Tag Archives: fiction

Return to the Cycle of 365 Days of Kindness

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So, I didn’t quite meet my goal of writing 365 blog posts over the last year, but I am returning to it all the same, in hopes of continuing the conversation into the new year. Today will be my 212th post since November 2024. I thought writing something every day was a worthy goal, but alas, life gets in the way, and other writing takes precedence. So, in moments of downtime, I would like to attempt this once again.

I have been thinking about the past once again and where we are today. I have a huge notebook full of notes and thoughts on my family and friends that will lead me towards the path of the next book. Many years ago, I thought the first book would be called Different Drummer because, hey, that is the path I took. But there are many, many, worthy books with that title, so I am working on it. I do have some great story ideas and family memories. I also have great stories from others, which I hope to present in my writing as well, in the best possible way.

Researching the past has led me to contemplate my time trekking the hills and valleys throughout my life. I know there were many roads not taken and many more miles to go before I can get a good night’s sleep. (I know, Robert Frost is turning over in his grave!) But I realized I sidestepped pathways that needed to be taken, ones that kept coming back to me over and over, and yet I kept returning to them. Once I faced (most of) those insurmountable hills and valleys, I  moved on to the next phase of my life. I have stopped dreaming about all the ‘what ifs’ (most of them) and made a new dream come true. But that’s the point of life, isn’t it? We face new challenges each day and move on to teach others how to do the same. I am still thinking about the next book title and where I will go. Writing about it always leads the way.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
However measured or far away.”
—Henry David Thoreau

“You and I travel to the beat of a different drum
Oh, can’t you tell by the way I run
Every time you make eyes at me.
….You can’t see the forest for the trees
Yes, and I ain’t sayin’ you ain’t pretty
All I’m saying’s I’m not ready for any person
Place or thing to try and pull the reins in on me….”
Stone Poneys – Linda Ronstadt version
Songwriter: Michael Nesmith

Thanks to all who support my crazy writing career and read the books I have created so far.

Loving you all and wishing for snow tonight! Stay safe out there! See you at the Rec!

An Official Storyteller

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I pulled out my faded, brown-around-the-edges Robert Fulghum paperbacks today because I needed a boost about why I write and care about things so much. Robert Fulghum inspired me from the beginning of my ridiculous writing career and kept me going when life got me down. He is one of the funniest and poignant writers I have ever had the privilege of reading. His first book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, was published in 1986, and remained on the best-seller list for over 2 years! It is still in publication today, and I asked for the 25th Anniversary edition for Christmas, which has 25 new stories! The first chapter still blows me away, and I’ve quoted it so many times in so many places (including this blog) that I almost have it memorized. I encourage everyone to read and re-read this book.

Needless to say, he is one of my heroes, has had an amazing life, was born in Waco, Texas, was a college professor at Baylor, and a Unitarian Universalist minister, and is still going strong at 88! And, by the way, he lives in Moab, Utah (well, and on the island of Crete, Greece as well). What a life! I am striving to become a great storyteller like him. I don’t know if I’ll make it to those lofty heights before I die, but I can keep trying.

Robert Fulghum’s Storyteller’s Creed:
“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.
That myth is more potent than history.
That dreams are more powerful than facts.
That hope always triumphs over experience.
That laughter is the only cure for grief.
And I believe that love is stronger than death.”
For more interesting reading about writing, go to the Hub Pages website at:
https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/The-Storytelling-Profession

While writing Discover the Life you Want to Live, I interviewed many people and asked them to create and write out their Credo, or personal Creed. I was happily surprised by what people told me. And of course, mine was long and convoluted with lots of sub-sections. But the main thing that this exercise taught me is that most people are inherently good beneath the surface. They do the right thing most of the time. And if they screw up, they try to make it right. I wish we could all say that about everyone in power. All I know is that if we focus on our families and people we mentor, help guide them to make the right decisions, even if it is not how we would do it, then our little part of the world will become a better place. And if everyone starts this as a movement, the whole world will become wonderful.

“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.”—Robert Fulghum
For more of his fun quotes, go to:  https://www.azquotes.com/author/5227-Robert_Fulghum

So be as weird as you want and love one another during this holiday season. Have fun with your feast and sing some joyful songs! My heart goes out to all of you and your families!

