March 2018 Book Report

The Lavender Dragon (1923) by Eden Phillpotts

Sir Jasper and his squire George seek to destroy the dragon that has been taking people from a small village, only to find that the dragon has rescued these people from living a sad and unfulfilling life. Lots of philosophy in this book pushing the idea of idyllic communes where everyone shares everything and everybody is happy. Meh.

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Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven (2006) by Fannie Flagg

I love her books. They are so well written and you can easily imagine yourself living amongst the people. Elner Shimfissle dies and visits heaven for a while before returning back to earth. Meanwhile, all the people in her hometown mourn the loss of this wonderful woman.

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Jeremy Poldark (1950) by Winston Graham

Ross is tried and found not guilty of wrecking two ships. A new mine is started. Ross and Francis reconcile. Son Jeremy is born. The books in this series are NOT a fast read. You need to take your time with them. But they are worth it.

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Mystery and Macarons (2017) by Elizabeth Adams

A Tearoom Mystery. A purse thief is going around Lancaster. The cousins try to set a trap for him/her. Bob proposes to Jan, but it involves a move to a new city.

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Dr. Syn alias The Scarecrow (1975) by Vic Crume

YA novel based on the Disney movie starring Patrick McGoohan. Vicar Dr. Syn helps the downtrodden in his village in 1775 England. None suspect him of being the fierce Scarecrow who steals shipments meant for the King, in order to get money for the townspeople.

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A Star is Born (1976) by Alexander Edwards

Based on the earlier movies, this one is a novelization of the 1976 movie starring Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand. Washed-up rock star John Norman Howard takes an interest in upcoming singer Esther Hoffman. As his star fades and burns out, hers takes off.

Inane Questions part 3

Here’s the final group of questions I answered. I didn’t get a chance to post them because of my illness. So here they are. Hope you enjoyed this little series.

I have a fixation with:

Books. I can’t stand the thought of being without something to read at any given time. Since my youth, reading has been my escape from the life around me. I felt more at home in Victorian England with Sherlock Holmes than I did in my own home. And sci-fi! I really, really wanted to step foot on another planet. Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, Clarke…they made the worlds I wanted to be in, not my own world.

A good piece of advice is:

Measure twice, cut once. In other words, THINK about what you are about to do and the ramifications of your decision. I’ve done things that I KNEW were wrong while I was doing them, but didn’t care at the time. I sure did later.

If I could travel back to the past:

I would find out who my half-brother is, so I could find him later.

If I had to keep only three pieces of my wardrobe, I’d pick:

My standard uniform…jeans, t-shirt, light sweater.

When I don’t know the answer:

I ask someone, go to Google, go to Wikipedia.

Social media has helped me:

Get outside of myself more. It would be very easy to become a total hermit, which is where I was heading before I met Marv. With MySpace and then Facebook I was able to connect with people from all over the world. Yes, it’s not personal, but it’s a heck of a lot better than total isolation. I’ve been able to share some of my life on my blog.

The best thing about the Internet:

It’s FUN!!! I LOVE talking to people on Facebook! I LOVE looking up stuff on Google and Wikipedia! I have become more artistic with all the websites and videos available.

One of the best things in my life is:

The most important thing: my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am nothing without Him. He has blessed me beyond all imagining. Even in my darkest times, I knew He was with me. And He is with me still…

Through Thorny Ways

I started down a very thorny path February 28. It actually began a few weeks prior, but I didn’t know it. By the time I encountered the real thorns, I was ready to give up.

I had a kidney infection and kidney stones. By the time I went to the hospital I also had the most massive migraine I’d had in 20 years. I was beyond pain and in a place of torment. What caused the psychosis I then endured, I don’t know. Meds, pain, whatever. Time didn’t work like it normally did, so I have no real measure of what happened when.

A lot of what I went through mentally and spiritually I am still not able to talk about. Maybe I never will. Marv knows some of it, since he spent every available moment with me. But God knows. And only He can fully heal the wounds. Even after the actual pain of the kidney stuff and the migraine were eased, the mental aberrations went on. And on. And on.

What saved me, aside from the grace of God, was the presence of Marvin. He prayed over me. He sang to me. Scripture was such a consolation. By the way, the verses Marv had to look up, he looked up on his phone. There was no New Testament/Psalms in the hospital room. I don’t think they do that anymore.

I was able to come home a week later. Some of the visual aberrations were still present, but they ceased fairly quickly once I got home and settled in my own bed. Every day has been a bit better than the day before. I was even able to go to the Lenten service this past Wednesday. That did me SO much good. I now feel like I will truly be able to get back to “normal,” whatever that means. I can’t imagine what would have happened if I had not been a Christian and had Jesus and the scriptures to cling to. I fear I would have been truly lost, both physically and spiritually.

I leave you with a verse from one of my favorite hymns. Yes, the thorny ways are VERY painful. But considering what Jesus did for me on the cross, I am assured of a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.