Larada Horner-Miller's Blog, page 31
November 22, 2020
What’s Your Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?
Restrictions, stay-at-home suggestions, don’t travel! This year continues to alter our reality with the danger of a traditional large family gathering at Thanksgiving becoming a super-spreader!
I have a possible remedy for what we face this year for Thanksgiving! How about a trip down memory lane to happier times? I’ve had so many wonderful ones, it’s hard to identify my favorite.
During my childhood in my country town, family surrounded me on Thanksgiving Day. We enjoyed the traditional fare of turkey and all the trimmings at noon time. Dad and other sports enthusiast watched whatever football game that came on. Usually the Dallas Cowboy played on this holiday. Dad hated them and rooted for Dallas’ opponent, no matter who they were!
[image error]Our Round Table in Branson, Colorado Has Seen Lots of Games!
The rest of us gathered around the round table in my parents’ home for an afternoon and evening of unending games, laughter and fellowship! At times, three to four generations gathered there for some of my favorite holiday memories. My family has always taken pictures, anytime we were together, so that was a part of the ritual, too!
As a young married, I offered to cook my first Thanksgiving dinner in Denver, Colorado with both of our parents in attendance. My parents came up early and stayed with us. I woke Thanksgiving morning sick as a dog, so Mom stepped in and finished the preparations! I wonder if it was nerves? My mom and mother-in-law were cooking giants!
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A few years later, my first husband and I moved to Loveland, Colorado and again we invited both parents for the big holiday. A massive snowstorm hit, starting on Monday of Thanksgiving week, and it came down for days. We had feet of snow, and my parents canceled because of the four-hour drive north. My in-laws and sister-in-law braved the hour and half drive from Denver, and we celebrated the holiday with no game playing but an enjoyable time. It was my first Thanksgiving without my parents, so it was hard for me!
After I divorced and while I was going to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, I spent all of my Thanksgivings with Mom and Dad, at my home. We started a new tradition. Dad and Mom drove to Loveland or Fort Collins, Colorado (I moved to Fort Collins later), and we had our holiday meal at different restaurants in the area. “The Old Farmhouse” became our favorite with seating in the various rooms of an actual old farmhouse. Then the Saturday night after Thanksgiving, we drove to Boulder to attend the Boulder Dinner Theater. My dad was this old cowboy who lit up with live music and performances! We did this for the four years I attended the university.
After graduation, I taught in Denver, Colorado my first year, then I moved to Raton, New Mexico, and another tradition began for my four years there. Dad, Mom and I drove to Alamogordo, New Mexico to share Thanksgiving with my half-sister and her family. We had memorable times of good food, laughter and lots of games.
When I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, I returned home for Thanksgiving yearly, but the gatherings were smaller. We still enjoyed delicious food and fun game time around Mom’s round table with my aunt and my cousin’s family. The weekend after Thanksgiving, we would go out to our ranch and cut down Christmas trees for Mom, my classroom or friends and me. Our fresh cut trees lasted so well throughout the holiday season. We also cut fresh cedar boughs—I love their delicious smell!
Dad’s last Thanksgiving was memorable yet sad. My nephew, Andy, had come to help Mom with Dad’s care after his recent hospitalization. On the Friday after Thanksgiving and a snowstorm, we drove out to our ranch to cut down trees as usual. As we faced a sizable drift to get to the trees, I told a young Andy, “See where you need to get. Punch it and drive like hell!”
His eyes twinkled with my permission to speed and with a giggled, we plowed through the drift easily, cut down our trees and created a memory we reference often!
When Ted and I got together, he had a Thanksgiving tradition I adopted, with a heavy heart at first. He regularly attended a round dance festival in Dallas, Texas that began the Monday of Thanksgiving week with the local round dance cuers cuing each night and workshopping during the day. The official festival began on Friday and lasted through Sunday. On Thanksgiving night, Ted and I would dance with a square dance club we both loved instead of round dancing.
No family, my Mom alone—the first one I felt horrible, but she consoled me and said you have to live your life! I grew to love the festival but hated missing time with Mom.
After Ted and I broke up, it was Mom and me. We shared the holiday with my cousin and her family. On Friday morning after Thanksgiving, Mom and I drove fifty miles to Trinidad, Colorado early in the morning to take advantage of the Black Friday sales. She absolutely loved the crowds and the craziness!
[image error]Larada, Lin & Mom[image error]Larada & Mom[image error]Our Thanksgiving Turkey in Old Town AlBQ
Then Lin and I married, and the three of us started a delightful tradition: Thanksgiving dinner out at the High Noon Restaurant and Saloon in Old Town Albuquerque. We booked our reservation for dinner around Lin’s tradition of watching football games all day. This restaurant provided a complete meal at our table for our size party then sent us home with all the leftovers! Mom loved this special place.
[image error]Larada & Lin 2013[image error]Larada & Lin 2014
After Mom passed away, Lin and I continued that tradition for a couple years, but then I decided to cook our meal the last couple years. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and football dominated the day.
As, I stood at the counter to prepare the crust for my pumpkin pies, Mom joined me in my heart because I used her remarkable pie crust recipe given to her by our family’s doctor in 1953! Instead of grieving the loss of so many of my family as I moved around the kitchen, I remembered them all and the great times we’ve had.
Last year, my brother joined us for Thanksgiving, and we had a delightful time, our first Thanksgiving together in a long time.