When Disagreeing Was a Good Thing

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Remember those days—when we all had differing viewpoints that were welcomed in the conversation? Remember when we could challenge each other and engage in thoughtful discussions, relishing the conversation? Remember when we weren’t so angry, and we continued to listen without interrupting the speaker? When did this change?

I am reading Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben’s new book, “Gone Before Goodbye.”  I am not normally a Harlan Coben fan, but I am intrigued by his writing now that he has collaborated with another author on a promising story. Initially, the protagonist attempts to come to terms with her loss and downfall, reflecting on her past. She spoke of her student days, when they would go out drinking after a particularly hard day, and engage in philosophical discussions at the bar (Remember that?) Nostalgia of those college days and early career days brings back memories of when we knew we were so right about everything. In the book, the protagonist stated: “What do you call a longing for critical thinking and common sense and decency?” [Coben, Harlan; Witherspoon, Reese. Gone Before Goodbye (p. 24). Grand Central Publishing. Kindle Edition.]

As we age, some of us become comfortable and even complacent about the world around us. We don’t listen to others without getting offended over some ridiculous idea. We don’t laugh as often. We often become frustrated with the legal system. “…if you think our legal system is about truth or fairness or equality, you’re either not paying attention or delusional.” [Coben, Harlan; Witherspoon, Reese. Gone Before Goodbye (p. 28). Grand Central Publishing. Kindle Edition.] This quote resonated with me because I still want to believe in a fair and just process. It’s not always there, but I still want to believe, and I continue to pay attention to what is going on in the government, as well as the daily craziness.

But sometimes people of every age just get that glazed look in their eyes when someone tries to convince them they are right, even though their thoughts and actions are really wrong. Discourse turns into a shouting match, and anger ensues. It’s hard to say you are wrong about something. No wonder we are tired. Current events and life as we know it have worn us down, yet we continue to try to keep going. And sometimes, it is just frustrating when a younger person ignores you because they have had bad experiences in their lives dealing with their senior relatives.

But today I am asking millennials, Gen Zs, and Gen Alphas to not lump all of us seniors with the grandparents and parents of the pandemic, who you still cannot talk to because they were so vengeful and hateful (Please take a moment to listen. We really do have some good things to say and do with the rest of our lives.) Sometimes you just have to forgive your relatives for their behaviors and thoughts and move on. Sometimes, you just have to let it all go, even if it means putting off conversations about serious subjects for now. Love them however you can before it’s too late.

Not all of us seniors are bad people or hateful. We still have our faculties, and are those free thinkers that you think your generation invented. There are so many of us who are still trying. We just don’t want to be ignored or become invisible because you think we don’t know anything, or are those angry seniors they portray on the news to get viewers to watch. I have made a promise to my kiddo and the new generations to always take a moment to listen and take on their causes, continuing to write about it and showing respect for everyone, regardless of who they are or what they represent. I give to worthy causes and love all human beings. I ask you all to do the same. Something to think about.

On this cold and dry night beyond the 100th meridian, I am thinking of all of you and sending out this message of hope. I love you all.

Editing is an Essential Part of Your Life

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OR: Creating the Right Story
OR: Becoming a Warrior
For the last two weeks, I have been a little crazy (Really? You say, only just the last two weeks?) OK, just stop. Take a seat and read further. I sent my final copy of the book to my editor last week, and I have been on Zoom calls with her, my go-to gal! She has helped me capture each story I really want to write, going through all of my Dru-isms—a language of my weird brain that no one can understand, which pops up on every page I have written. I am also submitting it to my spouse, who tells me the truth, even if I don’t want to hear it. I have too much invested in my characters, so even though I don’t like it, he tells me when it gets weird, and I make the appropriate changes.

Having an excellent editor for your writing, who does the job well, helping you fix your draft into the story that you want to tell, into a work of art, is the best friend you’ll ever have in this business. A genuine editor can help you create a masterpiece. A real editor doesn’t try to impose their story onto yours. It’s important to have that to let go of the piece at the end. So, in a few more weeks, hopefully, I’ll have a product that is worthy of publishing.

