Maren Cooper's Blog, page 3
October 20, 2022
The Small Town Doc
One of my early readers for “Finding Grace” asked me about the inspiration for the fictitious character Dr. Walt Riley, the family doc in Two Harbors, Minnesota, who, as a solo general practitioner provided all of the medical care in that small town, from births to deaths. Of course she thought Walt was unrealistic, “How could one doctor be everything they needed?”
But, I explained that Walt Riley came from a bit of a romanticized version of my own reality. In my small town, there was only one doctor, and he did it all. When I was born, my parents lived on a farm a few miles out of town, but my expected birth in the middle of a Minnesota winter led to a plan dictated by the doctor for my mother to stay in town at my grandparents’ home. His rationale was sound— in the event of a blizzard he could pick her up and drive her to the nearest hospital without having a delay caused by impassable country roads. Sure enough, the February snowstorm came just as my mother went into labor, but Dr. Hubert drove the twenty miles to the nearest hospital before the roads were closed. After a successful delivery In the hospital, I shared the nursery with two babies who later became classmates and friends in my elementary school.
One of those classmates shared an improbable experience by today’s standards when, eighteen years later, we were given parental permission to get our ears pierced, but only if Dr. Hubert was willing to do the honors. After getting our courage up we made a joint appointment for the procedure, without any assurance he would do the deed. He tested us by delivering a five minute lecture about vanity. We held fast and he did agree to pierce our ears. But only after commenting that he didn’t expect this from us when he delivered us eighteen years ago…
By now, embarrassed but resolved, we were in it to the end. I agreed to go first. It was only afterward that my friend told me that when the doctor moved in to inject the numbing agent into my second earlobe she saw the needle go right through the lobe and spray across the room. Fortunately, I didn’t feel any more pain with that second ear than the first!
Dr. Hubert provided all of my medical care until I left home for college shortly after the ear piercing. Everything from well-baby appointments, strep throat, shots, camp physicals—if it was medical—he did it. This man even made house calls. I was prone to ear aches long before ear tubes were fashionable and I remember the relief when he came to my house to administer warm ear drops to ease my pain.
As a kid, I was aware of illnesses among the townspeople, merely because it was a small town. News travels fast, and families were vast in their social expanse. Dr. Hubert ministered to all of them, and sent those who needed it off to specialty care. He also served as coroner and assisted the dying with palliative care.
He was an excellent keeper of secrets—for everyone, which is why he was so trusted. While he was a man of his word, he was also a man of few words, often repeated. I recall many times hearing about someone’s illness and also what “the doc” said about it. He was quoted often as the final authority. In a small town, when the doctor made a house call, his car was recognized and neighbors and families rallied round to ask what they could do. The small nursing home and nearby hospital together were the largest employer in town and news of babies born and a cancer diagnosis were celebrated and grieved together.
I remember him as a widower, and he died years after I left town. He seemed ageless to me.
And priceless to the town.
But, I explained that Walt Riley came from a bit of a romanticized version of my own reality. In my small town, there was only one doctor, and he did it all. When I was born, my parents lived on a farm a few miles out of town, but my expected birth in the middle of a Minnesota winter led to a plan dictated by the doctor for my mother to stay in town at my grandparents’ home. His rationale was sound— in the event of a blizzard he could pick her up and drive her to the nearest hospital without having a delay caused by impassable country roads. Sure enough, the February snowstorm came just as my mother went into labor, but Dr. Hubert drove the twenty miles to the nearest hospital before the roads were closed. After a successful delivery In the hospital, I shared the nursery with two babies who later became classmates and friends in my elementary school.
One of those classmates shared an improbable experience by today’s standards when, eighteen years later, we were given parental permission to get our ears pierced, but only if Dr. Hubert was willing to do the honors. After getting our courage up we made a joint appointment for the procedure, without any assurance he would do the deed. He tested us by delivering a five minute lecture about vanity. We held fast and he did agree to pierce our ears. But only after commenting that he didn’t expect this from us when he delivered us eighteen years ago…
By now, embarrassed but resolved, we were in it to the end. I agreed to go first. It was only afterward that my friend told me that when the doctor moved in to inject the numbing agent into my second earlobe she saw the needle go right through the lobe and spray across the room. Fortunately, I didn’t feel any more pain with that second ear than the first!
Dr. Hubert provided all of my medical care until I left home for college shortly after the ear piercing. Everything from well-baby appointments, strep throat, shots, camp physicals—if it was medical—he did it. This man even made house calls. I was prone to ear aches long before ear tubes were fashionable and I remember the relief when he came to my house to administer warm ear drops to ease my pain.
As a kid, I was aware of illnesses among the townspeople, merely because it was a small town. News travels fast, and families were vast in their social expanse. Dr. Hubert ministered to all of them, and sent those who needed it off to specialty care. He also served as coroner and assisted the dying with palliative care.
He was an excellent keeper of secrets—for everyone, which is why he was so trusted. While he was a man of his word, he was also a man of few words, often repeated. I recall many times hearing about someone’s illness and also what “the doc” said about it. He was quoted often as the final authority. In a small town, when the doctor made a house call, his car was recognized and neighbors and families rallied round to ask what they could do. The small nursing home and nearby hospital together were the largest employer in town and news of babies born and a cancer diagnosis were celebrated and grieved together.
I remember him as a widower, and he died years after I left town. He seemed ageless to me.
And priceless to the town.
September 17, 2022
Desperate Teens
Now that Finding Grace is out in the world and I am on the book circuit, I get questions that pull me back to the inspiration behind the story-line for each character. One recent question was about teen mental health challenges. I’m not sure the person asking the question expected the lecture I found myself tempted to give. It is an issue I feel strongly about. The recent images of desperate teens languishing in stressed emergency departments during a pandemic, boarded there until a bed in an appropriate mental health facility opened up, broke my heart.
I have long been aware of the lack of parity in reimbursement for mental health care which results in a shortage of mental health professionals and a stigma in the system that creates suboptimal systems for recognizing mental health challenges and providing immediate and on-going treatment. Recently, a new suicide line has been rolled out nationally which I hope will have the required services to support it.
I hope this effort results in system re-design that will help move the needle away from the very sad suicide numbers for our youth. If the unprecedented chaos of our world over the past few years caused adults to wobble a bit, it nearly ruined many of our youth. Without the safe routine of school and friends and activities that kept young minds and bodies moving and stimulated, vulnerable youth were left to navigate many of the suicide triggers on their own.
Suicide is seen among all age groups, but the highest suicide rates are seen among teenagers and young adults aged between 10 and 35 years. Various factors make young adults vulnerable and contribute to suicide. Family tensions rank high. Emotional or physical abuse, violence, lack of family connectivity, parental mental health problems, homelessness and death of a loved one are all burdens that cause suicidal thoughts.