This year, it’s Lin and me with the restrictions in place. So, yes, I’ve wondered about Thanksgiving 2020, but as I’ve remembered my previous celebrations, I am grateful for my family and the memories I will have forever!
So, my suggestion to you is take the time these next couple days before Thanksgiving, to walk back in time and remember those special celebrations and especially the people who made them so. Then share them with me!
~Visit my two blog posts from last week:
We’ve lived through nine months of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s my poetic view on it: https://laradasbooks.com/2020/11/15/poetic-view-nine-months-later/Gratitude during 2020 is difficult. Here’s my suggestion on how to deal with it: https://laradasbooks.com/2020/11/19/grateful-now-why/
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~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:
Apple Books (US) – https://books.apple.com/us/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id151164203 Kobo (US) – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-another-square-dance-caller Apple Books (CA) – https://books.apple.com/ca/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (UK) – https://books.apple.com/gb/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (AU) – https://books.apple.com/au/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id151164(US)Amazon Kindle (US) – https://www.amazon.com/Just-Another-Square-Dance-Caller-ebook/dp/B088QS9RH8 Amazon Kindle (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B088QS9RH8Amazon Kindle (CA) – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B088QS9RH8 Barnes and Noble Nook (US) – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/just%20another%20square%20dance%20caller
~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
~ Visit my Etsy Shop for 25% off individual paperback titles. Good until December 20, 2020. Here’s the coupon link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaradasReadingLoft?coupon=25OFFSANDIA1220INDIV
The post What’s Your Favorite Thanksgiving Memory? appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
November 19, 2020
Grateful Now? Why?
Why grateful now? The coronavirus has ruined plans for most of 2020, and now threatens to affect Thanksgiving plans! Many have died or lost family or friends. Irreparable losses! Cancellations, shelter-in-place, a world turned upside down! Is gratitude even possible in 2020?
For me, gratitude changes everything, but I’m not talking about an unrealistic Pollyanna attitude. Gratitude is a paradigm shift—a fractional shift one direction or the other off of the coronavirus to a larger, more glorious world.
So why is gratitude important now? For me, it’s an attitude that changes my perspective. I can focus on the negative, an easy choice. So the chaos and horror of the pandemic take over, and I obsess about today’s totals. Seeing what’s wrong comes naturally. Gratitude asks me to dig deeper and take a different route. Personally, I’ve had minimal losses, yet it has taken its toll on me but nothing like many with gigantic losses.
So what’s the power of gratitude? I concentrate on the positive, what’s right with the world, what I love about my life and suddenly I feel different!
The best way to be grateful: write a gratitude list. I learned about this tool in recovery. How do you do that? List two, five, ten things I’ve grateful for. Start small and increase as you practice this. In doing this, I take the focus off the problem and celebrate the solution.
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On November 19, 2020 here’s my gratitude list:
1. My sobriety
2. My God
3. My husband, Lin
4. My brother, Bub
5. My health
6. My family
7. My friends
8. My cat, Jesse
9. Our family ranch
10. My love of dancing
Today I sit in the waiting room at my husband, Lin’s eye doctor. He sits in an adjacent room, having his second cataract surgery in a month or so. The success of the first one prepared him for today’s ordeal. His natural grateful spirit often shows me the power of gratitude for the seemingly small things. His positive attitude contributed to the success of the other surgery, so I know the same thankful attitude will affect the outcome of this one.
Okay, it’s your turn! For what are you grateful? If you name someone specifically, be sure and tell he/she made your gratitude list today! I’d love to hear what you are grateful for during these hard times.
~My other current blog post, “Poetic View: Nine Months Later,” faces life after nine months with the coronavirus pandemic.
The post Grateful Now? Why? appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
November 18, 2020
Jesse’s Old But Playful!
Jesse & his chili pepper toy! He may be old but he still lives to play!
The post Jesse’s Old But Playful! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
Jesse & his chili pepper toy! He may be old but he still...
Jesse & his chili pepper toy! He may be old but he still lives to play!
The post appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
November 15, 2020
Poetic View: Nine Months Later
Nine months later! The world stands in disbelief of this current coronavirus’ surge! Is it the second wave or the third wave? I’ve lost count. Life continues but nothing is the same. I’ve changed my hairstyle. Covid-19 fatigue has become a reality for many, and as I contemplate my old life, I wonder?
Before coronavirus pandemic (BCP), I visited my favorite stylist every six weeks, and I loved his magic—a very sculptured hairdo, but I haven’t seen him since February. Why? For fourteen years before becoming a teacher, I was a beautician, so with my skills, I have trimmed the hair around my face and spiked the top, but I can’t cut the back easily.
After all this over, am I going back to my BCP hairstyle? Read my poem to find out.
My Hairstyles Before and After the Coronavirus Pandemic
November 10, 2020
[image error][image error]My Hairdo Before Coronavirus Pandemic
BCP—Before Coronavirus Pandemic
My stylish haircut
Manicured and neat
Six weeks regular appointment
Worn spiked and short for seventeen years
The same stylist for years
Slowly moved me into an isometric style
Super short on the left side
Cut over my ear
Longer on the right side
Cropped close in the back
A strand of hair left longer on the left side
In the back
At first I said, “No way!”
But I gradually changed my mind.
I love this drastic statement!
Stark
Sharp
Shouting,
“I’m different!”
Add to this
Hot tamale red hair color
Started seven years ago
Another strong statement
Extreme
Bright
Vibrant
NOW
[image error][image error]My Hairdo After Coronavirus Pandemic
ACP—After Coronavirus Pandemic
No formal haircut
For eight months
No visit with Mark, my stylist
No laughter
No exchange of heartfelt topics
I am a beautician
Have been since 1973!