But that’s not all of this post. Editing your printed work is just one thought regarding this subject. The second is editing for your life. If you could go back in time, how many stupid things that you did in the past would you delete? I think about this all the time (I know, my brain is a shoe box full of memories I wish I could get rid of! Although it does make a good story!) I have tried to forgive, apologize, and move on, but sometimes they are just stuck there. And, when I am down in the dumps, they rise once again for me to revisit. There are hundreds of articles on how to solve this problem, and believe me, I have read them all. But sometimes the only way I can process the negative tape in my head is to just let them go for a short time. I usually physically leave the house and then go for a swim or a walk, and come home to write about them in my blog!

And my final thought about editing is how to edit those nagging pictures of yourself when you don’t feel you have been courageous. (Sans editing tools on your phone!) In my life, I am always the behind-the-scenes person. I am the one who gathers intel and completes a report. I am the one who does the research. I am the one who advises others. In my writing, I am that hero, that action person who fights the good fight. I pour everything into the characters in the book. But sometimes, I wish that I were that person in the front, that warrior-woman within me, making things happen, protesting all the wrongs in public, rather than on paper. But my rational mind says the only way to create change is to help people understand their actions through the pen, versus taking up the sword.

So, stand up for injustice in the world, and for what you believe is the right thing to do in any way that you can. And maybe it’s okay to encourage others to be brave for you, and you embrace your warrior within.

I’ll leave you with these quotes by Kristen Hannah from her book The Four Winds. Add this book to your bucket list!

  • “He used to tell me that courage was a lie. It was just fear that you ignored.” [Hannah, Kristin. The Four Winds: A Novel (p. 403). St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]
  • “Courage is fear you ignore.” [Hannah, Kristin. The Four Winds: A Novel (p. 403). St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]
  • “It wasn’t the fear that mattered in life. It was the choices made when you were afraid. You were brave because of your fear, not in spite of it.” [Hannah, Kristin. The Four Winds: A Novel (p. 423). St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]
  • “A warrior believes in an end she can’t see and fights for it. A warrior never gives up. A warrior fights for those weaker than herself. It sounds like motherhood to me.” [Hannah, Kristin. The Four Winds: A Novel (p. 426). St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]
  • “The world can be changed by a handful of courageous people.” [Hannah, Kristin. The Four Winds: A Novel (p. 427). St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]
  • “History has shown us the strength and durability of the human spirit. In the end, it is our idealism and our courage and our commitment to one another—what we have in common—that will save us.” [Hannah, Kristin. The Four Winds: A Novel (p. 453). St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]

I love you all on this almost perfect day! Enjoy the coming of fall!

FEELING RETRO

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Today I came across the book Sundog, by Jim Harrison and re-read some of the passages. I had forgotten that I had modelled Wendy Blair-McFreel’s character (from the Caitlin Ferguson mystery series) on Robert Strang. This book’s protagonist particularly struck me as to how she should be portrayed. And, after binge reading all of his books so many years ago, I learned to love his prose, as well as his idea and creation of a novella. I would have loved to have met him and discussed his style.

According to Wikipedia,
“James Harrison (1937-2016) was an American poet, novelist, and essayist. He was a prolific and versatile writer publishing over three dozen books in several genres including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, children’s literature, and memoir. He wrote screenplays, book reviews, literary criticism, and published essays on food, travel, and sport. Harrison indicated that, of all his writing, his poetry meant the most to him. Harrison published 24 novellas during his lifetime and is considered America’s foremost master of that form. His first commercial success  came with the 1979 publication of the trilogy of novellas Legends of the Fall, two of which were made into movies.”

Here are a few Jim Harrison quotes that are timeless. I think they are worth thinking about for today:
“One need only dabble in psychoanalytic literature to see how deeply idiosyncratic we are. Catholics and Tantric Buddhists have been wise enough to accommodate this lushness in human impulse; Protestants must subdue their heretical yearnings. They belong to the cult of self-improvement and hammer at their poor souls as if they were tract houses. The point is we are all quite different, and everyone tells us we’re not [emphasis mine]. There is this inescapable, incredible variety of perception and sensation, the little parcels of experience that add up to a whole not necessarily typified by any sort of symmetric unity, but the urge of life herself.”