Children and teenagers who suffer from depression are more likely to commit suicide. Depression symptoms which may include being gloomy, hopeless, bored, stressed, nervous, irritated and hyperactive can often be overlooked by parents distracted by their own difficulties or too easily dismissed as typical adolescent behavior.
Fortunately, our digital age has added to prevention practices beyond in-person resources to include on-line therapy, crisis lines, support groups, mobile apps, video and workbooks. I’m particularly keen on the possibility of spreading all of these services nationwide from city to village. Rural areas have felt this most acutely, as suicide rates are higher and increasing more quickly in rural areas than in urban ones.
Will a new three digit crisis phone number break through to small town and rural areas? Perhaps. Without the anonymity afforded by an urban area, youth in the midst of danger don’t always have the fortitude to reach out to resources in their vicinity—even if there is a mental health center nearby. Just showing up at one would be an act of courage for a teen who may be dealing with a dysfunctional family and may be fearful that someone would recognize them seeking help.
In my novel, Finding Grace, the adolescent character Grace suffers in a toxic environment with a narcissistic mother. Fearing that her mother will win her father over and she will be abandoned, Grace’s muddled state causes her to believe she is the family spoiler with no escape route. Finally, a family friend shakes her guilt-ridden father from his denial and into action by saying sharply, “If one of our girls had broken an ankle in soccer or had a cough that wasn’t going away, we would get it looked at. Just because you can’t see what’s hurting doesn’t mean there isn’t something to be done about what’s going on with her.”
Even after a knowledgable family physician is able to diagnose her depression and make a referral to a psychiatrist, the long wait to be seen is too long, and Grace attempts suicide.
Would a three digit number to call have helped her?
I have long been aware of the lack of parity in reimbursement for mental health care which results in a shortage of mental health professionals and a stigma in the system that creates suboptimal systems for recognizing mental health challenges and providing immediate and on-going treatment. Recently, a new suicide line has been rolled out nationally which I hope will have the required services to support it.
I hope this effort results in system re-design that will help move the needle away from the very sad suicide numbers for our youth. If the unprecedented chaos of our world over the past few years caused adults to wobble a bit, it nearly ruined many of our youth. Without the safe routine of school and friends and activities that kept young minds and bodies moving and stimulated, vulnerable youth were left to navigate many of the suicide triggers on their own.
Suicide is seen among all age groups, but the highest suicide rates are seen among teenagers and young adults aged between 10 and 35 years. Various factors make young adults vulnerable and contribute to suicide. Family tensions rank high. Emotional or physical abuse, violence, lack of family connectivity, parental mental health problems, homelessness and death of a loved one are all burdens that cause suicidal thoughts.
Children and teenagers who suffer from depression are more likely to commit suicide. Depression symptoms which may include being gloomy, hopeless, bored, stressed, nervous, irritated and hyperactive can often be overlooked by parents distracted by their own difficulties or too easily dismissed as typical adolescent behavior.
Fortunately, our digital age has added to prevention practices beyond in-person resources to include on-line therapy, crisis lines, support groups, mobile apps, video and workbooks. I’m particularly keen on the possibility of spreading all of these services nationwide from city to village. Rural areas have felt this most acutely, as suicide rates are higher and increasing more quickly in rural areas than in urban ones.
Will a new three digit crisis phone number break through to small town and rural areas? Perhaps. Without the anonymity afforded by an urban area, youth in the midst of danger don’t always have the fortitude to reach out to resources in their vicinity—even if there is a mental health center nearby. Just showing up at one would be an act of courage for a teen who may be dealing with a dysfunctional family and may be fearful that someone would recognize them seeking help.
In my novel, Finding Grace, the adolescent character Grace suffers in a toxic environment with a narcissistic mother. Fearing that her mother will win her father over and she will be abandoned, Grace’s muddled state causes her to believe she is the family spoiler with no escape route. Finally, a family friend shakes her guilt-ridden father from his denial and into action by saying sharply, “If one of our girls had broken an ankle in soccer or had a cough that wasn’t going away, we would get it looked at. Just because you can’t see what’s hurting doesn’t mean there isn’t something to be done about what’s going on with her.”
Even after a knowledgable family physician is able to diagnose her depression and make a referral to a psychiatrist, the long wait to be seen is too long, and Grace attempts suicide.
Would a three digit number to call have helped her?
August 18, 2022
Betwixt
’Tis the season of betwixt and between. Dog days of summer with school around a distant corner yet. The Minnesota State Fair starts ten days before Labor Day, and that’s just next week. Maybe this year people will show up to eat pronto pups and cheese curds and visit the baby animals. Pandemic fatigue has hit us all and yet normalcy is still a bit of a reach. More people in my friend circle have had COVID in the last month than expected—but what is the correct expectation now? Will there be a combo flu and COVID vaccine for Fall? It remains to be seen.
Living in the betwixt is becoming the norm these days—perhaps it builds resilience? What it means to me is that it is more important than ever to live each day to the fullest, play the odds carefully, but not with great expectation, and roll with what comes next.
Finding Grace has been out in the world for a month now, and that feels wonderful! Writing a novel is an extremely introverted process—hours upon weeks upon months of living in your own make believe world—coming up for air in stages to sniff for any whiff of acceptance by those who may have chanced to read shared snippets. With hope leading the way, the production process requires a wider circle of experts with whom an author must share his or her innermost thoughts about the story. Everything from the inspiration, the imagery, the characters, the themes, to the meaning of the work itself. These experts shape the work through a cooperative process with the author to determine (sometimes negotiating) the book’s title, cover design, final copy after editing and final layout. It can be intense, and clearly stretches the comfort zone for an introvert!
For Finding Grace, there were additional supply chain issues due to the pandemic that factored into the deadlines to finalize the manuscript for print, which upped the angst factor a bit. Who expected paste and paper to be in short supply?
I also chose to publish an audiobook which is a different, and equally intense production with voice actors and producers, which is a separate track overlayed during the final few months before pub date. But, it was so fun to listen to such talented narrators audition for characters voices that only I had ever imagined! And, they did an incredible job. I’m adding the video link here for the trailer AudioSorceress created for Finding Grace. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-6dB...
By the time July 19th came—I was ready to end the production side and take a breath. I’m pleased with the finished product of all of my editions for Finding Grace, and it is very satisfying to watch as the book makes its way to readers. After such a lonely process of writing, the pleasure of talking about the book at my launch event, various podcasts, a live instagram event and a few radio spots is truly enjoyable. I’m looking forward to more events coming up. It is a book worth discussion…I already know that. I’m hoping you enjoy it.
