Good Times

Wow! What an exciting month! This July has been a great one for me. First, it’s vacation time, so I’ve had lots of time to write for long stretches of time and still catch up on all those little things that pile up around the house during the school year. Second, I’ve been having a blast meeting the public at the California State Fair. This is my first time there, and it’s heartening to see how many readers are out there.

By the way, today’s my last day: 12-8 p.m., building A. If you happen to be in the Sacramento area, please come and visit! There are books for every taste, and lots of wonderful authors to meet.

My only regret about the booth–and it’s a big one–is when a visitor chatting with me at the Authors Booth said if he wrote a book about his life, no one would believe it…I failed to ask him “why.” I think I had some idea about respecting his privacy, and that if he wanted to tell me, he would. Ever since, I’ve been wondering,  was he a member of the mob? Kidnapped by Central American terrorists? The first to climb Mount Everest with one hand tied behind his back? Marilyn Monroe’s love child?

On top of all that, I have some VERY EXCITING NEWS which I will announce next week. All it can tell you right now is that it is a dream come true, one I have waited for for many years. I am so very happy and excited! 🙂

 

 

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Oh My Gosh, Is That What’s His Name?

Okay, I’ll confess right up front: I can’t remember names. I must have inherited this disability from my mom, who called me by my sister’s name almost as often as she called me by my own. Still does, by the way. (Hi there, Mom! Love Ya!)

My own kids, bless their hearts, had to grow up hearing me run through everyone else in the family’s name before I got to theirs. It was there in my head somewhere, but I just couldn’t pull it out immediately. I’ve even called my husband by my brothers’ names (and vice versa), my daughter by her aunt’s name…well, you get the gist.

When I have to introduce people, even people I know extremely well, my brain freezes. I grin, and say, “Hi, this is__________” (hopefully remembering at least one of the names). Then there is a long awkward pause while I wait for the the other person to step forward and introduce himself to the other person, which after a moment, they usually do.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one to suffer from this disease. I’d just like to know how other people deal with it!

 

 

 

Happy Independence Day!

For much of the 1970s, when a lot of national bitterness lingered on about the Vietnam War and it seemed like American patriotism was at a low (equaled only in recent years), I was living in Rabat, Morocco, next door to the American Ambassador’s residence, and my father worked at the American Embassy a few blocks away, literally a little piece of our homeland, where Old Glory flew overhead and the Marines stood on guard, and everything seemed homelike and familiar.

As beautiful as that North African country was, with its Mediterranean climate, Roman ruins, and intricately tiled mosques, its delicious fruit, sandy beaches and fascinating history, I remember being amazed at how unappreciative my compatriots were of our own country. Or so it seemed to me. When I returned for visits, I was amazed at stores that were clean, with endless aisles of products to choose from, how big everything was, and especially the fact that everyone spoke English with an American accent.

Times have changed. So has America in some ways, for better or worse. People may debate the reasons and meaning of those changes, but whatever we may wish were different, we are still fortunate enough to have the oldest functioning democratic republic in the world, the highest rate of charitable giving in the world, the biggest economy, the most global influence, and the strongest military–whose members sacrifice all to protect Americans and others, often for no reason except that it is the right thing to do.

On the Fourth of July, I believe it is appropriate to spend some time appreciating the good about the United States, the country that did away with the concept of inherited Monarchy (sorry, England!), and brought the ideal of democracy to the modern world.

Today I am proud to be American, and at the same time I wish the best to all our wonderful friends in other countries around the world.

Happy Independence Day!