“We achieve our dimensions for very specific reasons we ourselves ordain. In other words, we already are, at any given moment, what we, in totality, wish to be…. Scarcely anyone at any given time can locate himself in a meaningful sense.”

“I got this theory… that most people never know more than vaguely where they are, either in time or in the scheme of things. People can’t read contracts or time schedules or identify countries on blank maps. Why should they?”

“Don’t you wonder about these first affinities? I’m sure nearly everyone in the world has had them, with all their frightening intensity, which comes from our vulnerability at that age. We “love” before we know how to protect ourselves, pure and simple.”

“Symmetry is a term better suited to engineering than to people’s lives. By the time you wish to become something, you’re already something else…. I’m aware that everyone sees the world differently….”

So my short and sweet answer for today’s woes comes to this:
Be who you are. Learn to love others and yourself. See the world the way you need to see it. Stop the hate. Stop the madness. I love you all on the ponderous night. Stay safe and keep learning, keep reading, and hold your loved ones close.

Beginnings and Endings and Living Out Loud

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I have been writing my whole life. I first wrote little stories for my family and kept a few tucked away in a file somewhere, fading into obscurity (we wrote in pencil back in the day!) They were silly but I made people laugh—a middle child thing. I wrote papers for college which weren’t always good, but it got me through the classes. Most of them were for English or Psychology classes, not always perfect, or scientifically accurate, but they sufficed to get me As for the classes.

I journalled during my travels, to my adventurous move beyond the 100th meridian. My career in law enforcement allowed me to publish a few papers through the various government agencies, which may or may not lie in a dusty bin or archived on microfiche (remember those?) in the Justice Department. All were in the non-fiction realm about how we were going to save all of the juvenile delinquents! In another paper I published, I talked about how we shouldn’t stomp into all the various Pagan and Wiccan, or indigenous people’s ceremonies and take their stuff, back in the day. Some of the guys even appreciated my advice. Ahhhh, the 80’s….

When I went back to college out west, I finally graduated with a bachelor’s degree and, while still working, began a non-fiction self-help book. It was published on Amazon back 2012. I consider it my thesis and my legacy for my child since I never finished my master’s degree. Most of the advice I provided still holds true to this day, and I still quote sections of the book to others who want to listen. (I know, I know….If you have filled out my 14 Essential Questions and been interviewed by me you understand what I am talking about.)

Then, my life and world got busy. I moved to another city, so I took some time to try on a new set of career clothing—the writer’s cloak for real. It was and still is a tough market to embrace and you have to love the art. It is not about making money (although that would be great!) but a labor of love and having something to say out loud. It took a discipline that I haven’t always adhered to in my early years. My very active brain is sometimes hard to settle down and complete the pages that need to be written every day. (Thus, the emergence of my Blog to write down all of the stray thoughts, to keep true to a story line, Ha Ha Ha….) https://drutieben.com/

In 2012, I started writing fiction, and I am now in the process of finishing up my first fiction series, a three-book series of fictional and mysteries (or mysterious), tales from my life and others I have met and enjoyed knowing over the years. It has been a long time coming (the first book was published in 2013), and it started out as a mystery series based on the various cases I hope that I helped solve, generally those cases that were a bit strange and caught my attention in that real world genre. The third book changes directions slightly, with more of a science fiction twist. It has meaning to the state of the world at this point in my life and how I wish it will turn out in the end times—in hoping for a positive and good ending to those who are different.

I am now ready for my next adventure. As I re-read parts of the first two books, I am happy with my growth. Beginnings are always rough and as you grow into your writing style. If you are like me and have had a change in careers, you hope you have embraced growth in your writing as well as in your life. It is inevitable that we change as we age. Life experiences become life lessons and we see the world differently from when we were young. Sometimes we see too much and focus on the wrong things, forgetting about the good things that happened to us because the bad things are so overwhelming that they take up more space in our brains. I like to think that my experiences gave me a head and vision full of wonder, exploring feelings and magical worlds that are on the fringe of the real world, worlds that we wish could take place in real life.