Back to Betwixt—I’m starting the production process for Novel #3, as yet untitled, but with a pub date of November 14, 2023. So that disciplined production process will be a parallel track for me as I continue to market Finding Grace. I’ve got more to say about FG and will feature the book in my future blog posts. When it makes sense, I’ll bring you along on the journey to the finish line with Novel #3.
In the meantime—if you have a question about Finding Grace, or want me to come to your book club please use the contact options on this website to get in touch. Thanks!
Living in the betwixt is becoming the norm these days—perhaps it builds resilience? What it means to me is that it is more important than ever to live each day to the fullest, play the odds carefully, but not with great expectation, and roll with what comes next.
Finding Grace has been out in the world for a month now, and that feels wonderful! Writing a novel is an extremely introverted process—hours upon weeks upon months of living in your own make believe world—coming up for air in stages to sniff for any whiff of acceptance by those who may have chanced to read shared snippets. With hope leading the way, the production process requires a wider circle of experts with whom an author must share his or her innermost thoughts about the story. Everything from the inspiration, the imagery, the characters, the themes, to the meaning of the work itself. These experts shape the work through a cooperative process with the author to determine (sometimes negotiating) the book’s title, cover design, final copy after editing and final layout. It can be intense, and clearly stretches the comfort zone for an introvert!
For Finding Grace, there were additional supply chain issues due to the pandemic that factored into the deadlines to finalize the manuscript for print, which upped the angst factor a bit. Who expected paste and paper to be in short supply?
I also chose to publish an audiobook which is a different, and equally intense production with voice actors and producers, which is a separate track overlayed during the final few months before pub date. But, it was so fun to listen to such talented narrators audition for characters voices that only I had ever imagined! And, they did an incredible job. I’m adding the video link here for the trailer AudioSorceress created for Finding Grace. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-6dB...
By the time July 19th came—I was ready to end the production side and take a breath. I’m pleased with the finished product of all of my editions for Finding Grace, and it is very satisfying to watch as the book makes its way to readers. After such a lonely process of writing, the pleasure of talking about the book at my launch event, various podcasts, a live instagram event and a few radio spots is truly enjoyable. I’m looking forward to more events coming up. It is a book worth discussion…I already know that. I’m hoping you enjoy it.
Back to Betwixt—I’m starting the production process for Novel #3, as yet untitled, but with a pub date of November 14, 2023. So that disciplined production process will be a parallel track for me as I continue to market Finding Grace. I’ve got more to say about FG and will feature the book in my future blog posts. When it makes sense, I’ll bring you along on the journey to the finish line with Novel #3.
In the meantime—if you have a question about Finding Grace, or want me to come to your book club please use the contact options on this website to get in touch. Thanks!
June 18, 2022
Father's Day
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and for many of us the holiday brings memories of fathers long passed. My own Dad, a WWII veteran who went to war as a seventeen year-old and saw action up close as he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and spent enough winter time in a Bastogne foxhole to end up with frozen feet, is missed that day, and many others. But memories do fade over time. Impressions last longer.
Throughout my childhood I always thought my Dad was a hero. Strong, somewhat mysterious, funny. A man who was good at horseshoes and threw his back out golfing, always quick with a quip and there when he was needed. But, of course, as we grow up, we see a few flaws— all fathers are human, after all. And, as we mature, we see the world through a more intelligent lens, filtered through our larger experience.
But, the impression of being in a father’s care, that is lasting. I miss that feeling. Unconditional father love. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience it first hand, but can only dream of it or yearn for it.
Just about a month ahead of the publication date for my second novel, Finding Grace, I can’t let this Father’s Day pass without a few words about the father featured in the story. I’ll avoid any major spoilers but shed some light on Charlie and how I developed his character.
As human beings, we’re all products of our past; good and bad, our experiences have formed us into who we are. The same is true of Charlie Booker who presents early in the book as a complicated man. Clearly flawed, he has suffered an early trauma that was so negative it caused his character deep psychological pain. Charlie was a foundling, who grew up an orphan, and was shuttled among many foster placements throughout his life.
That series of events in his childhood forms his deep need for attachment, even though he isn’t experienced in healthy family relationships. His desire for a family, at any cost, creates a moral dilemma that gnaws at him throughout the book. His fear of being alone, his inability to trust others, and his desperation to save his daughter all grow from his own wounding event.
I hope the explanation above helps you understand how it is that authors who described this book in their blurbs as ‘gut-wrenching, heartrending, and gripping’ also use ‘compassionate’, and ‘labyrinth of love, hope and commitment’ to describe Charlie’s search for vital and lasting connections.
I promise I will write future posts to provide insight into both Caroline’s and Grace’s characters also. All three of the main characters are on their own unique coming-of-age journey. I hope you tag along by reading the book!
Finding Grace is available for pre-order now on bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/books/finding-gr... and amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Grace-...?
I do think it would be a worthy Father’s Day gift—even if it doesn’t arrive until July. Happy Father’s Day!
Maren
Throughout my childhood I always thought my Dad was a hero. Strong, somewhat mysterious, funny. A man who was good at horseshoes and threw his back out golfing, always quick with a quip and there when he was needed. But, of course, as we grow up, we see a few flaws— all fathers are human, after all. And, as we mature, we see the world through a more intelligent lens, filtered through our larger experience.
But, the impression of being in a father’s care, that is lasting. I miss that feeling. Unconditional father love. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience it first hand, but can only dream of it or yearn for it.
Just about a month ahead of the publication date for my second novel, Finding Grace, I can’t let this Father’s Day pass without a few words about the father featured in the story. I’ll avoid any major spoilers but shed some light on Charlie and how I developed his character.
As human beings, we’re all products of our past; good and bad, our experiences have formed us into who we are. The same is true of Charlie Booker who presents early in the book as a complicated man. Clearly flawed, he has suffered an early trauma that was so negative it caused his character deep psychological pain. Charlie was a foundling, who grew up an orphan, and was shuttled among many foster placements throughout his life.
That series of events in his childhood forms his deep need for attachment, even though he isn’t experienced in healthy family relationships. His desire for a family, at any cost, creates a moral dilemma that gnaws at him throughout the book. His fear of being alone, his inability to trust others, and his desperation to save his daughter all grow from his own wounding event.
I hope the explanation above helps you understand how it is that authors who described this book in their blurbs as ‘gut-wrenching, heartrending, and gripping’ also use ‘compassionate’, and ‘labyrinth of love, hope and commitment’ to describe Charlie’s search for vital and lasting connections.
I promise I will write future posts to provide insight into both Caroline’s and Grace’s characters also. All three of the main characters are on their own unique coming-of-age journey. I hope you tag along by reading the book!