So, to compensate, I’ve cut my own hair
Around my face
I’ve spiked the top
Combed the longer hair
In the back
Up to my spiked top
Like so many years ago
For Farrah Fawcett’s long shag,
Popular during the 1970s.
Hair—I now have hair!
Nine months later
“My tail” has grown
shoulder length
I catch myself fiddling
With it,
Repeatedly!
My reflection in the mirror
I see curls
Naturally
Lots of them,
An abundance!
Yes, the coronavirus changed
Everything!
This last nine months
Forced me to stop
To slow down
To change
So, I want my hair
To reflect the change!
I’m no longer short-haired and manicured!
I’m still spiked
But curly
Unmanaged
Lengthy
Not manicured
Mindful
Different!
Also, these nine months of the stress and strain of the coronavirus pandemic has caused a phenomenon called “Covid-19 fatigue” for many. Here’s my thoughts:
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Suffering from Covid-19 Fatigue
November 10, 2020
I’m tired!
Exhausted!
Days of endless counts
Record cases
So many deaths
Serious, critical cases
Multiple concerns
The world
The United States
New Mexico
Swings, dips and dives
On this rollercoaster ride
We’re on!
An apparent low
After the first wave
A respite
An optimistic view
Of the future
Is it over?
Then the next wave
The surge
Then the next
I’ve lost count!
I’m tired
Exhausted!
Worn out!
Personal choices
For safety
Self-isolation
No dancing
No face-to-face interaction
With friends
No travel
No break
Just the constant
Staying home!
During the summer
Lin’s garden provided
A respite
A paradise
To distract
Luscious time outside
Sunbathing
Working
Enjoying the warmth
The flowers
The birds
The cold weather forced us
Inside
The mundane repeat of
Every day
Not bored; I have too much to do
Just tired of the same,
Bone-tired!
One trip to our family ranch in late August
Since March
Restrictions stopped that!
Cancelations of
Favorite square and round dance festivals
The virus surges
Winter and colder temperatures crowd in
On me.
I’m tired
Weary
An ah-ha moment
I’ve held my breath
For nine months:
Lin and I have not gotten it
We’ve stayed healthy
So far.
Yet, I’m tired of
The stress
The fear
The unknown
The stupidity of
Naysayers
Will it end?
Will we be able to resume life as usual soon?
When can I breathe normally again?
In a month, two, or four?
I’m tuckered out for sure!
In response to the duration of this pandemic, I stated to friends, “I want my old life back.”
One woman’s wise answer surprised me, “I don’t! I want to take what I’ve learned during the pandemic and make a lasting change!”
Here’s my thoughts:
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Do I Want My Old Life Back?
November 10, 2020
“I want my old life back,”
I voiced to friends.
A response of one thoughtful woman
Dazed me,
“I don’t want my old life back.
I want to savor what I’ve learned and apply it.”
Her answer jarred me!
Do I really want my old life back?
I miss my rich life
Dancing
Traveling
Friends
Activity
A positive lifestyle I’d chosen.
Looking back, I realized more
A life of
Hurry
Set schedule
Rush
A life of
Demands
Commitments
Craziness
A life of
Travel
But
Extensive preparation
Cat sitter for Jesse
My travel list checked and rechecked
Then the return
A life of constant
Going
Coming
Movement
A life of. . .
These nine months
Stopped me
In my tracks
A total change!
Now my life is
Daily Cribbage games
During breakfast
Three shared meals
Simple evenings
At home
Now my life is
Leisure mornings
Lingering over my daily Quiet Time
Finishing books
Repeated readings
And
New discoveries
Finally finishing
Long-standing To dos!
Now my life is
Lin, my husband
Laughter
Conversations
Hot tub time
Deepened love
Jesse, my cat
Daily brushings
Daily lap time in front of the TV
Constant presence
Now my life is
Relaxed
No pressure
Finally feels like
I’m retired!
So, what I want to do
When we return to our more normal life
Bring my relaxed atmosphere and attitude
To my new life
Give up our hectic lifestyle
Keep closer to home!
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Nine months and my life has changed forever! How has your life changed? Have you realized something special? Do you want to return to your life as it was or something different?
~Visit my blog from last week about Marsahll Flippo and Día de los Muertos: https://laradasbooks.com/2020/11/08/marshall-flippo-gone-for-two-years-but-not-forgotten/
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~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:
Apple Books (US) – https://books.apple.com/us/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id151164203 Kobo (US) – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-another-square-dance-caller Apple Books (CA) – https://books.apple.com/ca/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (UK) – https://books.apple.com/gb/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (AU) – https://books.apple.com/au/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id151164(US)Amazon Kindle (US) – https://www.amazon.com/Just-Another-Square-Dance-Caller-ebook/dp/B088QS9RH8 Amazon Kindle (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B088QS9RH8Amazon Kindle (CA) – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B088QS9RH8 Barnes and Noble Nook (US) – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/just%20another%20square%20dance%20caller
~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
~ Visit my Etsy Shop for 25% off individual paperback titles. Good until December 20, 2020. Here’s the coupon link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaradasReadingLoft?coupon=25OFFSANDIA1220INDIV
The post Poetic View: Nine Months Later appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
November 8, 2020
Marshall Flippo: Gone for Two Years but Not Forgotten
Yes, it’s hard to believe! Marshall Flippo died November 4, 2018, and here we’ve lived two years without him. Hopefully for those who bought his biography, you’ve been able to keep his memory alive and celebrate his life.
