A racing yacht named after the city wins a spot in the famous open ocean race from Sidney to Hobart, nearly a thousand miles. All goes well for the first few days, but a freak storm blows up on the third day. Monster waves, devastating winds, and swirling tides wreck havoc on the ship and sailors. The ship is destroyed, dashed to pieces, and sunk in a short time. Cast adrift in a small raft, the few survivors face starvation, dehydration, and SHARKS. The most dangerous peril they face is in their minds. How do they fare? Richard Cope writes a powerful story, and we look forward to many more.

Impressed by the book GAIA, Susan Haley chose to read a passage that appeals to her environmental passions. Her mantra is LIVE WITH NATURE, DON’T CHANGE IT. This is the perfect example of how writers can influence others. Gaia is written by Bruce Haedrich, and he has read much of it to us over the past few months. His message reaches Susan, and she responds by showing her appreciation of his excellent work. Gaia is available on Amazon. Thank you, Bruce and Susan.

 

Well, I guess that about wraps it up. I could probably natter on for another thousand words or so, but that might frighten off our readers. It’s been an enjoyable meeting – I wish all our writers the best. We’re always here to help. Until next time – KEEP ON WRITING.