Finding Grace is available for pre-order now on bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/books/finding-gr... and amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Grace-...?
I do think it would be a worthy Father’s Day gift—even if it doesn’t arrive until July. Happy Father’s Day!
Maren
May 15, 2022
Period of Adjustment
Life is full of surprises these days, and change can be exhilarating as well as challenging. But it is constant. Spring finally arrived in Minnesota and lasted just a day or two. I was finally able to turn my heat off one Friday in May, and a few days later Minnesota temperatures hovered in the mid 80’s. And now, every day when I check my garden the growth is spectacular. Red buds finally in bloom—late but very welcome.
Last month I shared an excerpt from Finding Grace, a scene early in Charlie and Caroline’s marriage just as they re-located to Duluth for their careers, and into their first home on the shore of Lake Superior—quite a change for the East Coast transplants. It’s a happy start for them, but for any new couple, a period of adjustment should be expected. This excerpt is from Chapter Three.
The next day, Charlie gave Caroline a tour of the town. Two Harbors had a decidedly small town feel; the ore dock lively with tourists and locals who frequented the hiking trail nearby to catch a view of the big boats navigating in by the light house. The tugboat, the Edna G, on permanent display in the harbor. It didn’t take long to show her downtown, just a street or two of businesses, with the hardware store at the heart of the activity. A few gas stations, one supermarket and a few restaurants on Highway 61, the highway that bisected the town. It was not a big city, but had everything that they needed.
Caroline was keen on visiting Hawk Ridge in Duluth the first week she was there and seeing her face light up when she took it in, he knew it would be one of their haunts. She had a fondness for raptors, especially peregrine falcons. She was entranced with their resurgence from near extinction, their speed and adaptability to new environments kept her interested in searching for them wherever they may be.
Charlie had been to his school a couple of times to meet with the principal, Patricia Benson, and to have a look around his classroom. After they toured his classroom, a big boxy room with rows of lab tables and surrounded by cupboards labeled with sharpie ink, he realized how much he had to do to get it set up in the next ten days, when she said, “So, make sure you bring your wife to the annual teacher back to school pot luck dinner. What’s her name again?”
“Caroline.” He wondered how that would go. Charlie wasn’t in the habit of requiring things from Caroline.
Patricia seemed to sense his hesitation. “Well, it’s important that you introduce her to the other teachers and their spouses. This is a small town and it’s good to know one another. We’ve been teaching the children of this town for eons and know all of the families here. You’d be surprised how helpful it is to be able to call on a colleague once in awhile. Especially during your first teaching year. And, support from your wife will be very important.”
Later, on the drive home, Charlie thought he would like these people. He couldn’t get a read on Caroline, but she seemed to say all of the right things. He asked her, “So, what did you think of the party?”
“I assume we only need to do that once a year, right Charlie?” Caroline was scanning the sky through her window, already searching for something new on the horizon.
What do you think? Every new relationship is tested early with the realities of individual careers to be tended and relocation is one of the biggest life transitions to navigate. How well do you expect Caroline and Charlie to handle this period of adjustment?
Last month I shared an excerpt from Finding Grace, a scene early in Charlie and Caroline’s marriage just as they re-located to Duluth for their careers, and into their first home on the shore of Lake Superior—quite a change for the East Coast transplants. It’s a happy start for them, but for any new couple, a period of adjustment should be expected. This excerpt is from Chapter Three.
The next day, Charlie gave Caroline a tour of the town. Two Harbors had a decidedly small town feel; the ore dock lively with tourists and locals who frequented the hiking trail nearby to catch a view of the big boats navigating in by the light house. The tugboat, the Edna G, on permanent display in the harbor. It didn’t take long to show her downtown, just a street or two of businesses, with the hardware store at the heart of the activity. A few gas stations, one supermarket and a few restaurants on Highway 61, the highway that bisected the town. It was not a big city, but had everything that they needed.
Caroline was keen on visiting Hawk Ridge in Duluth the first week she was there and seeing her face light up when she took it in, he knew it would be one of their haunts. She had a fondness for raptors, especially peregrine falcons. She was entranced with their resurgence from near extinction, their speed and adaptability to new environments kept her interested in searching for them wherever they may be.
Charlie had been to his school a couple of times to meet with the principal, Patricia Benson, and to have a look around his classroom. After they toured his classroom, a big boxy room with rows of lab tables and surrounded by cupboards labeled with sharpie ink, he realized how much he had to do to get it set up in the next ten days, when she said, “So, make sure you bring your wife to the annual teacher back to school pot luck dinner. What’s her name again?”
“Caroline.” He wondered how that would go. Charlie wasn’t in the habit of requiring things from Caroline.
Patricia seemed to sense his hesitation. “Well, it’s important that you introduce her to the other teachers and their spouses. This is a small town and it’s good to know one another. We’ve been teaching the children of this town for eons and know all of the families here. You’d be surprised how helpful it is to be able to call on a colleague once in awhile. Especially during your first teaching year. And, support from your wife will be very important.”
Later, on the drive home, Charlie thought he would like these people. He couldn’t get a read on Caroline, but she seemed to say all of the right things. He asked her, “So, what did you think of the party?”
“I assume we only need to do that once a year, right Charlie?” Caroline was scanning the sky through her window, already searching for something new on the horizon.
What do you think? Every new relationship is tested early with the realities of individual careers to be tended and relocation is one of the biggest life transitions to navigate. How well do you expect Caroline and Charlie to handle this period of adjustment?
April 18, 2022
And So It Begins...
It doesn’t actually feel like spring in the Northland, but the first oceangoing vessel of the 2022 maritime shipping season arrived April 15th in the Port of Duluth-Superior after completing the season’s first full transit of the St. Lawrence Seaway en route to the Great Lakes’ westernmost port. The journey for the salty, Resko, originated in Ijmuiden, Netherlands. I missed the welcome ceremony but watched an ice-breaker working to open the water around the port just two weeks ago. The beginning of the shipping season.
Last month, I introduced Charlie and Caroline, main characters in my novel Finding Grace. I shared an excerpt of Charlie’s marriage proposal in a bird blind in Kearney Nebraska. This month, I’ll take you to their next stop—the beginning of their married life.
“Is this Mrs. Booker?” Charlie called her excitedly with the news.
“This is Caroline Tate Booker. Who’s calling please?” She laughed with him as they both loved to hear the sound of their married names. “I miss you! How’s it going?”
“It’s done, they accepted our offer on the house.” He could hear her scream in delight. “And, they brought the price down based on our agreement to replace the windows, and furnace. So, I figure we can swing the financing with our new salaries and replace the furnace right away, and then wait a year or so on the windows.”
