Writer's High

I came home from school today feeling low; the sinus infection with its continual torrent of drainage running down my red, scratchy throat and the unexpected coughing spasms that left me gasping for air, got the better of me and I gave in. Even though I have not missed a day of work all year, I felt as though I could not endure another eight hours in this condition trying to teach kindergarten children the correct phonetic sounds of the ABC’s. The only compassion I heard from one dear child as my contorted face emitted a cacophonous sound was, “Mrs. Melvin, are you going to throw up?”
Before I left for the day, I confirmed with my principal that he need not count on me to perform my duties tomorrow since my resistance to this irritating malaise was now nonexistent. All I wanted was a hot cup of tea, a warm blanket and a little sympathy from my husband.
While waiting for the water to boil for the soothing liquid I was sure would calm my throat, I checked my email. One message stood out that lifted my spirits better than any prescription drug. The Novelette.com publishing company announced that they were producing a paperback anthology of short stories that had been selected from their contests and my story of two talking turkeys would be included. Now that’s the kind of medicine any sick writer wants to hear. I’m still taking the day off!

Christmas Reflection

The cards were mailed two weeks ago, parcels found new homes in far off places, a faint smell of cinnamon and nutmeg lingered for a couple of days from the freshly baked cookies, and opened presents now lay under the lighted tree. Another Christmas has come and will soon be gone. Two thousand and nine years have passed since our heavenly Father gave mankind His Gift. This one never wears out, never outgrows you and is always there when you need it. Have you accepted it yet? It’s never too late.

Book Signing

Yes, the Panhandle Writers Group's fourth anthology, Southern Side Up, is hot off the press. The authors who contributed short stories have their pens ready and poised for signing Dec.4 from 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. at Panther Computers. Let me direct you to a Press Gazette advance article which gives all the details.http://www.srpressgazette.com/news/authors-8925-group-side.html
This time we added something special--favorite recipes from each of the authors. Hope to see you Friday evening. Oh, I forgot; I baked some delicious cookies for you,too.

Fleeting Fall

I guess it’s official: the parade of Halloween dress-ups have knocked on my door, taken their treats and sauntered off into the unknown, a full harvest moon shone with breath-taking beauty and the clocks have been turned back an hour—another season made its debut. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems as though someone is out there compressing the days to make everything go by so much faster. Didn’t we say goodbye to summer a brief moment ago? Before long, stuffing will be the order of the day—and I’m not just referring to what goes inside a turkey. More than one human will do his or her share at the Thanksgiving buffet. Crumbs will scarcely be shaken from the tablecloth before the frenzied countdown to complete Christmas shopping begins. Each year my inner being pleads with me to stop; back away from the daily barrage of activities and seek another quieter path. The animals rest in winter, the trees and plants take time to regenerate and the days grow shorter. It was planned that way. Maybe nature has something to tell us. I’m ready to listen

Too Busy to Blog

Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve given my blog my undivided attention. That’s been the problem-- putting it on the back burner to attend to other things –like making a living. Excuses, excuses.
My kindergarten teaching stint lasted two weeks before a regular teacher was allowed to be hired.(It’s all about numbers.)Dealing with two ADHD pupils, an autistic child and an angry mother in denial did not start my school year out exactly as I’d planned, but then as a famous writer once wrote --“The best laid plans of mice and men …” Things are back on track now so it’s full steam ahead.
The fact that a water pipe sprung a leak UNDER the cement slab and ruined the carpet in a guest bedroom and the hallway did not help my attitude but then blessings do sometimes come in disguise. I’ve wanted to put down hardwood for a couple of years so this little mishap was the opportune time. No more carpet; bamboo flooring is the ‘wood of the day’. It’s great looking, harder than oak and better for the environment since it keeps growing right back. I just love running my little Swifter over the surface rather than lugging the vacuum from room to room.
With three book marketing venues scheduled, a new book to write, company coming from Alaska for two weeks and a trip to Maine to see our twins, it’s going to be a tight squeeze to be a faithful blogger, but ‘hey’, I’ll do my best. Just pray for me that we don’t have any more geysers!

Ready or Not

It’s D-Day tomorrow. Sixteen, excited, freshly scrubbed, and slightly intimidated little five-year-old bodies will appear at the “Purple Cat” door at my school’s kindergarten hallway. I’m not supposed to be the one greeting them but late last week my principal changed my life.
“Sylvia, I need your help. We have to add an additional kindergarten classroom and it has to be ready for the “meet and greet” Friday morning at 10:a.m. I don’t have a teacher yet, so you’ll need to substitute for a week or so until I get the go-ahead to hire someone.”
My stomach lurched as a million thoughts ran through my head; but these little babes have never been to school. Visions of desperate, crying-no, screaming, bodies clinging onto their mama’s arms and legs sent my imagination into over-drive. For a moment I pondered, "Is the use of duct tape considered inhumane treatment?"
One glance at the desperation written all over my principal’s face and my heart softened.
“Sure,” I smiled. “ No problem. I’ll get right on it.”
A cursory glance at the room, vacant, except for the quarter inch of dust over all counters, tables and chairs, a rolled up dirty carpet and several dead roaches, who did not survive the summer, was enough to send me to the janitor’s room in search of cleaning supplies. With sweat dripping from every pore on my body, I scrubbed, scoured and swept until I was certain the room could pass any standards the Health Department decreed.
After lugging more tables and chairs from a portable several hundred yards to my room, every muscle in my body felt as though I was qualifying for the next Olympics. But this was just the beginning. As any kindergarten teacher knows, bulletin boards must be covered in eye-catching colors and if you happen to be anything other than seven feet tall, heaven help you. For safety sake, the rule is: No standing on chairs or tables. Hunt down the one ladder that always disappears just when you need it.
Finally, with the last alphabet letter glued to the wall, and a copy of ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear’ propped up against the rocker ready to be read to my pupils, I sighed a breath of relief. I’m ready. Who knows-maybe I won’t need that duct tape after all.

Shedding the Onion Skin

Since getting involved with a blog and a website, I feel the world knows more about me than I really had intended, but here I go again exposing yet another layer of my onion. A good friend asked me to get involved with “Honest Scrap”. What is that you ask? It’s eight little known facts you may or may not care to know about me. But here goes:
1. I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, until I married an American in 1972 and moved to the U.S.A.We have one son and two dear grandsons who live in Maine. We celebrated our thirty-seventh wedding anniversary July 1.
2. I taught Elementary School in Canada and continue to work as a resource teacher at Rhodes Elementary.

3. My high school had only eighty students and I was chosen to be the Valedictorian.

4. I have always expressed my thoughts better on paper so writing became an outlet
for my emotions. In the eighties, I decided to submit my work to publishers and
lo and behold my work began to be accepted for publication. You mean you can
actually be paid to do this?? My two novels, “Helena:Unwavering Courage” and “Summer Guest” are currently on Amazon.com.

5. I enjoy cooking-especially desserts(My Canadian sweet tooth).

6. I became a Christian in my teens and sincerely believe in the power of salvation.

7. I believe once you’ve truly loved someone they will always have a part of your
heart.
8. I have been blessed with wonderful friends.

Okay, there is one more; I enjoy playing Mexican Train Dominoes.