I still have thoughts of positive endings in both my writing as well as for humankind, dissimilar to those who wrote science fiction in the 50s and 60s. We have messed up a lot of things in this world, but hope is still out there somewhere. Those of us who continued to read science fiction in the 70s and 80s might believe that the dystopian worlds like Orwell’s 1984 exist back then (and right now), but in my world, the 90s brought back a hope of scientific and space exploration, revisiting the greats such as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Poul Anderson, Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven, Michael Flynn, and so many others, too many to name in this blog. That’s where I want to focus my efforts.

The 2000s have brought about genres that didn’t exist before, with crossovers into science fiction/fantasy, science fiction/mystery, and many others I’ve yet to explore. It allowed us to drift away into new realms. Even though today we feel like the people who believe in the Ayn Rand bull*#!t have taken over the world (you know who never read it, trust me!) we writers need to band together and send messages of hope and support based on a general caring and science to keep civilization intact, and to keep democracy alive.

Sure, the assassinations in the 60s brought a jerk into office (Hello! Nixon years) and became a blow to our idealistic selves. But as Robert Reich stated in his book: “Hope needs leaders to provide a moral compass. Those leaders don’t need to be vested with official authority…Millions of Americans wanted to believe that these men [Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy] would lead us to a moral high ground, a common good that would transcend the crass, selfish brutality of America…And now that both had been gunned down, there didn’t seem to be anywhere else for that momentum to go. We were thrown into a moral abyss…Humphrey’s loss to Nixon represented the end of the Democrats’ New Deal coalition, and it seemed to be the end of idealism. [Reich, Robert B. Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America (p. 107-110). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]
READ THIS BOOK!

And sure, the last year has been a wakeup call and a shock to us about not listening to the other half, so it drove us apart as a people and allowed people become more me-centric. Writers, bloggers, youtubers, and realistically, any citizen of this country must heed our moral and ethical responsibility, to push new generations into thinking about ways to increase the greater good, to bring back respect for the laws of the land and decency and kindness to all human beings. (And law enforcement should take heed: stop the violence on people, and get a spine to become better humans and enforcers of the law of the land, not the law of those rich and powerful!) We should not selfishly support the “It’s all about me, and I don’t want to help anyone else” society. We have to care for each other if we want to continue a peaceful and caring world. Otherwise, chaos will continue to rule our lives.

So I hope these writings have been good for everyone I have reached out to and that we take a moment each day to show concern for what is right in the world, respect each other and center our thoughts on all others, not just ourselves. Every day I live, I try to do my very best to uphold the law and what is right and just in the world. I hope you can say that you do the same.

Keep reading, keep listening, and take a break from your own brain every day. Just be kind to everyone and they will reciprocate. Learn a person’s name and say it back to them when you greet them. Respect those that are different. I love you all and hope you are inside away from the smoke and the heat.

We Are Not There Yet

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I have been finishing up my final novel in the Caitlin Ferguson mystery series these last few weeks. (I know – it’s about time!) All of the research that I have completed over these past few months, really years, led me to thoughts of why we are where we are at this point in the wheel of time. I just have a few questions today to put out to the world that are in need of answering:

  • Why didn’t we accept women and immigrants sooner and why have we returned to that place of non-acceptance?
  • What will happen when the money runs out?
  • What will happen when the media can no longer spew nonsense into the atmosphere?
  • Will we learn from this disastrous election, and figure out how we as a species work together?
  • Will we learn from past literature how to accept each other to accomplish mutual goals?
  • And what’s wrong with seeing both sides of our nature?
  • Why can’t we love literature and science at the same time?
  • Why can’t we have beautiful conversations without always trying to one-up each other?
  • Where has all the wonderful learning gone?
  • Why can’t we teach young people to love each other and learn to be uncomfortable with conversations to learn more about the world we live in? Why are we so uncomfortable with making our children uncomfortable?

I am going to keep reminding everyone to read and learn and read and learn and pass it onto the next generation, the ability to think many thoughts at one time. I am going to keep reminding people to learn the ability to marvel at science but also respect and marvel the beautiful works that have come from both good and bad fiction. It’s okay to love people for their beautiful lines of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. I am amazed every day at the works of writers who make the effort to create magical works of art.