Lin and I watched Disney’s “Coco,” to add to my celebration of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in my blog from last week. What a precious story that is! One of the premises in the movie is Miguel’s father, Hector, abandoned the family, so for several generations they banned music in their homes, and they cut Hector’s photo out of the picture celebrated on Día de los Muertos. So, on the Día del los Muertos, Hector came to the gate to cross over to join his family’s celebration, and the gatekeeper denied him because no one posted his picture—Hector’s retribution!
As I thought about this story line and the loss of Flippo and so many dear friends and family, I wondered what Flippo, Frank Lane, Lee Kopman, and many others were doing right now, so here we go!
[image error]Frank Lane & Flippo[image error]Lee Kipman
Frank Lane died on October 31, 2018, Flippo on November 4 and Lee Kopman on November 13—within three weeks, three major square dancers lost to this world. Unlike the movie, “Coco,” the inhabitants of the Great Beyond look young and vibrant. When Flippo passed away, Frank greeted him warning him about the smoking policy in their new place. To Frank’s surprise, Flip stated, “I don’t want a cigarette!” Miracles do happen!
Then Flippo added, “Frank, have you played ‘Petals Around the Rose’ recently?” Frank laughed and said, “I’ve played it several times up here.” Soon the two of them greeted Lee—a heavenly reunion. Square dancers rejoiced and have enjoyed many festivals since this trio arrived.
Dia de los Muertos 2020 arrived and many of our deceased loved ones crossed the bridge and joined us on this memorable day whether we saw them or not, so obviously we remembered them with photos and reminisces.
[image error]Bob Osgood
After their return across the bridge before dawn, dancers donned their festive square dance attire and participated in a gigantic dance with this powerful threesome calling on the biggest celestial stage with live music similar to our amazing Ghost Rider Band. This heavenly band included Pancho and Marie Baird and the Git-fiddlers Band playing with Earl Caruthers and his Hoedowners. Bob and Becky Osgood and Lloyd “Pappy” and Dorothy Shaw organized this big event with workshops on dancing and style. They reminded the dancers about smooth dancing. And was it smooth!
Flippo kept elbowing Frank saying, “Listen to that band! The best I’ve ever heard!” And Frank agreed.
[image error]Bettye and Charlie Proctor
Favorite cuers like the Manning and Nita Smith, Charlie and Bettye Proctor joined in, providing rounds between tips. The multiple round dance circles filled the whole dance floor.
My dad and mom sought out Flippo and made a strong connection through me. I can imagine the smile on my dad’s face as he danced to these historic callers and cuers!
Neeca Flippo and Barbara Lane sat at the back of the stage, clapping and enjoying their husband’s music and friendship. Norman and Nadine Merbach sat beside them, proud of their star, Flippo.
Lee Kopman wowed everyone with a variety of new moves he’s created in that other world with unfamiliar names and calls I can’t even imagine!
[image error]J. C. Wilson[image error]Bob Sumrall
The highlight of this special dance came when this trio invited other callers to join them. The crowd went crazy when their favorites took the stage, yet it appeared the dancers loved all of the callers. Flippo honored his mentors from Abilene, Texas to be the first on the stage during this part of the dance: Betty Casey, J. C. Wilson, Bob Sumrall and Owen Renfro. When they finished, they circled Flippo and celebrated his successful career and their part in it.
[image error]Bob Fisk
As always, Flippo enjoyed the breaks between tips, socializing with friends. He teased Bob Fisk about his full head of hair. Beryl Main reminded Flippo of his lost suitcase and all the fun they had being “The Chaparral Boys.” When that topic came up, Jerry Haag joined in the rivalry, and Flippo recalled Jerry’s Brenda Flea after party routine.
[image error]The Chaparral Boys
A cluster of callers gathered around Ed Gilmore, an icon in the calling world. Joe Lewis stood near Ed, and Flippo joined them. Flip had always been in awe of Joe Lewis as his hero.
[image error]Arnie Kroenberger
When the music stopped, Flippo heard a familiar voice and saw a crowd of dancers huddled around Arnie Kronenberger, and immediately he knew Arnie was telling his favorite joke—cleaned up for sure.
[image error]Dave Taylor
As he surveyed this collection of callers, Flip eyed Dave Taylor and moved towards him. As they hugged and reconnected, they remembered their countless dances they worked together, especially their trip to England and Dave’s driving on “the wrong side of the road.”
[image error]Al “Tex” Brownlee
After the next tip, Al “Tex” Brownlee shouted, “Flippo, come on over here!” He waved a pair of handcuffs at Flip and began laughing at that hilarious trick he pulled on Flip. Flippo wondered how Tex could tell any of his jokes here, but Tex assured him that he had clean versions.
[image error]Bill and Phyllis Speidel
Flippo relished his dancer friends as much as his caller/cuer friends. He approached Bill and Phyllis Speidel with a laugh. Bill had his magician outfit on, and he grabbed Bob Fisk to remind him about his cowboy hat that appeared to be ruined so many years ago.
Then Flippo rushed to Whitey Puerling and hugged him close. With tears in his eyes, he recalled their trip to Spain and the Easter parade they never found. Another couple nudged Flippo, Joe and Cricket Young. He left Whitey and visited with them. As happened so often for Flippo when he was at a square dance event—he didn’t have enough time to spend with each friend!
