Cindy Thomson's Blog, page 19

It Must Be May!

It’s been raining a lot in Ohio, but between downpours I’ve gotten outside to check out spring. May never disappoints.

I also got out to see some Major League Baseball, which is a big deal because fans weren’t allowed in 2020.

Masks will date photos from this season.

This spring is definitely different than last year.

Consumer retail and services: all employees wearing facial coverings and customers aren’t mandated but if they go in they must wear it. Stay at home still in place. Ten people gathering limit. [I believe I’m quoting the governor here:] Can’t guarantee safety but face coverings can help mitigate risk. Not forever but to not do it is negligent.

From my pandemic journal in May 2020

Yesterday the case count was below a thousand in Ohio. Governor says going in the right direction.

From my pandemic journal in May 2021

I hope to not have a pandemic journal in 2022 but it’s clearly a happier and more hopeful world outside my window. I am aware, however, it’s not the same outside every window. India is in dire shape. Keep those people in your prayers.

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5 Things to Remember This Spring

Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland1. Flowers

Did you miss flowers over the winter? I did. That’s why I often got cut flowers from Trader Joe’s. Isn’t the world so much prettier when flowers are blooming?

2. Color

It gets pretty gray and brown in Central Ohio in the winter. I think that’s why I’m always surprised by the vivid color of spring grass. The grass is nearly always that color in Ireland so seeing it green up here tends to bring back memories of Ireland for me. But it’s not just grass. The sky is bluer. Once the summer humidity hits the sky here won’t be as blue so I try to look up as much as possible in the spring. I already mentioned flowers. What about sunsets? My goodness we’ve had some incredible ones lately.

3. Baseball

Today, April 1, is Opening Day! We didn’t have that in 2020. Baseball opened I think in July and with no fans. I barely remember baseball at all in 2020, so this is truly a new start! I know some Little League teams have already started playing. For me, baseball is the great American sport, an icon of happy days, something this country has sorely needed. Don’t forget to tune in, if for no other reason just to feel that sense of “all will be well” when you hear the crack of a bat and the thrill of runs being scored and incredible catches being made.

4. The Great Outdoors

Where I live we are starting to get outside more often. Not today, maybe, it’s freezing, but more often than not. I missed my walks and the grandkids playing outside. We all feel better with a little fresh air and exercise so don’t forget to get out, even just for a little bit. You’ll see those colors a little better than you can from the window. Maybe even take in a game!

5. Resurrection

Easter is a season to celebrate life. There has been so much sorrow over the past year, including in my own family, but Jesus showed us the way to life eternal, to bare trees turning green, to brown fields sprouting grass and daffodils, to gray skies breaking into bright blue and then into pink, orange and yellow. Joy comes, the rain passes, there is new life. Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Breathing Again.

Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

Paddy, Not Patty, Please

Yes, it’s Paddy, not Patty, despite what you see spread all over the place in the US. In Ireland Patty is a girl’s name (it is here too, ever call a man Patty?) and they don’t like you calling the saint a girl. It’s an easy mistake to make, but now you know and you can do it right!

The Irish spelling of Patrick is Pádraig, thus Paddy, so there you go!

Inch Abbey, County Down

How will you celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day? My 4-year-old granddaughter asked me what people do on St. Patrick’s Day. I left out the insane drinking Americans do to celebrate and told her people wear green, talk about Ireland, eat Irish food, and listen to Irish music. She said, “You already told me all about Ireland.” Well, all right then!

What Shall We Do to Celebrate?

I’ve already told you about Ireland too. Like St. Patrick’s Day at Home, Cooking for St. Patrick’s Day, Gifts for St. Paddy’s Day, and more about St. Patrick!

I will be making Irish stew and listening to Irish music. I normally like to watch the parade live from Dublin, Ireland, but that won’t be happening this year (again). However, there are many online concerts you can stream. I’ll probably just look for one and bounce from one to another. I’ll wear green too, even though I’m not leaving home. What will you do? Please leave a comment!

Gulp! I’m Not Very Irish After All!

My recent Ancestry DNA took away a lot of my Irish ethnicity estimate and replaced it with more Scottish and English. That happened for a lot of people with the recent update. Really not a surprise for me since I knew my roots were more Scots-Irish and Welsh (there is a category for Wales but it didn’t show up for me.) I feel very Irish deep in my roots. I’m American for a long way back and many of my ancestral lines were living here in the 17th and 18th centuries, pre-American Revolution. I connect with Celtic Christianity, and Celtic music and culture, and I suppose that’s why I’m driven toward writing about the Irish people of the past.

A rainbow on my shamrock! That has to be lucky!

