Randolph Randy Camp's Blog: Randy C Creations RCstories, page 4

Let's Talk About Heaven

When I was little I would just walk into the store, walk right pass Ms. Chewning and go straight to the penny candy aisle. Ms. Chewning was busy at the register but I think she knew who I was and instinctively knew where I was going. As I got a little older, Ms. Chewning would speak to me the moment I entered the store. The first time she spoke to me it kind of took me by surprise because I didn’t remember ever telling her my name. During my high school years I made sure that I stop by and say hello to her, even if I wasn’t buying anything. Ms. Chewning had a heart of gold and she was genuinely interested in my future goals and plans.
Recently I was with a group of teenagers. The teacher asked the class, “What story would you guys like to discuss first?” Excitedly, one of the students blurted, “Let’s talk about HEAVEN!” From the feedback I’d received since MONICA was released, the short story Heaven seems to be the favorite among the teens, as it touches on coming-of-age stuff. Personally, I get a kick out of this whole experience because during these book talk sessions someone always ask me what was the thing that first inspired you to write a particular story. I absolutely enjoy this part because I get a chance to tell everyone something uniquely special about my grandson Anthony, my daughter Randie, my cousin Pamela, and Ms. Chewning. During this session I told the class how Ms. Chewning had asked me what was I going to do over the weekend and when I told her that I was going to Service Town she responded, “Randy, aren’t you a little too young for that kind of crowd?” Ms. Chewning knew that I was a book nerd and had goals of seeing Japan and Australia one day so over time she had developed a little concern whenever we would chat. During that weekend there was a big dance party at one of the hotel ballrooms near the truck stop at Service Town. I’ll never ever forget that hot Saturday night because it was the very first time I’d ever heard the term ‘lot lizard’ and saw the wild side of a truck stop. When I saw Ms. Chewning the following week I tried to dodge her curiosity about my weekend by awkwardly talking about KC and the Sunshine Band’s new song. She read right through my trick and gave me a look…that kind of look a loved one gives you to keep you in line and grounded. Ms. Chewning will always have a special place in my heart. – Randolph Randy Camp
Monica A Short Story Collection

Flipping Procrastination: Creating Monica

Along with losing focus at times, one of my dreadful faults is procrastination. But in a strange twist of fate I was able to flip procrastination on its head and make it work for me. You see, I’m constantly writing and simultaneously coming up with new story ideas. As you can tell, this creates a big problem whereby I temporarily lose focus on my current writing project because of the steady flow of fresh incoming story ideas. In an effort to organize and keep track of my numerous story ideas, I jot down notes about each one and then I stick them in a pile in which I tell myself that I’ll get to them sometime in the near future. Sometimes this method works for me but for the most part it simply doesn’t. One day I looked at my ever-growing pile of story ideas and the lightbulb in my brain suddenly came on. It hit me, sift through the pile and create a short story collection, and that was the initial work to bring my latest project ‘MONICA a Short Story Collection’ to fruition. Whatever your goals are, don’t let procrastination stop you completely. For sure, it may slow us down a bit but keep moving on and never let it defeat you. - Randolph Randy CampMonica A Short Story Collection

Books For Everyone!

I’ve been loving books ever since I was a little boy. It’s a shame and a disgrace that some politicians and school districts want to ban certain books nowadays. Placing strong restrictions on teachers and controlling how they conduct their classroom hurts the students. The classroom should be a place that nurtures open mindedness, not a place that erases history or attempts to brainwash young minds. I love it when some public libraries and book stores, large chains and small independent ones, proudly display and offer the ‘banned books’ to the general public. – Randolph Randy CampRandolph Randy Camp

Autumn Blessings at Randie's Library

Autumn is here. The leaves have fallen and kindness is still permeating. It’s October 20, 2022 and on this bright Thursday morning, RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY was gifted three bags of books. It makes me smile to see people supporting their neighborhood book exchanges and free libraries. And, by the way, if anyone would like to checkout and read the paperback edition of ‘Monica A Short Story Collection’ (which features the short story ‘Randie’s Free Library’) please check the catalog of the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library, the Urbandale Public Library, the Des Moines Public Library, etc. for its availability. It truly is a blessing to see Randie’s giving spirit still shining. – Randolph Randy CampMonica A Short Story Collection

The Story Underneath

Regardless of where you live, in a big city, in a small town, or out in the country, there’s a story to be discovered everywhere. Even as a kid I was always fascinated by the backstory, the story underneath. A few miles from my hometown there was this busy truck stop that most people called Service Town. When I was sixteen I wrote a poem about a girl named Shelly who survived off the travelers and truckers at Service Town. Through the years, more characters were added, Shelly had a backstory and the poem became a short novel that won the 14th Annual Quarter Finals Prize at the Writers Network Fiction Competition. Over the years I’ve experienced a lot, both negative and positive, and through it all creating stories has been my saving grace. We all have a backstory. There’s more to you than what’s seen on the surface. Maybe the main story is you, and it’ll be interesting to discover the story underneath. – Randolph Randy CampWet Matches