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When Cal Golden took the stage in his glittery costume, the dancers roared. Other callers made their appearance: Bob Page with his wife Nita, Bob Van Antwerp, and Bill Castner. I love it when multitude callers sing together. Later Max Forysth and Johnnie Wykoff joined Bob Yerington and Johnny Davis on stage. Bob and Al Brundage also performed for the crowd. The night ended with C. O. Guest, Billy Lewis and Hotsy Bacon.
[image error][image error][image error]Ray & Harper Smith and Singing Sam Mitchell
After the dance, Harper and Ray Smith organized the after party, the party after the dance, and they are created with its’ beginning. They featured Singing Sam Mitchell and Flippo applauded the loudest—he loved Sam’s singing voice.
This memorable celebration of Dia de los Muertos, square and round dance style, ended in the wee hours of eternity—remember, no time in heaven! As you can see, the beat goes on, and square and round dancing continues to flourish in the next world. Someday I’ll see you there!
~Visit my blog from last week about Día de los Muertos: https://laradasbooks.com/2020/11/01/dia-de-los-muertos-a-celebration-of-the-dead/
~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:
Apple Books (US) – https://books.apple.com/us/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id151164203 Kobo (US) – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-another-square-dance-caller Apple Books (CA) – https://books.apple.com/ca/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (UK) – https://books.apple.com/gb/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (AU) – https://books.apple.com/au/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id151164(US)Amazon Kindle (US) – https://www.amazon.com/Just-Another-Square-Dance-Caller-ebook/dp/B088QS9RH8 Amazon Kindle (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B088QS9RH8Amazon Kindle (CA) – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B088QS9RH8 Barnes and Noble Nook (US) – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/just%20another%20square%20dance%20caller
~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
~ Visit my Etsy Shop for 25% off individual paperback titles. Good until December 20, 2020. Here’s the coupon link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaradasReadingLoft?coupon=25OFFSANDIA1220INDIV
The post Marshall Flippo: Gone for Two Years but Not Forgotten appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
November 1, 2020
Día De Los Muertos, A Celebration of the Dead!
Have you heard of Día De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead? Right now, today and tomorrow, this celebration features skulls, painted skeleton faces, candles, food and cemeteries. It’s a popular Mexican holiday that has migrated into the southwestern states of the United States. So many mysteries reside in the Southwest: gorgeous sunsets over purple mesas, delicious Mexican cuisine, red or green chili and the Día De Los Muertos observance.
The traditional American culture avoids talking about death and grief, much less celebrate it. I wrote a grief memoir a few years ago about the loss of my parents and my growth in the process, and many who supported my other books have shunned it—too serious, too sad!
This Mexican tradition is a fresh approach uniting the living and the dead, celebrating the departed in a visceral way. They share a meal with their deceased loved ones as if they were here!
Before I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1991, I had never heard of this celebration. I grew up in southeastern Colorado. I had studied Spanish at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and received a minor in Spanish—never heard of it. When I arrived in Albuquerque, I worked at a school with mostly Hispanic students and soon learned about the importance of Día De Los Muertos to my students. They spoke of calaveras (skulls in Spanish) which is
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“an ornately decorated representation of a skull, often featuring flowers, animals, and other decorations. During the holiday, this imagery is seen everywhere, from Ofrendas, to paper crafts, and even to cartoons on newspapers. In a way, the Calavera has become an embodiment of the holiday itself.”
https://dayofthedead.holiday/sugar-skull/
My students quickly identified another definition of calaveras with this celebration. When my students first mentioned calaveras, I only knew them to mean skulls in Spanish and they talked of eating them, so I knew I had something to learn. My students’ eyes lit up as they described this festive occasion, so I listened and learned first-hand. Calaveras are sugary candies eaten at this time. Obviously, as families and a community, they honored their dead in a much different way than I had ever seen.
After their introduction, I did my own research and became knowledgeable about this important event. As an Episcopalian, I knew about All Saints or All Souls Day, November 1, but this holiday took it a step further. Here’s some interesting information about this delightful holiday:
[image error]Image by dat7 from Pixabay
“Families create ofrendas (Offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations!”
Día De Los Muertos Traditions
“Day of the Dead is a unique tradition celebrated every year across Mexico. It is a festival aimed at honoring one’s dead ancestors on the date when their souls are believed to return to Earth.”
https://dayofthedead.holiday/traditions/
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When is the Día De Los Muertos?
“Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. It is sometimes confused with Halloween because of the symbolic skulls but is not related at all.
It is said that on November 1st the children who have passed come back to visit and celebrate as angelitos and on the following day, November 2nd, it’s the adults (Difuntos) return to show up for the festivities.