Shh, don’t tell but on St. Patrick’s Day this year I’m going on a virtual tour of the Scottish Highlands and the next day of Edinburgh. These are live tours with a tour guide and lots of fun. They are free, but you can leave a tip. I don’t get anything for telling you about them. I just know you’ll love them! Virtualtrips

Get Your Irish On!

Let me know what’s happening in your neck of the woods! Lifting my Irish tea to you! Sláinte!

The Year That Felt Like Ten

Well, it seems a year has passed since the US declared COVID-19 a pandemic. I’m reminding myself it’s only been a year because it seems like ten, or a trillion or something. I remember when I first wore a mask in public, at least in 2020. (I wore one to visit my newborn grandson in the hospital in 2019 because I had a cold, but in the hospital masks aren’t unusual.) I felt a little self-conscious a year ago. There were people without masks staring at me. But not now. Now, everyone has one in order to go shopping. No big deal.

There was a whole lot of unknowns back in March 2020. Actually, there always is, we just don’t think about that like we have been lately. I remember Biden predicting a long, hard winter. This past January was the deadliest of the pandemic in the US. Nearly 80,000 people died from it in that terrible month, including my sister Bev. No one in my close family has gotten it so far, thankfully, but I think most everyone has known someone who was very ill or died from it. If you haven’t, be thankful. This will affect us in many ways for a very long time, maybe forever.

The dark winter is ending now. Spring always comes, doesn’t it? Light overtakes darkness. Hope springs forth eventually.

Photo by Luke Besley on Unsplash

A friend shared an article that I think provides a good summary. It’s certainly true that no one predicted what life threw at us a year ago and likewise no one predicted what we’ve got at the moment. It’s short. Worth a read.

America’s Nightmarish Year is Finally Ending by Sam Baker

During another dark time in our history, the Civil War, poet Emily Dickinson wrote a poem titled Hope is the Thing With Feathers. It begins this way:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

Photo by Chris Malinao Burgett on Unsplash

So now that the worse is over, what have we learned? Take care of your health? Cherish the moments you spend with your family? Appreciate those who work in the service industry–healthcare, restaurant, retail…? Don’t hoard toilet paper? Wash your hands thoroughly? Stay home when you’re sick? Keep in touch virtually?

I’m sure we each have a long list, and that’s good! What has this past year taught you?

5 Things Creative-Types Learned During the Pandemic

BackgroundStephen Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch

I recently attended RootsTech online. It was a fabulous genealogy conference and all free. At the conclusion the CEO of FamilySearch, Steve Rockwood, gave a terrific, inspiring speech. All of these kinds of events, at least all of them that I know of, had to move online last year and so far this year as well. We’ve all done a lot of reflecting about what that has meant for us. Mr. Rockwood talked about the past, present, and future as it pertains to those of us doing genealogy. When we look back at our ancestors and seek to understand them, it helps to ask two questions: Who did they love and what did they learn? Then he challenged us in the present to answer those questions. The pandemic brought into focus who we love. We had to cut so many things out, including visiting some we love. We also, most of us, had to spend more time with those we love, those living with us in our house. Relationships have become our focus, hopefully in a good way. And secondly, what have we learned? My goodness isn’t that a loaded question? I will attempt to answer that in light of what creative-type people have learned.

1. We Need People More Than We Thought We Did.Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash

Many, although not all, writers and artists are introverts. This helps us create our medium, whether it’s a painting, poetry, or a novel, because time alone is how we roll. In light of this, a lockdown doesn’t bother us as much as it does others. We are used to being alone. However, even introverts need people, just not as much. Without a lockdown we might never have admitted to ourselves that we don’t like being TOTALLY without social interaction. Thankfully we have Zoom and live-streaming and several types of social media. Even so, the creatives of the world are looking forward to more in-person activities and a year ago we never would have said so! Turns out, being around others feeds our creative souls. How do I know that? I’ve heard from many who can’t seem to focus or create much during this time. Some have, I have, but a lot of folks have found this pandemic sucked the life out of their creative imaginations.

2. We Are More Creative Than We Knew!

I think this one applies to us all. We’ve had to come up with new ways to do things: online shopping, meeting outdoors in masks and socially distanced, using Zoom for meetings and family gatherings, setting up drive-by parties. Life must go on so we had to rethink how we do things. My writers group has been meeting online and for our annual gift exchange we offering something digitally: a meme to share, a list of inspirational quotes, a cover to print for a journal …

This pandemic challenged us all to think creatively, and we’ll probably keep some of those ideas in years to come.

3. We Learned New Things!

Several of my friends have learned new things. Some have learned how to cook for the first time. Some have taken up a new musical instrument. Some writer friends have taken up a new genre they hadn’t tried before. Boredom is the Mother of Invention, isn’t that how the phrase goes? No, well it should be.

Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash4. We’ve Learned A lot of History and Civics.

How did people vote in the past? What is the role of the Vice President in the Senate? What did people do to survive the pandemic a hundred years ago? Honestly it might have been questions like these that stunted the creativity of some people. I have always believed, however, that we should all learn history so if this pandemic caused some people to look up the answers to these kinds of questions, that’s not a bad thing.

5. We Learned to Be Grateful

This is probably the greatest lesson. Have you seen the meme going around that says something like this: What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? It’s a sobering thought but also a challenge that we might be doing better at now precisely because we’ve had to endure a pandemic. My parents had the Great Depression and WWII. We’ve had a devastating global pandemic and one of the most hotly contested presidential elections in history. Those kinds of challenges make us appreciate the people in our lives and the creative gifts we’ve been given with so much more intensity than before.

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on UnsplashWhat About You? What Have You Learned Over the Past Year?

A Irish Saint for Today

If you’re reading this Feb. 1, Happy St. Brigid’s Day!

Brigid of Kildare by Sheeri

St. Brigid, born in the sixth century, is one of the patron saints of Ireland along with St. Patrick and St. Columcille (Columba). She is, notably, the only woman in this group and was so revered in Ireland that she is still remembered and honored today. While some do not believe she actually existed (there was a popular goddess whose attributes the Christian seems to have taken on) I don’t believe whether she was real or not is a valid question. I prefer learning from her example, whether real or imagined.

Who Was St. Brigid?

You may already know how I feel about this historical figure if you’ve read any of my books where she is featured. Brigid was the subject of my first novel, Brigid of Ireland. There is a chapter about her in The Roots of Irish Wisdom, and I wrote a follow up novel to Brigid in which she plays a major role, Pages of Ireland.

Why? That’s a question I’m asked a lot. When I first started learning about Brigid, I was intrigued. She lived out her faith in a manner most people are not willing to attempt. She was incredibly generous (giving to the poor everything she could lay hands on), extremely loyal (searching for the mother from whom she had been forcibly separated), quite brave (she faced up to a king and took on roles in the church normally dominated by men), and very creative (she agreed to a deal with a king for land for her monastery and allowed a miracle to accomplish more than he bargained for!) All this from a sixth-century woman I wanted to learn more about.

What Do We Celebrate?

Actually, St. Brigid’s Day is about more than the saint. It’s the beginning of spring in Ireland, which means it was the date the fishing resumed and the beginning of lambing season. What the hedgehog will do on St. Brigid’s Day is indiction of how soon it will feel like spring. Sound familiar? And it’s the Celtic season of Imbolc, the return of the light. The days are growing longer now for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.

I like to observe the day as a time to reflect on the values St. Brigid demonstrated and think about what I might do. Those ancient saints tread a spiritual path that we are invited to follow, shedding light so we might follow.

Read my latest article on St. Brigid on the Irish Fireside.

Be Slow to Speak

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry~James 1:19 NIV

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Oh, my goodness there is far too little of this right now. People are spewing hatred on social media. I’m angry too, but I’m sitting in my living room like you probably are, and can’t do much about it. Later we can vote, let our legislators know what we think, but right now others have to do the right thing. It’s just not okay to storm into the Capitol, it’s not okay to shout murderous threats or destroy property or injure others. It’s also not okay to not accept the will of the people in such a way that tries to overturn it. It’s also not okay to treat people differently based on race or creed. These are all things we are dealing with as the terrible year of 2020 turns into a not-any-better 2021.

I truly believe truth and democracy will win out. In the meantime, we should not be quick to post anything. That’s why I’ve hesitated writing this blog post. I don’t want to spark political debate here. I want us all to remember that we are brothers and sisters, that all are children of God created in his image and beloved by the Father.

I have a family member on a respirator fighting COVID . Chances are you too know someone with it. You may have had it. You may have lost someone. All have been affected in some way as many have lost jobs, gone virtual for work and school, faced isolation and depression. These are tough times and we are angry about it, make no mistake. Just be careful what you do with that anger. Make sure your words are helpful. Lean toward healing rather than divisiveness. It’s tough, sure. I would say my own words have not always been good or helpful or even correct sometimes. I just think we need to offer each other grace at times (my One Word for 2020) and believe the best is ahead (my One Word for 2021).

In an effort to slow us all down, I’m not allowing comments on this post. But feel free to connect on Facebook or by email if you’d like.

Breath deeply, my friends. America always bounces back. And she will again.