Charlie had found the perfect lake front house for them on the Scenic Highway between Duluth and Two Harbors. The older couple had built it themselves forty years ago, and it was in need of some upgrades, but the location was all they had dreamed of since they accepted positions in the northland.
Caroline had said “As long as we are near one of the Great Lakes, let’s get as close as we can get.” And Charles complied. He had traveled out twice to get the job done.
A week later the furnace was installed and he was on hand to accept their meager belongings from Iowa. When she arrived, he had flowers on the kitchen table and a big red bow on the tree outside the house. But it was the lakeshore that drew her.
“Charlie, I can’t believe you got us such a great spot!” Caroline ran the length of the shoreline and scanned the lake, her hair whipping in the wind. “It’s beautiful!”
He joined her at the edge of the yard where the high weeds bordered the rocks leading to the lake. “Yes, it is. And, the lake changes constantly. I’ve yet to see two days in a row where it appears to be the same color.” He pointed south. “There’s Duluth—most nights you can see the lights from the city. On the horizon straight across from us, Wisconsin.” He pointed again. “Sunrise direction.”
“I love it. We need to get some of those classic Adirondack chairs so we can sit out here and watch the water everyday! Maybe right here?” She gestured to a spot that provided a perfect view and was somewhat protected from the wind by a stand of fir trees at the northern border of the property.
Charlie felt his face bloom into a wide smile. He had hoped for this response, but hadn’t been sure she would be this enthusiastic. “Yes, of course we will Caroline—and now, let’s go show you the house.”
He gave a short guided tour that quickly ended in the bedroom and they spent their first afternoon as home-owners making it their own.
This excerpt from Chapter Three exudes happiness and hope. One could say it was a propitious beginning for the unlikely pair. So, what happens next?
Last month, I introduced Charlie and Caroline, main characters in my novel Finding Grace. I shared an excerpt of Charlie’s marriage proposal in a bird blind in Kearney Nebraska. This month, I’ll take you to their next stop—the beginning of their married life.
“Is this Mrs. Booker?” Charlie called her excitedly with the news.
“This is Caroline Tate Booker. Who’s calling please?” She laughed with him as they both loved to hear the sound of their married names. “I miss you! How’s it going?”
“It’s done, they accepted our offer on the house.” He could hear her scream in delight. “And, they brought the price down based on our agreement to replace the windows, and furnace. So, I figure we can swing the financing with our new salaries and replace the furnace right away, and then wait a year or so on the windows.”
Charlie had found the perfect lake front house for them on the Scenic Highway between Duluth and Two Harbors. The older couple had built it themselves forty years ago, and it was in need of some upgrades, but the location was all they had dreamed of since they accepted positions in the northland.
Caroline had said “As long as we are near one of the Great Lakes, let’s get as close as we can get.” And Charles complied. He had traveled out twice to get the job done.
A week later the furnace was installed and he was on hand to accept their meager belongings from Iowa. When she arrived, he had flowers on the kitchen table and a big red bow on the tree outside the house. But it was the lakeshore that drew her.
“Charlie, I can’t believe you got us such a great spot!” Caroline ran the length of the shoreline and scanned the lake, her hair whipping in the wind. “It’s beautiful!”
He joined her at the edge of the yard where the high weeds bordered the rocks leading to the lake. “Yes, it is. And, the lake changes constantly. I’ve yet to see two days in a row where it appears to be the same color.” He pointed south. “There’s Duluth—most nights you can see the lights from the city. On the horizon straight across from us, Wisconsin.” He pointed again. “Sunrise direction.”
“I love it. We need to get some of those classic Adirondack chairs so we can sit out here and watch the water everyday! Maybe right here?” She gestured to a spot that provided a perfect view and was somewhat protected from the wind by a stand of fir trees at the northern border of the property.
Charlie felt his face bloom into a wide smile. He had hoped for this response, but hadn’t been sure she would be this enthusiastic. “Yes, of course we will Caroline—and now, let’s go show you the house.”
He gave a short guided tour that quickly ended in the bedroom and they spent their first afternoon as home-owners making it their own.
This excerpt from Chapter Three exudes happiness and hope. One could say it was a propitious beginning for the unlikely pair. So, what happens next?
March 16, 2022
The Proposal
I promised my next several blog posts would be about my new book Finding Grace which will be published in a few short months on July 19th, 2022. Last month I started by writing about how the cover came about. This month, I’ve selected a few paragraphs from Chapter One to introduce you to two main characters in the book, Charles Booker and Caroline Tate.
Not the most romantic place to propose, but Charles Booker knew it fit Caroline perfectly—a rugged bird blind in Nebraska, just before dusk. It was an amazing sight. The sandhill cranes swooped in with their long necks cutting through the sky. Their bodies aligned, following as sharp as knives against the backdrop of the twilight sky.
“Shhh . . . I need to block everything out for this moment.” Caroline shushed him as he crouched down beside her, his feet scattering the gathered leaves on the concrete floor of the blind.
Charlie hoped the afterglow of this wonder would serve to keep Caroline in a state of euphoria long enough for him to get the words out before she reverted to the scientist focused on her next challenge. And who knew if that would include him?
Caroline finally put the binoculars down and lowered her body onto the bench. With her raven-black curls tightly pulled back into her hat, she looked like a high school kid even at twenty-five. After a long, delighted exhale, she jumped up, pulled him to her by his jacket, and gave him a deep kiss. “We did it! Charlie, did you love it? Can you believe it? Is there anything as beautiful as the in migration of the sandhill cranes?”
“It was incredible, just as you said!” He wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug and felt her warmth before plunging ahead, before he lost his nerve. “But, to me, beauty is you, now, in your element. And love is what we have together. And will have, forever.” As he spoke, he lowered her to a seated position on the bench and went down on one knee.
“Caroline Lee Tate, would you share your life with me and be my wife?” His words tapered to a whisper as Caroline started to laugh.
“Charlie, you silly man, what are you doing?” She took his face in her hands and gave him a quick kiss.
He knew Caroline well enough not to expect a conventional response to a proposal of marriage, so he held his position on one knee and deftly pulled a little box from his jacket pocket, trying to hide his terror that she would persist in thinking this a joke.
Hopefully, this teaser leaves you wanting more of the story; believe me, this is just the beginning. As a writer, I hope this scene sets up the unconventional relationship between these two moving into marriage. I wrote this scene to contrast Caroline, a serious ornithologist and Charlie, who would do anything to stay in her universe… this setting seemed exactly right for a proposal.