Family members prepare for several weeks in advance for the tradition by creating altars, decorating burial sites, and cooking specific Day of the Dead food.”
https://dayofthedead.holiday/history/
[image error]Image by Please Don’t sell My Artwork AS IS from Pixabay
5 Movies You Need to See about the Día De Los Muertos
CocoJames Bond’s SpectreThe Book of LifeMacarioDía de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead
https://dayofthedead.holiday/traditions/5-day-of-the-dead-movies-you-need-to-see
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1. Day of the Dead is NOT Mexican Halloween
2. The holiday has a rich and ancient history, dating back over 2000 years.
3. Mexican families place Ofrendas to honor their deceased relatives
4. Day of the Dead isn’t somber, it is a celebration
5. Humor has played an important role in the holiday
6. It is customary to visit cemeteries
7. Marigolds are a key component
8. Pastries and sweets are central to the holiday
9. Different traditions exist in different parts of the country
10. The Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City is a very recent addition
https://dayofthedead.holiday/traditions/10-facts-to-know-about-day-of-the-dead
[image error] La Catrina Image by Jae Rue from Pixabay
Día De Los Muertos has become so popular where I live! Stop in at many souvenir shops in Old Town Albuquerque and multi-colored skeletons in a variety of forms fill the shelves. One character I see repeatedly: a tall slender woman topped with a hat with feathers. Her name is La Catrina and she has been given credit for the skeleton-like makeup so associated with Día De Los Muertos. Learn more about her at:
https://dayofthedead.holiday/traditions/who-is-la-catrina
[image error]Image by Please Don’t sell My Artwork AS IS from Pixabay
So, if you’re driving through a southwest city on November 1st or 2nd in the evening, look for a cemetery, lit up with candles placed around a grave and families gathered together to celebrate the lives of their departed. Think about how you remember your deceased love ones. Maybe, next year, don some bright skeleton makeup and join in this age-old tradition!
This morning, I went to the App store on my iPad, and it featured six Día De Los Muertos sticker sets!
[image error]Larada celebrating Día De Los Muertos!
A special thank you to Day of the Dead website for valuable information. Visit to learn about delicious recipes of food shared at this holiday and more about the Mexican culture.
Have you ever heard of the Día De Los Muertos? Have you ever participated in the Día De Los Muertos celebrations? How do you view death?
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~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:
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~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
~ Visit my Etsy Shop for holiday deals on individual titles in paperback or e-book format or book bundles: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaradasReadingLoft
~Visit my last week’s blog about my Siamese Silver Tip cat, Jesse: https://laradasbooks.com/2020/10/25/how-about-a-cat-for-a-pet/
The post Día De Los Muertos, A Celebration of the Dead! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
October 25, 2020
How about a Cat For a Pet?
How about a cat? My life took a major change after my divorce from having dogs my adult life to having a cat. What a life transformation!
When my ex-husband and I divorced in 2008, I couldn’t take our wolf dog hybrid, Kita because I couldn’t manage him. For the first time in many years, I faced life pet less which I didn’t like. I discussed with friends getting another dog, but I traveled a lot and knew that wouldn’t work.
As soon as I talked about the prospect of getting a new pet, a pro-cat colleague encouraged me to get a cat, but I had never had a cat. She reminded me anytime I mentioned buying a dog that a cat was a better choice.
One day away from my office at a staff training, my phone rang, and my pro-cat coworker exclaimed, “I found your cat. He’s a stray. I’ve fed him outside our office. Come and see him.”
So, I drove to the office and met her outside. A filthy Siamese Silver Tip cat hedged his way around us. Skeptical, he kept his distance and meowed his Siamese yowl.
“I heard him crying last night when I left the office after a training I facilitated,” I told her. It felt eerie in the dark.
“Take him home tonight!” she directed.
I refused and went home but dreamed of cats all night, so the next day she helped me gather all the cat supplies I needed and I took him home. When I closely examined Jesse, my new pet, after a quick clean-up, he looked much better than the day before which made me realize he probably belonged to someone.
So, I took him to a vet to see if he had a chip—he did. Then, the vet called the owners, and they turned him over to me. When I talked to them, they identified Jesse’s vet so I had access to his total history. The vet told me Jesse’s age: he was six years old when I found him.
When I first got Jesse, he was not a “lap” cat. He kept his distance but seemed to appreciate our shared home. I quickly adjusted to having a cat, and I realized leaving him was far easier than a dog. When my Mom and I went on extended trip to California in 2010, a colleague’s son watched him. I called home every few days and talked to him through the answering machine. Mom thought I was whacked, but I knew he’d recognize my voice and not be so lonely.
After Lin proposed, and we contemplated to a new life together, I had to face his dislike for cats. He suggested first for me to get rid of Jesse and get a dog. I couldn’t do that! So, he compromised by wanting Jesse declawed because he had a leather loveseat. I found a vet that did the laser surgery which was supposed to be more humane that the traditional declawing method, but Jesse still suffered with the surgery.
We moved in with Lin in 2011 and found a system that worked for all of us.
In 2012, I had shoulder surgery and Jesse instinctually knew I needed extra care and often sat in my lap. Now we both enjoy our nightly ritual.
Jesse absolutely loves Lin and responds to him anytime Lin comes into a room with a big meow. A couple years ago, Lin and Jesse started a morning ritual: meowing back and forth like they actually understood each other. I laughed at the connection they have made.
I’ve had Jesse now for eleven years, so he’s seventeen. At seventeen years old, Jesse’s human age is 84 years old, a Senior cat. https://www.purina.co.uk/cats/key-life-stages/ageing/cats-age-in-human-years
In 2016, Jesse got really sick, and I found out he had feline diabetes. When this happened, he might have suffered a stroke too because he started this bizarre pumping of his back leg whenever you touch his neck. At first, we managed the diabetes with special food, but that didn’t work. So, we added insulin and have increased the doses over the years. I now give him shots twice a day.
He has never fought me with the shots. In fact, sometimes he meows and stands by the refrigerator reminding me he needs his shot!
I found a fantastic pet sitter who comes to our house twice a day when we’re gone to give Jesse his shots and plays with him. He loves her dearly and I feel safe with her watchful care. She has texted me photos of Jesse to show how he has faired during our absence.