And here are a few things that are good to know about this day:
Notable Birthdays for August 1
William Clark (1770-1838) – Explorer who led the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804.
Francis Scott Key (1779-1873) – American lawyer, poet and composer who wrote the Star Spangled Banner.
Herman Melville (1819-1891) – Novelist who wrote Moby Dick.
John Friend Mahoney (1889-1957) – Physician who pioneered the treatment of syphilis with penicillin.
Ann Calvello (1929-2006) – Professional roller derby racer.
Terry Kiser (1939-Still Living) – Actor who made several appearance over his 50 year acting career, but none more memorable as the character Bernie in the movie Weekend at Bernie’s.
Robert James Waller (1939-2017) – Author of The Bridges of Madison County.
Jerry Garcia (1942-1995) – Musician and founder of the rock band Grateful Dead.

Memorable Events for August 1
1855 – Castle Garden (NY City) opens as first receiving station for immigrants in the U.S.
1876 – Colorado is admitted as the 38th state to join the Union.
1881 – Angel Island (San Francisco Bay, CA) becomes U.S. Quarantine Station to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
1911 – Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman in the U.S. to earn an Aero Club of America Aviator Certificate.
1933 – is founded with plans to stimulate the economy during the Depression. The National Recovery Administration.
1941 – The first Jeep is produced.
1946 – President Truman established the Atomic Energy Commission.
1981 – MTV begins broadcasting and airs its first video, Video Killed the Radio Star (The     Buggles).
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/august/august-1-birthdays-and-events

So on this fantastic Friday, hug the ones who are near you and put out good vibes for anyone out there who is struggling with the day to day. Remember that the past cannot be changed but we can change our futures if we have the courage to do so. Love to all and hang in there!

The Heat is On

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As I ponder the many things I can do inside because of the heat I return to my writing once again and try and capture the thread that will finish the book. But, alas, my mind wanders, there are loads of inside chores to complete and I return to the blog, if only to get some writing in today.

Summer Solstice is upon us and I want to return to a simpler time when I danced with the goddess on the longest day of the year with my fellow merrymakers in sacred spaces. I once believed that I was on the right path to enlightenment and the world’s woes were slowly being resolved. I once embraced the path that we as a people of this great nation believed and cared for each other. The police I knew were starting to come around and be the friendly neighborhood protectors instead of using evil [gestapo] tactics. They were proud to be a part of the neighborhood. People weren’t shooting each other in my neighborhood. Neighbors left their doors open, had block parties and shared beautiful food and music without interference from the evil ICE folks, or local police using military tactics for no reason. I want to return to hearing that violent crime is down. Maybe it was all an illusion, but I was proud to be a part of that illusion of the world.

Today, things are rapidly deteriorating to fear tactics and hating BIPOC [i.e., the brown people or anyone who doesn’t look exactly like you]. I still don’t understand how some people can embrace this in their lives. I want those people to wake up and fight back no matter what. I want people to take away all the guns from those that are insanely violent and hurt those who are trying to do the right thing. And I want to return to the belief that we must allow justice to take place and punish those in the wrong (you know who I am talking about). I want that weird secret police to go away and stop harassing those who believe in the democratic process and are just doing the right thing within their jobs and the courts. I want to believe that we can return to finding enlightenment within our lives without worrying about be accosted, or even worse, shot.

So, enjoy the peaceful moments today. Go inside and leave off the TV and phone. Write to your heart’s content your thoughts and musings in your beautiful journals (or laptops!). Read a good book. Work on a puzzle with your family or play a game. And, put on some 80’s tunes (Glen Frey) and get away from it all for a little while.
The Heat is On

I love you all and hope only great things happen to you!

Writers are Brave

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Or: New thoughts are bold and scary. Anne Lamott once said about her father: “Writing taught my father to pay attention; my father in turn taught other people to pay attention and then to write down their thoughts and observations.” Lamott’s father was a writer, and had students that were inmates in San Quenton prison who took part in a  creative-writing program. He taught his students and his daughter by example. He asked his students to put a little bit down on paper every day, and to constantly read great books (and poetry).

