Usually in November, I am writing daily for NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. This year has been a planned hiatus.
Let me recount my November.
I succeeded in getting my sister relocated from New York to Florida, no easy task. She is now living in a senior residence facility ten minutes from my home. In the first week there, she fell twice, visited both local hospitals, spent three weeks then in a rehabilitation facility, and has just this week returned…..
I have pledged to not use this forum to represent or speak against a political candidate, and so far have kept this pledge. But, as a wordsmith and student of history, I can, and will define some terms to try to make sense of the chaos.
#1. Our Constitution set up three branches of government so they could operate the keep checks and balances on each other. We are choosing those we hope who can keep their duties as executives,…..
During the last several years, I have pursued a goal to achieve a prize offered by the Space Coast Writers’ Guild, the ARGO award, presented for the best novel written in the last two years, primarily set in Florida. After participating in the National Novel Writing Month goal of completing fifteen-hundred word drafts during succeeding Novembers, I will turn my efforts to another pursuit I’ve procrastinated about and put off far too long.
I have it on pretty good authority…..
A quick view of the past three weeks:
Dottie arrived October 2nd to live at Century Oaks Retirement Community in Melbourne. It was, at first glance, a welcoming time. We hadn’t been together for years. Although I had tried to convince her to become part of an assisted living arrangement for about three years, she was adamant about keeping her home and remaining independent. When she was scheduled for open heart surgery last October, the doctors said she would not…..
BETTY WHITAKER JACKSON
Thanks, Christopher Columbus
Remember the rhyme we learned in grade school? “In 1400 and 92, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”? We heard about early voyages by Italians, Portuguese, Spanish, and more recently by Chinese and Muslims. The “Age of Discovery” inspires us to think about all the discoveries mankind has made throughout the ages.
It comes as no surprise that we have idealized many of these “old stories,” and now critics try to negate the courage and…..
To say the least, this has been a month of contradictions for me, and it’s only the tenth of the month!
I suppose I should not be “surprised,” for we are in the midst of a highly-contested election season, complete with…..
Without trying to campaign (I pledged I would not), I have twenty questions (at least) about this election.
As a representative republic, when voters sent representatives to the House and Senate, why do people think that the President makes the laws and can singlehandedly change Social Security, tax laws, and defeat standing laws (i.e. Roe vs. Wade, tax deductions, paying off college loans, etc.)? When our coinage and monuments and pledges to tell the truth in a court of law…..
Yes, the walls came tumbling down, and America changed forever. We were appalled at the audacity of a small group of terrorists who stole our sense of security and affected our personal freedoms by their dastardly act. We are still victims.
Yes, there have been other events in history with long-reaching effects. Heroism in war, effective speeches, peace accords, passage of wide-sweeping laws, and inventions which have affected our lives. Hundreds of them. We always “say” we study history so…..
Happy Lord’s Day. It is the Sabbath, set aside by our Creator, Redeemer, and the one who knows us best. We need a day of rest, a day to worship our Holy God, a day to spend in reflection, with family and friends who gather to worship and praise Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says: “God saved you by His special favor who you believed. And you can’t take credit for this: it is a gifr
Proverbs 3:21-22 says: “My child, don’t lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them,, for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect. They keep you safe on your way and keep your feet from stumbling.” My desk calendar adds this nugget of truth: “God’s wisdom keeps us on the path of safety all our lives.” (Bible Keys to Well-Being, Pat Robertson)
This political season, we’re hearing about misinformation, hearing candidates making promises and…..