Not a lot going on in my mind tonight. There were a few book suggestions in the mailbox today but there was nothing new or interesting. No must haves, which was too bad because they are the best ones. I have worked my way quickly through several books but they weren’t the kind I was excited to talk about. They were OK but not that exciting.
That’s just how life goes sometimes. Nothing is great all the time. There are highs and lows flowing through every area of our lives on a regular basis. The best thing about the lows, they make the highs seem that much sweeter.
So, I wanted to post something tonight but there was no enthusiasm about figuring out what to say. That got me thinking about other bloggers, especially the ones we never see anymore. Maybe that’s what’s happened with them . . . they were discouraged and lost interest. Maybe life overshadowed the importance of keeping up with posting. I can think of many reasons why blogging could cease to be. It makes me sad though. I have a feeling that the reasons most have faded away were because of discouragement of one kind or another.
Anyway, the longer I dwell on the subject the longer the list grows for missing faces, figuratively speaking of course. Not everyone uses self-portraits. I always kind of envy those secure enough to post their picture.
Well, I think it’s time to go, I’ve run out of things to talk about.
Tomorrow is another work day and it’s Friday. The days and weeks are flying by much too quickly.
I need a picture of some sort on here so I will leave you with the cover of my current read. It isn’t riveting but it is interesting.
The past is all she has… Since her husband’s death three years ago, Violet has struggled to keep their antique store afloat and her grief at bay. She knows it’s time to move on, but she’s not sure she wants to. So when Nate moves in next door, she tries to ignore the feelings he stirs in her—feelings that were supposed to have died with her husband.
The past haunts him… Nate’s star was rising in the world of Christian music. But all that was erased with a single, life-shattering mistake. One he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven for. One that means he doesn’t deserve a future—and definitely not with his beautiful new neighbor.
Can they have a future? As the two work together to save her store, neither can deny the feelings that are starting to develop. But when Nate’s secret is exposed, they have to decide if they should walk away—or trust that the God of second chances has a plan for their future.
It was looking a little bleak there for a moment but it turned out there was a good suggestion for us after all. It’s another story (we’ve had quite a few lately) revolving around war. WWI this time. The best stories have spies and this book has more than one. 1531 Entertainment is the suggestion provider and Amazon reviews rate this book at 4.5 stars.
Gripping Sophomore Novel from a Rising Historical Romance Talent
With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.
Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country’s cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she’ll set off when she hands a feather to Jack.
And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them–or the faith they’ll need to maintain hope.
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There was one other good looking suggestion. Sadly, it doesn’t fit within the fiscal guidelines I’ve set for myself, I think I’m already way over budget for this month. It is mighty tempting though. It could be the intriguing cover that has my attention. I’ll share it anyway, for future reference if nothing else.
Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s Fair Step into True Colors — a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.
Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?
She clings to the past like a treasured antique. He’d rather toss it in the trash. But if they can learn to trust in the God of second chances, they might just discover a future together.
The past is all she has… Since her husband’s death three years ago, Violet has struggled to keep their antique store afloat and her grief at bay. She knows it’s time to move on, but she’s not sure she wants to. So when Nate moves in next door, she tries to ignore the feelings he stirs in her—feelings that were supposed to have died with her husband.
The past haunts him… Nate’s star was rising in the world of Christian music. But all that was erased with a single, life-shattering mistake. One he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven for. One that means he doesn’t deserve a future—and definitely not with his beautiful new neighbor.
Can they have a future? As the two work together to save her store, neither can deny the feelings that are starting to develop. But when Nate’s secret is exposed, they have to decide if they should walk away—or trust that the God of second chances has a plan for their future.
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BookRunes has a free suggestion for us. We’ve not read this author but checking out the first three chapters I’d like to read more.
She’s creating the perfect family Christmas–for perfect strangers.
This year TV personality Jayne Renwick will host the ideal family Christmas. She has even booked the luxurious Wildwood Lodge for her “perfect Christmas” activities. At the last minute, though, she is forced to revise her guest list.
It’s not all bad. In fact, one new lodger fits the Jayne’s first-snowfall wish for love. However, another guest turns out to be the hottest guy from her office–and her biggest critic.
She catches one glimpse of him and thinks he’s there to ruin her week. He catches one glimpse of her and he’s ready to turn around and leave Wildwood Lodge.
Jayne’s far too kitschy. He’s far too traditional. But can opposites attract in the magic of Wildwood Lodge?
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My current read is almost finished, maybe this last one will be next in line.
It’s a beautiful sunny day, the overnight frost is quickly melting, the grass is oddly still lush and green, the last of the leaves are falling quickly, and a cute little bird is feasting on microscopic somethings on my deck.