Appreciate Your Teachers

At age 18, during June 1979, a couple weeks before Randy Camp’s High School graduation, he wrote the ‘Put Something Back’ letter-to-the-editor, as a ‘thank you’ to his teachers of Spotsylvania County, Virginia…

“LETTER TO THE EDITOR” which was published in the local newspaper FREDERICKSBURG FREE LANCE- STAR on June 5, 1979…

PUT SOMETHING BACK, GRADUATES URGED
To the Editor:
I am a senior at Spotsylvania High School and will be graduating in a couple of weeks. This year many seniors from our area high schools will be going away to colleges and trade schools to become professionals in the business world and other fields. I hope that many of us will return to this area to put our skills and special training to work. We must not forget where we come from or those who helped us to get where we are (or will be). I can’t speak for every senior, but I have taken something very valuable from this area, and I feel that I must put something back to show my appreciation. I am speaking of education. I have learned that a person should give if he or she has received. I hope that the class of ’79 will join me in the future to reimburse our hometown.
RANDOLPH CAMPRandolph Randy Camp

Schooling The Politicians

Those politicians who supports the banning of certain books and supports the restrictions on the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) are, in my view, making America weaker. If the purpose of public education is to prepare our young people for the future, for the real world, then if we don’t tell them the truth (about history, etc) then we are setting them up for failure. How can American kids compete with others if their minds have been brainwashed and watered down? If we truly want a stronger nation we need to remind and school these certain politicians of the primary purpose of our kids’ education. We shouldn’t be creating backward-minded policies and laws that weaken our kids, which weakens our nation. Too many of our educators are quitting due to these new policies and restrictions, so we should be doing things to keep our dedicated and creative teachers and librarians, which strengthens our kids and their future, ultimately making the nation stronger. – Randolph Randy Camp Randolph Randy Camp

Another Trip To The VA

It’s the spring of 2022 and we’ve been coping with the coronavirus for a while now. The VA is offering the second booster shot to veterans. Any particular visit to the VA conjures up a vast array of emotions for me, good and bad. Stepping into any VA hospital you will definitely see amputees, and this humbles me every time. Seeing an amputee makes me appreciate the feet and hands I do have and makes me feel guilty when I catch myself complaining about something trivial. Walking through the hallways, sitting in the waiting rooms, or simply being in the presence of other military veterans can stir up stuff you’re still unable to talk about. I’m 61 years old now and these visits to the VA reminds me that some scars can’t be hidden. Veterans are notorious for keeping things bottled up. We have all heard the saying ‘boys don’t cry’, but I personally know that’s not true because every story I’d ever written is a form of me crying. It’s not easy for veterans to bring up past memories. Keeping things tucked away for long stretches of time isn’t healthy. On the average, twenty veterans commit suicide every day. After I got my booster shot the nurse had me sit for observation for about ten minutes in the waiting room. This is probably the hardest part of my visit to the VA because this is where I see myself in the faces of all the other vets sitting around me. We sit in silence, knowing each others’ scars. I served in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps. Whether you’re a military veteran or a civilian, opening up is tough. Here’s the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255. – Randolph Randy CampRandolph Randy Camp

Keep Hoping, Don't Give Up

Just like many of you, watching what’s happening in Ukraine right now is rough. Seeing the inspiring, fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people reminds me of my favorite children’s book ‘The Little Engine That Could.’ I think I can, I think I can. (And how fitting that the book cover reflects the colors of the Ukrainian flag.) – Randolph Randy Camp

America: Writing Love

Saying what’s in your heart and expressing yourself sometimes can be risky, but it’s such a freeing experience. Although I’ve experienced racial bigotry during my childhood in rural Virginia, and unfortunately during my military years in the U.S. Air Force, I try my best to hold on to the belief that there are still more good people in this world than bad people. And that’s one of the things I enjoy about writing. It allows me to display some of my inner-most thoughts.

The White family who places a ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign in their front yard knows that some of their neighbors are saying derogatory and cruel things about them. But, in the long run, the White family who’d made the decision to place the ‘BLM’ sign in their yard had chosen to satisfy their own souls, instead of choosing to be silent.

In writing ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’, one of my greatest challenges was to showcase an interracial love story amidst America’s heated racial and political climate. Being yourself and exposing your deeper self is always the best way to go. Sure, you may offend and upset some of your neighbors and some of your (so-called) friends while doing so, but in the end, you realize that they weren’t your true friends anyway.

Shifting gears now, on another note, September is ‘Library Card Sign-Up Month’. As a young boy I have fond memories of waiting for the mobile library to make its stop in Spotsylvania County. Today, I’m grateful to that same library system, the Fredericksburg Central Rappahannock Regional Library (along with the Los Angeles Public Library, the Baltimore County Public Library, the Des Moines Public Library, the Erie County and Buffalo Public Library, the Urbandale Public Library, etc) for having my books in their collection. Please visit and take advantage of the many services provided by your local library. – Randolph Randy Camp
America: No Purchase Necessary A Novel