Now my husband and I laugh about Jesse being senile. He sleeps most of the day, searches for that shaft of sunlight to warm his aching bones, and meows often for food or just to let us know he is still kicking. Another part of being a senior cat, Jesse can’t hear very well anymore which surprised us because he used to have amazing hearing.
[image error]Jesse perched ready to watch TV
Jesse loves to join us nightly on the arm of the loveseat. First, he perches there, then he moves to my lap to spend the rest of the evening. I love his rhythmic purr, a wiggle up closer and a contented sleep!
[image error]Jesse asleep on my laptop[image error]Jesse joins me sunbathing[image error]Jesse seats in window in Branson, CO
Last week I talked about the dogs in my life. Click here to read it!
This week I introduced my cat, Jesse to you. Dog or cat—to me it doesn’t matter! I just need a pet because it adds so much to my life!
[image error]Jesse, my cat, reaches over and lays his paw on my hand!
How about you? Dog? Cat? Both?
~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:
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~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
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October 18, 2020
Dog or Cat? What’s Your Preference?
Cat or dog? Strong feelings about one or the other? Which is the best pet? For many, a strong opinion prevails—I’m not one of them. I like them both and see the advantage of each. Here’s my pet history in two parts: my dogs this week and then my cat next!
When I was growing up in a rural country town, Dad felt dogs belonged outside, so we lost many of my early childhood dogs to people running over them—you know how dogs like to chase vehicles! Then my uncle gave us Kimo, a Chihuahua, and Dad finally agreed to an inside dog. This little one won all of our hearts. He didn’t last long though because he got hit by a semi-truck right in front of our house!
My half-sisters and half-brother lived in Denver, Colorado and brought a stray cat with them any time they came to visit. Dad counted at one time, and we were responsible for about 35 feral cats roaming our little village. Dad didn’t want cats inside either.
Nameless
Nameless, my last childhood dog, had a fun-loving personality and roamed our town freely. He loved to follow us everywhere we went. On a hike to Brown Springs in the mesa above our town, he tangled with a porcupine. I ran to the nearest house and told our family friend, Fred Smith, “Nameless got quilted!” He immediately knew what I meant.
To deal with this disaster, Dad took the front gate off of its hinges and placed it on top of Patches so he could remove the quills. This wasn’t Nameless’ first meeting with a porcupine. The first time, Dad tried to just kneel on him and pull out the quills, but Nameless bit Dad, so the gate served as protection.
Nameless had a bad habit of raiding the neighbor’s chicken coop, so our angry friend shot our dog, and Dad couldn’t defend him. I still felt bad with this loss!
For the majority of my adult life I have had dogs.
[image error]Windy & a young me! Notice the color of Windy’s eyebrows!
Windy
My first husband’s grandmother raised miniature poodles, so she gave us Windy as a puppy—a black haired ten pound ball of energy. Really that’s the reason she gave him to us; he was too much for her to handle. What a joy he was to us, and no, he was not a “yappy poodle.”
When my husband and I divorced, we each made a list of what possessions we wanted, prioritizing them. Windy topped my list; my husband wanted our water bed as his first choice.
Windy loved to travel with me, so when we went to Branson, he curled up in the seat and slept until we neared home, then he whined and barked, knowing we were close. He enjoyed going out on the ranch with Dad, Mom and me with his head out the window and his ears blowing in the wind.
When I moved to Raton, New Mexico and lived in a mobile home, I didn’t have a fenced yard, so when I let Windy outside, I had to put him on a chain I had attached to the steps. One morning, I let him out like usual, but he didn’t scratch at the door as quickly as he normally did.
I opened the door to see if he was okay, and he was hanging from the chain unconscious—I thought he was dead, so I called my folks sobbing. He came to before I arrived at the vet’s. He seemed to be okay, but within a couple weeks, my all black poodle’s eyebrows turned white. The vet thought it was because of lack of oxygen.
Windy lived seventeen years. I made the choice to put him to sleep because he had become senile and couldn’t control his bowels anymore. Mom went with me when I took him to the vet. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. He’s buried in the backyard in Branson.
[image error]Patches – notice the color of his eyes!
Patches
While I had Windy, my second husband and I rescued an Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix puppy who had one blue eye and one brown. When we got Patches, ticks covered his body, so we had our work cut out for us.
I remember a funny experience with him. Even as a pup, Patches exhibited his natural herding instinct. We had a big backyard in our home, and one afternoon, he herded Windy and a friend’s Great Pyrenees clear to the back of the yard. We watched him do the work systemically. He didn’t care he was a third the size of the Great Pyrenees!
Patches never wanted to be an inside dog except when the thunder and lightning crashed. He required little care but gave so much love.
My mom volunteered often to take care of him when my third husband I traveled, so they had a special relationship.
At the end of his life, Patches faced numerous cancerous tumors, and we agreed to spend the money to treat him, no matter the cost. He died in April 2003 in our living room between us. I cut a piece of his multi-colored fur and still have it stashed away in an envelope in my desk. What a gorgeous dog he was!
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Kita
We waited until November 2003 to look for another dog because we had a big square dance festival commitment for Labor Day that required lots of travel during that summer. After several visits to the Humane Society, we had identified three dogs as our future possible pet, but we ended up with Kita, who was supposed to be an Akita/Chow mix.
On our final visit, a volunteer noticed a yappy puppy had caught our eye and redirected us to Kita. She said, “That puppy will drive you crazy. Look at this quiet one.”