Researching sandhill cranes in Kearney Nebraska had intrigued me; I had the opportunity to take a road trip there this past week to see it with my own eyes. After two years of staying put it was great to hit the highway and leave the state on an adventure. The Iain Nicholson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney welcomes serious birders as well as the casual nature lover to share the spectacle of the Sandhill Cranes flying to and from the Platte River. The wide open spaces of Nebraska helped to open my horizons and whet my appetite for more travels to come.
Pre-orders of Finding Grace are now available for ebook and paperback editions. I just chose a producer for the audiobook which will be available by my pub date as well. Head to my website to choose your preferred vendor, or wait to visit a bookstore after July 19th!
https://marencooper.com/finding-grace/
Not the most romantic place to propose, but Charles Booker knew it fit Caroline perfectly—a rugged bird blind in Nebraska, just before dusk. It was an amazing sight. The sandhill cranes swooped in with their long necks cutting through the sky. Their bodies aligned, following as sharp as knives against the backdrop of the twilight sky.
“Shhh . . . I need to block everything out for this moment.” Caroline shushed him as he crouched down beside her, his feet scattering the gathered leaves on the concrete floor of the blind.
Charlie hoped the afterglow of this wonder would serve to keep Caroline in a state of euphoria long enough for him to get the words out before she reverted to the scientist focused on her next challenge. And who knew if that would include him?
Caroline finally put the binoculars down and lowered her body onto the bench. With her raven-black curls tightly pulled back into her hat, she looked like a high school kid even at twenty-five. After a long, delighted exhale, she jumped up, pulled him to her by his jacket, and gave him a deep kiss. “We did it! Charlie, did you love it? Can you believe it? Is there anything as beautiful as the in migration of the sandhill cranes?”
“It was incredible, just as you said!” He wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug and felt her warmth before plunging ahead, before he lost his nerve. “But, to me, beauty is you, now, in your element. And love is what we have together. And will have, forever.” As he spoke, he lowered her to a seated position on the bench and went down on one knee.
“Caroline Lee Tate, would you share your life with me and be my wife?” His words tapered to a whisper as Caroline started to laugh.
“Charlie, you silly man, what are you doing?” She took his face in her hands and gave him a quick kiss.
He knew Caroline well enough not to expect a conventional response to a proposal of marriage, so he held his position on one knee and deftly pulled a little box from his jacket pocket, trying to hide his terror that she would persist in thinking this a joke.
Hopefully, this teaser leaves you wanting more of the story; believe me, this is just the beginning. As a writer, I hope this scene sets up the unconventional relationship between these two moving into marriage. I wrote this scene to contrast Caroline, a serious ornithologist and Charlie, who would do anything to stay in her universe… this setting seemed exactly right for a proposal.
Researching sandhill cranes in Kearney Nebraska had intrigued me; I had the opportunity to take a road trip there this past week to see it with my own eyes. After two years of staying put it was great to hit the highway and leave the state on an adventure. The Iain Nicholson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney welcomes serious birders as well as the casual nature lover to share the spectacle of the Sandhill Cranes flying to and from the Platte River. The wide open spaces of Nebraska helped to open my horizons and whet my appetite for more travels to come.
Pre-orders of Finding Grace are now available for ebook and paperback editions. I just chose a producer for the audiobook which will be available by my pub date as well. Head to my website to choose your preferred vendor, or wait to visit a bookstore after July 19th!
https://marencooper.com/finding-grace/
February 19, 2022
Cover Story--Finding Grace
The time has come to introduce you to my second novel, Finding Grace. The drama of a cover reveal is a moment to be savored; I have been enjoying it with equal doses of trepidation and thrill. You know that old saw—you can’t judge a book by its cover—well, don’t believe it. People buy books by their covers ALL THE TIME! We all do, even if we don’t like to admit it. Maybe because a cover draws you to look at the summary statement about the book by the author or the blurbs, or maybe you are in a book store and a pop of color draws you to it. Maybe you are scrolling on-line and see something interesting—a pattern, or abstraction that pulls you in. Any sale requires that first look after all.
It’s almost like the icing on the cake. It takes a long time to decide on what type of cake you are going to make. Finally, you think you have a decent recipe for the cake itself. You use the freshest ingredients you can find. You carefully measure sufficient amounts of TLC and any surprise substitutions you dare make. You worry about whether you folded or whisked with a steady enough hand. Then you set the oven and watch over it tenderly as it bakes. You resist opening the oven door but keep the oven light on.
And, after all of that, the final touch that will either catch someone’s eye, or be overlooked as all of the other cakes are bought up…..is the frosting—which you haven’t made yourself!
Cover design is way more intricate that I would have believed before I started writing novels. But, when I was looking for a publisher, cover art was a differentiating criteria for me. She Writes Press, my hybrid publisher, happily celebrating ten years in the business, is well recognized for their lovely covers. I respect their expertise. And, as a book-lover, I have grown more discerning about cover art as I visit bookstores.
Anyway, I hope you like the cover. I had six designs to choose from and it was tough! But, this one brought all of my requested design elements into play and looked natural as an integrated piece. First, I wanted the lake. Lake Superior is a passion of mine, and this book is set along the shores of that big lake. Second, it shows the skyline of Duluth, with the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge in the background. The family in the story lives on the Scenic Highway between Two Harbors and Duluth, so the view looking south to Duluth is fitting. The figure depicts an adolescent Grace, the vulnerable child who is a main character in the book. Looking away is symbolic of her emotional need to escape. The birds, raptors here, are significant as both a scene marker of the Northland, and a note about Caroline’s ornithology career. And, what can I say about the sky and the lake with the setting sun reflecting so beautifully upon it? Gorgeous.
With the pub date only five months away, I will be sharing more about the book in my next posts, but for now, I’ll leave you with this lovely blurb from one of my sister She Writes Press authors.
“Cold mothers and troubled children. A father’s desperate wish for vital and lasting connections. The peculiar senseless decision-making of teens who are hurting. Second chances at love. The essence of community. Set on the shores of Minnesota’s Lake Superior country, the novel’s beautiful descriptions of the harsh beauty in the outside world perfectly frame the complex inner worlds of the central characters. This is a poignant story of enduring love’s victory over disappointment and trauma.”
Barbara Stark-Nemon, author, Even in Darkness & Hard Cider
It’s almost like the icing on the cake. It takes a long time to decide on what type of cake you are going to make. Finally, you think you have a decent recipe for the cake itself. You use the freshest ingredients you can find. You carefully measure sufficient amounts of TLC and any surprise substitutions you dare make. You worry about whether you folded or whisked with a steady enough hand. Then you set the oven and watch over it tenderly as it bakes. You resist opening the oven door but keep the oven light on.
And, after all of that, the final touch that will either catch someone’s eye, or be overlooked as all of the other cakes are bought up…..is the frosting—which you haven’t made yourself!