I know how important math and sciences are and am grateful for the education my child and I have had in our lives. But sometimes I think society has forgotten the fact that creativity in the form of writing and reading has helped us in the past. I wonder if the reason that we don’t encourage others to engage in the simple act of reading is because the people around us begin to change. They expand their thinking because they are more enlightened on a subject and aren’t afraid to discuss it. A subject may change their lives and they may drift away from you because you may not want to follow the thread of this new idea and life in general.

If we don’t read, we don’t want others in our inner circle to change. We are stuck in some reality that actually doesn’t work but if others leave us we feel threatened by them. Reading (and writing) helps us evolve and become who we are today.

Bold stories make us ponder all of the history writers have written about, and philosophize about deep subjects which leads us to become incredible critical thinkers. When young people tell me they don’t like to read, I am saddened to think how much they have missed in their lives. I am saddened to think of all the incredible stories that have been told in the past and are currently being told today. They are missing out on how humans have evolved (and devolved of late) from past understandings of how the world and society as a whole works.

I was really dismayed when I looked at what all of us, especially women, have gone through to be allowed to learn and especially ponder life’s greatest mysteries by asking intelligent questions. Reading and writing have been essential in my life and I hope I have passed on these life-changing thoughts to my child. I hope to pass on the importance of turning off that constant scrolling and pick up a book (or audiobook) to discover life’s mysteries both past and present. Be a brave reader and get curious!

Here’s a kicker from my past:  My mother would constantly tell me not to read under the covers with a flashlight late at night because it would ruin my eyes. And when I said I wanted to emulate Madame Curie, who worked through a problem night and day and didn’t even take a bath, she stated, “Well, you have to bathe!” And I muttered under my breath, as all teenagers do, “Wow! That’s what you got out of that?”

And finally, to a quote Emily Dickinson: “Women were not encouraged to read because men feared it would joggle their minds.”

I encourage everyone to read my favorite book on writing of all times to gain perspective on us writers:   Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

I love you all and hope you are having fun creating a magnificent garden in your back yard. Summer is upon us!

Edward Abbey-One of My Heroes

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“To the intelligent man or woman, life appears infinitely mysterious. But the stupid have an answer for every question.”—Edward Abbey

“Our modern industrial economy takes a mountain covered with trees, lakes, running streams and transforms it into a mountain of junk, garbage, slime pits, and debris.”—Edward Abbey

“The one thing … that is truly ugly is the climate of hate and intimidation, created by a noisy few, which makes the decent majority reluctant to air in public their views on anything controversial. … Where all pretend to be thinking alike, it’s likely that no one is thinking at all.”—Edward Abbey

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.”—Edward Abbey

“Why is it that the destruction of something created by humans is called vandalism, yet the destruction of something created by God is called development?”—Edward Abbey
https://www.azquotes.com/author/10-Edward_Abbey

Edward Abbey (born January 29, 1927, Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died March 14, 1989, near Tucson, Arizona) was an American writer whose works, set primarily in the southwestern United States, reflect an uncompromising environmentalist philosophy. Abbey’s novel The Monkey Wrench Gang (1975) recounts the exploits of a band of guerrilla environmentalists; both it and Desert Solitaire became handbooks of the environmental movement. The strain of cynicism that runs through much of Abbey’s writing is leavened by a bracing prose style and mischievous wit. His advice was unorthodox: “This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and animals. Stand up for the stupid and crazy. Take your hat off to no man.” And: “Anarchism is not a romantic fable but the hardheaded realization, based on five thousand years of experience, that we cannot entrust the management of our lives to kings, priests, politicians, generals, and county commissioners.” https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Abbey

I encourage you to read his works, particularly The Monkey Wrench Gang and Hayduke Lives! These two books, along with his earlier work, Desert Solitaire inspired me to move out here. I visited and walked many of the paths he took when they weren’t National Parks. And now we have to engage in our own warfare, and create a grassroots effort to save all of these pathways before they are destroyed. Fight to keep Rangers employed. Keep fighting Abbey’s fight and save our backyards from destruction!

I love you all on this night and hope you will keep reading, keep writing, keep having enlightening conversations, and keep asking questions!