Kita laid silent and almost blended into the concrete with his coloring. With big solemn eyes, he just looked at us. We took him outside to see how he would be with us, and he attacked a leaf and entertained himself easily, so we went home with our new pet.
As Kita grew, we realized he had been misclassified. On a trip to the wolf sanctuary in southeastern Colorado, they confirmed our suspicions. Kita was a wolf hybrid. We became aware afterwards that the Humane Society couldn’t identify him as a wolf. We took him to another wolf sanctuary in New Mexico and they agreed with the other one—we had a wolf on our hands.
Kita demanded a lot of attention, so my ex-husband wrestled with him nightly. Once, I watched Kita drag a lounge chair around our back yard—he needed activity. He demanded a daily walk and lots of rough-housing!
Losing Kita in the divorce devastated me, but I couldn’t manage him, so I let him go. Yet I yearned for a pet.
Next week, I’ll tell you about my change over to the cat world and how that went! So dogs or cats? Which is it for you?
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~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:
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~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
The post Dog or Cat? What’s Your Preference? appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
October 11, 2020
“Shame on You”—Bullying or Not?
“And they felt no shame.”
Genesis 2:25 NIV
Bullying or not? At age 67, someone commented on a Facebook post of mine this week, “Shame on you.” Now, that’s amazing to me! I don’t think anyone has said that to me since elementary or middle school. It wasn’t an accusation my parents used at all. This current attack caught me totally off guard. I knew I had to talk about it, and what better place than my blog. I’ve vowed not to fight on Facebook, but here I can do a thoughtful consideration of a toxic topic so destructive.
I do believe the statement, “Shame on you,” qualifies as a bullying technique, and bullying has become rampant in our world over the last few years. Whether I’m the target or witness, it aims to injures my soul. I saw a bully’s harm repeatedly as a middle school teacher, so I do think those who use it might be locked into that age mindset.
Then, what did I do to spurn this rebuke? I took my own advice from last week’s blog and created a positive post about the vice-presidential candidate of my choice. Shame on me for what? Having a different opinion? Being a woman? Using the brain God gave me to think independently? What?
Others who disagreed with me politically joined in with their reproach and misinformation, but I had friends who supported my post. What began as a simple positive post ended up a political battle field—exactly what I was trying to avoid!
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So, I plan to use this teachable moment—once a teacher always a teacher even though I’m retired. The dictionary defines shame as:
to cause to feel shame; make ashamed: His cowardice shamed him.to publicly humiliate or shame for being or doing something specified (usually used in combination): kids who’ve been fat-shamed and bullied; dog-shaming pictures of canines chewing up shoes.to drive, force, etc., through shame: He shamed her into going.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/shame?s=t
From the definitions listed, this person tried to do publicly humiliate or shame me (bullying me), but guess what? It didn’t work. This new attempt at shaming me took me back to my teaching days witnessing bullies trying to dominate someone on the playground. It took me back to my childhood when some bully tried to one-up me! But its power evaporated!
As I pondered the word, shame, I remembered where I’ve heard it talked about often— in my recovery groups. We have a great slogan to defuse it: Guilt says I did something work; shame says I am wrong. I’ve spent years dealing with toxic shame that debilitated me.
One source that helped me early in recovery was the work of John Bradshaw and one book specifically, Healing the Shame That Binds You. John’s website describes this book: “Toxic shame limits the development of self-esteem and causes anxiety and depression, and limits our ability to be connected in relationships. This book is for those seeking the one great thing that is missing in their life–WHOLENESS and WELLBEING.”
https://www.johnbradshaw.com/bookstore
Bradshaw says, “. . .shame as a healthy emotion can be transformed into shame as a state of being. As a statue of being, shame takes over one’s whole identity. To have shame as an identity is to believe that one’s being is flawed, that one is defective as a human being. Once shame is transformed into an identity, it becomes toxic and dehumanizing.” Healing the Shame That Binds You, Page vii
When I walked through the doors of recovery rooms many years ago, I suffered severe depression and low self-esteem. As I faced my alcoholism and deep injury caused by incest through doing step work and adding individual therapy, I moved beyond the shame that bound me. It took years!
Recently, a recovery friend suggested a daily devotional, Shine the Light of Truth on Shame: Daily Reflections by Santa Fe author, Barb Tonn. I’m always open to going deeper. This book is described as “. . . a refreshingly unique book that provides an honest, thorough, easily understood, and insightful program to release us from the pain of shame. Author Barb Tonn shares from a deep well of tools she developed working as a psychotherapist, who for over thirty years specialized in healing shame.”
Tonn says, “Shame is a profoundly hurtful way of gaining control. It damages relationships and trust. It tears down and does not build up again. Shame is NEVER the way to attend to problematic situations.”
Shine the Light of Truth on Shame: Daily Reflections, Page 16
I love Tonn’s practical advice and tools on dealing with shame today, and reading it prepared me.
So the Genesis verse referenced at the beginning tells us that Adam and Eve felt no shame in the sinless beginning of this world, and I long for that perfection to return! When this attack came, my years of recovery prepared me not to react, but it has shown bullies still exist in this world, no matter what our age!
Will I stop posting positive information? No, because I won’t quit! I refuse to let the bullies win.
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What do you do when bullied or shamed? Let’s hope that our discourse on the topic will help those of us who want a better world, a world without toxic shame and bullying.
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~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:
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~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
~On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 I wrote my 200th blog post. Be sure and check it out here: 200th blog post
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