Cover design is way more intricate that I would have believed before I started writing novels. But, when I was looking for a publisher, cover art was a differentiating criteria for me. She Writes Press, my hybrid publisher, happily celebrating ten years in the business, is well recognized for their lovely covers. I respect their expertise. And, as a book-lover, I have grown more discerning about cover art as I visit bookstores.
Anyway, I hope you like the cover. I had six designs to choose from and it was tough! But, this one brought all of my requested design elements into play and looked natural as an integrated piece. First, I wanted the lake. Lake Superior is a passion of mine, and this book is set along the shores of that big lake. Second, it shows the skyline of Duluth, with the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge in the background. The family in the story lives on the Scenic Highway between Two Harbors and Duluth, so the view looking south to Duluth is fitting. The figure depicts an adolescent Grace, the vulnerable child who is a main character in the book. Looking away is symbolic of her emotional need to escape. The birds, raptors here, are significant as both a scene marker of the Northland, and a note about Caroline’s ornithology career. And, what can I say about the sky and the lake with the setting sun reflecting so beautifully upon it? Gorgeous.
With the pub date only five months away, I will be sharing more about the book in my next posts, but for now, I’ll leave you with this lovely blurb from one of my sister She Writes Press authors.
“Cold mothers and troubled children. A father’s desperate wish for vital and lasting connections. The peculiar senseless decision-making of teens who are hurting. Second chances at love. The essence of community. Set on the shores of Minnesota’s Lake Superior country, the novel’s beautiful descriptions of the harsh beauty in the outside world perfectly frame the complex inner worlds of the central characters. This is a poignant story of enduring love’s victory over disappointment and trauma.”
Barbara Stark-Nemon, author, Even in Darkness & Hard Cider
January 15, 2022
How to Avoid the Omicron Blues
Are you trying to avoid the Stuck at home Omicron Blues? Keeping your spirits up to prevent the deep funk you know some are in? I appreciate how hard that is. I was able to stay in my holiday glow for a good week after my grandchildren left for home. It helped that I kept the decorations up longer than usual. Minnesota days are still short, and twinkling lights help the evenings brighten up your spirits.
It was an amazing Christmas at my home! Grandchildren, children, siblings, all around the holiday table several times. Hugs aplenty, small moments to catch up one-to-one without digital help, and lovely gestures of heartfelt gratitude for the simple traditions that had been missed the year before. Certainly, I grieve my lost time watching the grandchildren change and grow from a closer perspective, but the breach was bridged more easily than I expected. Somehow, my need to bake was rewarded with votes on which cookies to keep on the list for next year. Thankfully, tins of remaining goodies were packed up to shuttle to various households in the aftermath.
There was one moment of drama. My Julia Child plum pudding recipe is an old stand-by, and the new plum pudding mold I had packed away and never used, worked beautifully. However, I wanted a show-stopper moment to top off the celebration. In preparation, I watched a video of how to present the flambéing effect associated with table-side service of certain liqueur-drenched dishes set aflame, such as Cherries Jubilee. It looked simple enough. How hard could this be? ”I can do this!” I said aloud as I prepared.
I spoke too soon. The plan—fill a ladle with a bit of fine alcohol and allow it to warm over the flame of a candle until it starts to ignite and then carefully pour the ignited liquor over the pudding and watch the transformation of a lovely blue-tinged flame glow atop the pudding.
Well, the liquor did ignite, but only a portion of it got to the actual pudding. It did look beautiful, I must say. However, my audience chose to focus on the runaway flame that, on its own course, veered toward the edge of the pudding tray closest to my grandson’s water glass. Voila—Grandma and said grandson quickly doused the flame. Every party needs a moment, right? This is what all of the guests will remember!
As I relive the restorative moments of the holidays, I’m considering the following strategies to keep the blues at bay. Perhaps some may work for you! Happy New Year!
Plan a road trip—Or fly somewhere if weather and destination safety allow. I’m heading to the frozen north landscape of my beloved Lake Superior!
Clean that last closet—Boring, but satisfying.
Learn a new app—Or, delete those you no longer use.
Invest in those heavier weights—Every time my zoom weight training teacher suggests this, I feel a twinge of guilt—who knew I would still be stuck at home instead of in the gym? Time to add some more challenge to my routine.
Organize old family photos—On occasion, I consider how to digitize or store albums, is this the occasion in which to tackle this job?
Throw out the last of the holiday goodies—Snacks on hand for guests need to be out!
Count your blessings, every day—I have way more blessings than complaints, and it is a good mental exercise to keep positivity alive.
New streaming opportunities—With Ted Lasso between seasons, I’m looking forward to The “Gilded Age” and watching Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand tackle MacBeth. I heartily recommend “The Tender Bar” for a dose of feel-good nostalgia.
NEW BOOKS—Always top of mind for me. Of late, I’ve been listening to “1619” as an Audiobook and just realized that Elizabeth George has a new book out. That could keep me going for weeks….
It was an amazing Christmas at my home! Grandchildren, children, siblings, all around the holiday table several times. Hugs aplenty, small moments to catch up one-to-one without digital help, and lovely gestures of heartfelt gratitude for the simple traditions that had been missed the year before. Certainly, I grieve my lost time watching the grandchildren change and grow from a closer perspective, but the breach was bridged more easily than I expected. Somehow, my need to bake was rewarded with votes on which cookies to keep on the list for next year. Thankfully, tins of remaining goodies were packed up to shuttle to various households in the aftermath.
There was one moment of drama. My Julia Child plum pudding recipe is an old stand-by, and the new plum pudding mold I had packed away and never used, worked beautifully. However, I wanted a show-stopper moment to top off the celebration. In preparation, I watched a video of how to present the flambéing effect associated with table-side service of certain liqueur-drenched dishes set aflame, such as Cherries Jubilee. It looked simple enough. How hard could this be? ”I can do this!” I said aloud as I prepared.
I spoke too soon. The plan—fill a ladle with a bit of fine alcohol and allow it to warm over the flame of a candle until it starts to ignite and then carefully pour the ignited liquor over the pudding and watch the transformation of a lovely blue-tinged flame glow atop the pudding.
Well, the liquor did ignite, but only a portion of it got to the actual pudding. It did look beautiful, I must say. However, my audience chose to focus on the runaway flame that, on its own course, veered toward the edge of the pudding tray closest to my grandson’s water glass. Voila—Grandma and said grandson quickly doused the flame. Every party needs a moment, right? This is what all of the guests will remember!
As I relive the restorative moments of the holidays, I’m considering the following strategies to keep the blues at bay. Perhaps some may work for you! Happy New Year!
Plan a road trip—Or fly somewhere if weather and destination safety allow. I’m heading to the frozen north landscape of my beloved Lake Superior!