Peace, Cindy

My Favorite Reads in 2020

I never read as much as I wished I had. I also start some books that I decide not to finish. In 2020 I did finish some that disappointed me, others that were ok-ish, some I liked but wouldn’t fangirl over or call them my favorites. So with that disclaimer, here are my favorites that I read (not necessarily published in 2020) in no particular order (because a few I loved equally!) All I gave five stars in Goodreads.

Affiliate links are included. If you use them and purchase anything I will get a small kickback. Thank you.

This book will not release until February. I will be reviewing it on the blog Novel PASTimes. But until then, know that I loved the redemption of the characters and how raw and real they were.

This book was a wonderful way to prepare for Advent. I enjoy David Cole’s straightforward writing that is also encouraging and inspirational. He’s a British writer who has studied Celtic Christianity and offers some wonderful insights.

Hazel Gaynor has become one of my go-to authors for historical fiction. I can count on her to teach me some history I hadn’t known before while seamlessly drawing me into her characters’ world with vivid descriptions and heartfelt personal journeys.

Yes, I read this one for research but I found myself totally engrossed in this nonfiction book by Ann Hagedorn. She actually moved part time to Ripley, Ohio, to not only research but also immerse herself in the environment of the river town. If you want to get a feel for what the people white and black experienced and thought about the Underground Railroad, read this book.

You’ll only be interested in this one if you send out newsletters. But if you do, definitely read this. It was a great help.

This novel was first published 20 years ago. I usually add some bestsellers that I’ve missed to my list. I’m glad I read this one. McEwan’s style is a bit telling rather than showing, so there’s a lot of inner thought. But that is also the stuff of literary novels, which I love. I’m not sure if I read it again I’d give it five stars. It does bog down a lot. If that bothers you you might rather watch the movie. For that reason, I’m having trouble recalling a lot of it now. I do remember the deep emotional draw and the theme of atoning for one’s mistakes, especially those unintentional ones that at the time make the person feel righteous.

I really liked this book. I wasn’t sure I was going to at the beginning but it really drew me in. If you want to read a historical (set in the Great Depression and post Civil War) that delves into racial and economic divides, this is for you. Beautifully written.

Here’s my review.

Another favorite author here. This was such a great book I can’t recommend it enough. I listened to the audio and it was well done with several voices. I did not know freed slaves advertised in a publication trying to find the relatives they were separated from. (Something Irish immigrants did as well, although under different circumstances.) That search is one part of the story. Another is a school teacher in modern day (I think early 80s, I forget) who not only wants to tell this story to her students and help them find their own connection to this part of the past (which motivates these reluctant learners) but also ends up healing her own hurts. Lisa Wingate is a master storyteller who helps readers realize the value of learning from history, something I’m all for!

Another older novel that I’m glad I read. I really, really, really liked this one! (See why I absolutely cannot rank them?) So emotional, so intense, so good! Set during the Great Depression in the South.

Here’s my review.

It’s been awhile since I’d read a Lynn Austin novel. She’s a Christy Award-winning author of historical fiction I’ve met and been encouraged by. This might be her best book yet. It follows two girls in England who become friends despite their different social classes. Then the war came and all that goes away for awhile while they serve on the home front. Later, in 1950, they meet again in America and not under friendly circumstances. The novel explores choices and the fact that each girl’s life decisions really are limited by their social class. A great story!

Here’s my review.

There you have it, my favorites! Going through this list I realized I had quite a few four stars. I read a lot of good books in 2020. I’m looking forward to more in 2021. How about you?

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Welcome 2021!

Photo by Jude Beck on UnsplashMy One Word

For many years now, I’ve been prayerfully choosing a word for each year in place of making New Year’s resolutions. I’ve found it to be more productive and deeply meaningful as each year the word has taught me (or better stated as GOD has taught me) something totally different from what I imagined the word would mean. Take 2020 for example. I chose grace thinking it was for me. Ha! The word took on new meaning as I was required to show others grace as we dealt with all the fallout from living with a pandemic.

I struggled a bit finding my 2021 word. You may have read about that here. But one day it dawned on me. My 2021 word is believe. What will it mean? Why did I choose it? Like my other words, it began to stand out for me when I listened to talks or sermons and read the Bible. But even before that I did an exercise that helped. I found the steps here.

If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’m searching for a new literary agent. I finished my novel during lockdown (a silver lining) and now am slowly and deliberately studying agents in hopes of finding the right one. I’ve also made some editor contacts. So what I hope for in 2021 is to be successful and to have my books reach more readers—a lot more readers! By following those steps I linked to above, I found in my list of traits that successful people have the word believe. I won’t bore you with my complete train of thought here, but believe it is!

Do you have a 2021 word? I’d love to know what it is. Feel free to comment!