Clean that last closet—Boring, but satisfying.
Learn a new app—Or, delete those you no longer use.
Invest in those heavier weights—Every time my zoom weight training teacher suggests this, I feel a twinge of guilt—who knew I would still be stuck at home instead of in the gym? Time to add some more challenge to my routine.
Organize old family photos—On occasion, I consider how to digitize or store albums, is this the occasion in which to tackle this job?
Throw out the last of the holiday goodies—Snacks on hand for guests need to be out!
Count your blessings, every day—I have way more blessings than complaints, and it is a good mental exercise to keep positivity alive.
New streaming opportunities—With Ted Lasso between seasons, I’m looking forward to The “Gilded Age” and watching Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand tackle MacBeth. I heartily recommend “The Tender Bar” for a dose of feel-good nostalgia.
NEW BOOKS—Always top of mind for me. Of late, I’ve been listening to “1619” as an Audiobook and just realized that Elizabeth George has a new book out. That could keep me going for weeks….
December 12, 2021
Sweet Anticipation
Turning the page to the delight of December! After a long roller coaster ride filled with dread, gotchas and two many pivots to count, I’m giving myself the gift of living in the moment. A holiday season with the traditions, closeted for the year of 2020 year, happily revived!
The moment is a good one! Grandchildren, now vaccinated, will make the trek to Grandma’s house with their parents and pandemic puppy and spend several days in the world of Christmas past—all the way back to 2019! The hustle and bustle of preparation for the long awaited return seems to energize me like a tonic—the sadness and grief of the past losses are still with me, and with all of us, but, this seems like a time to celebrate getting this far.
This past week I went to a live musical production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” A rare large venue event for me this year. Vaccinations and masks required of course, but sitting shoulder to shoulder in a full auditorium was oddly comforting, not scary. The surprise benefit was that I heard no coughing or the annoying unwrapping of cellophane over a lozenge—perhaps a side benefit of social distancing and masking?
Another party this week and a few lunches out with friends post booster and I feel like a new woman! It’s such a relief not having to entertain friends in my frigid garage this winter. Precautions taken for the times are still the name of the game, but seizing the moment when all of my loved ones are vaccinated and boosted if possible, and Omicron is not quite the threat, yet, of Delta, I’m feeling like a reprieve has been announced.
December has now re-taken its place as the month of planning, sweet anticipation of things to come, and memories to be made. The last week of the year will be celebratory—and there is so much fun leading up to it. I have made quite a bit of progress so far. My outdoor lights are hung on the new patio fence, flameless candles are set on timers throughout the house, giving this darkest month a pleasant glow. Fortunately, we just got our first real snowfall of eight inches which helps to brighten the streets and sidewalks for the occasional walk through the neighborhood in the evening to see new light displays added.
My gift buying is complete, well, is it ever really complete? I’m heading to a Christmas market Tuesday which will tempt me, I’m sure! Most of the wrapping is finished….
Fortunately, as I was going through my cookie cookbook I found ear-marked pages to remind me of our favorites, and a lovely surprise—a handwritten note from post Christmas 2019 describing my choices that year and what worked and what doesn’t need to be repeated. Baking cookies is therapeutic for me; I usually save the baking until close to party time, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Cappuccino Flats, Almond Ricotta Bars and New Scenic Cafe Spirals are on the list this year. The Minnesota tradition of storing tinned cookies in the garage to save room in the fridge is one I heartily recommend—and a good use of the patio table placed there.
Christmas wouldn’t be ours without Julia Child’s Plum Pudding. I made it just after Thanksgiving and it is already in the garage, still in its decorative mold. This recipe is one I pulled from a Parade Magazine in 1985, and it’s still a keeper. Let me know if you want a copy!
My photo for this month shows another point of anticipation. Fostering an Amaryllis bulb or two has been a ritual for many years, and one that I cherish. I’m hoping this one will bloom around the 24th—wish me luck!
Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season. May you, too, be surrounded by loved ones.
Maren
The moment is a good one! Grandchildren, now vaccinated, will make the trek to Grandma’s house with their parents and pandemic puppy and spend several days in the world of Christmas past—all the way back to 2019! The hustle and bustle of preparation for the long awaited return seems to energize me like a tonic—the sadness and grief of the past losses are still with me, and with all of us, but, this seems like a time to celebrate getting this far.
This past week I went to a live musical production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” A rare large venue event for me this year. Vaccinations and masks required of course, but sitting shoulder to shoulder in a full auditorium was oddly comforting, not scary. The surprise benefit was that I heard no coughing or the annoying unwrapping of cellophane over a lozenge—perhaps a side benefit of social distancing and masking?
Another party this week and a few lunches out with friends post booster and I feel like a new woman! It’s such a relief not having to entertain friends in my frigid garage this winter. Precautions taken for the times are still the name of the game, but seizing the moment when all of my loved ones are vaccinated and boosted if possible, and Omicron is not quite the threat, yet, of Delta, I’m feeling like a reprieve has been announced.
December has now re-taken its place as the month of planning, sweet anticipation of things to come, and memories to be made. The last week of the year will be celebratory—and there is so much fun leading up to it. I have made quite a bit of progress so far. My outdoor lights are hung on the new patio fence, flameless candles are set on timers throughout the house, giving this darkest month a pleasant glow. Fortunately, we just got our first real snowfall of eight inches which helps to brighten the streets and sidewalks for the occasional walk through the neighborhood in the evening to see new light displays added.
My gift buying is complete, well, is it ever really complete? I’m heading to a Christmas market Tuesday which will tempt me, I’m sure! Most of the wrapping is finished….
Fortunately, as I was going through my cookie cookbook I found ear-marked pages to remind me of our favorites, and a lovely surprise—a handwritten note from post Christmas 2019 describing my choices that year and what worked and what doesn’t need to be repeated. Baking cookies is therapeutic for me; I usually save the baking until close to party time, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Cappuccino Flats, Almond Ricotta Bars and New Scenic Cafe Spirals are on the list this year. The Minnesota tradition of storing tinned cookies in the garage to save room in the fridge is one I heartily recommend—and a good use of the patio table placed there.
Christmas wouldn’t be ours without Julia Child’s Plum Pudding. I made it just after Thanksgiving and it is already in the garage, still in its decorative mold. This recipe is one I pulled from a Parade Magazine in 1985, and it’s still a keeper. Let me know if you want a copy!
My photo for this month shows another point of anticipation. Fostering an Amaryllis bulb or two has been a ritual for many years, and one that I cherish. I’m hoping this one will bloom around the 24th—wish me luck!
Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season. May you, too, be surrounded by loved ones.
Maren