An inspiring start to the first day of the week.
And a book suggestion from 1531 Entertainment only adds to the excitement. Terri Blackstock has been a long time favorite author.
Twisted Innocence (Moonlighters Series Book 3)
From New York Times bestseller Blackstock comes a gripping story of a private investigator whose past choices have finally caught up to her—and are now putting her infant daughter at risk.
Though Holly’s stumbled through most of her adult life as a party girl, she longs to live a more stable life for her daughter. Then police show up to question her about the whereabouts of Creed Kershaw, Lily’s father. She has kept his identity a secret from friends and family—she never even told him about the pregnancy. Now he’s a person of interest in a drug-related murder case.
Determined to keep him out of their lives and turn him over to police, Holly uses her private investigating skills to search for him. But her bravado backfires when he turns the tables and takes her and the baby hostage. As desperate hours tick by, Holly realizes his connection to Leonard Miller—the man who has gunned down several members of her family. Creed claims he’s innocent and that Miller is after him too. His gentleness with Lily moves her, but she can’t trust a man who has held her at gunpoint . . . even if he reminds her so much of herself.
Dangers old and new threaten Holly and her baby, and lives are demanded as sacrifices for love. Through a complex web of mistakes and regret, redemption is the one hope Holly has left to hold on to.
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Current Read: it’s on the lighter side. Not humorous so much as sweet. Toy store, kittens, and young children. It’s still close to the beginning though and it could deepen before we get too far into the story.
The View from Coral Cove: A Sweet Contemporary Romance
When a jilted romance novelist escapes to a small beach town, the last thing she expected to find was the start of an even better love story. In the wake of a broken engagement and the death of her last surviving family member, wholesome romance novelist Maya Reynolds moves to the haven of Coral Cove, North Carolina, to take over her great-aunt’s toy store. Some of her grief is immediately eased by the local veterinarian’s daughter, eight-year-old Ashlyn Tanner, who talks her into adopting a kitten. Ashlyn’s dad, local veterinarian Brody Tanner, is quickly smitten by the newest resident of his hometown. As a single parent, he sacrifices a lot in order to give Ashlyn the world, so a romantic entanglement with Maya is not a distraction he is looking for. As the three develop a deepening bond in the seaside town where Maya experienced some of her happiest childhood memories, clouds cast a shadow over Maya’s hope for the future. But together, they just might discover that sometimes happy endings happen outside the pages of Maya’s novels, too.
There are some good looking books available today after all. The first few pages have me hooked. I noticed we had book 1 of Sky King Ranch Series a week ago but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Too many good books to choose from.
When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.
Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.
And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he’ll need Noemi’s help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.
Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding–binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she’s discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.
She’ll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.
A Rocky Mountain logging camp may be just the place to find herself.
To escape the devastation caused by the breaking of her wedding engagement, Isabelle Franklin joins her aunt in the Rocky Mountains to feed a camp of lumberjacks cutting on the slopes of Cougar Ridge. If only she could out run the lingering nightmares.
Charles Bailey, camp foreman and Stony Creek’s itinerant pastor, develops a reputation to match his new nickname — Preach. However, an inner battle ensues when the details of his rough history threaten to overcome the beliefs of his young faith.
Amid the hazards of camp life, the unlikely friendship growing between the two surprises Isabelle. She’s drawn to Preach’s brute strength and gentle nature as he leads the ragtag crew toiling for Pollitt’s Lumber. But when the ghosts from her past return to haunt her, the choices she will make change the course of her life forever—and that of the man she’s come to love.
A single mother who has had many life-changing events. A man who deeply regrets a decision he made eight years ago and wants to make it right.
A string of poor choices and too many life-changing events lead an unsuspecting pair of strangers into each other’s arms, but is it too good to be true, or will love find a way?
Jade Brighton can’t take much more. Her life has already been upended, leaving her and her daughter in desperate need of recovery time. So they pack their bags and head to the family beach house to recharge and recover.
Daniel Barnhill has spent his life lamenting the one who got away. In a desperate attempt to escape his father, Daniel heads for the small town of Blackstone Cove. Not only is he surprised to find her again, but he also can’t believe she has a child.
Can Jade and Daniel rebuild what they once had or has time and life pushed them too far apart?
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I am definitely looking forward to these new books.
She wants to do her part. He’s just trying to stay out of the stockade. Will two agents deep behind enemy lines find capture… or love?
1942. Emily Strealer is tired of being told what she can’t do. Wanting to prove herself to her older sisters and do her part for the war effort, the high school French teacher joins the OSS and trains to become a covert operative. And when she completes her training, she finds herself parachuting into occupied France with her instructor to send radio signals to the Resistance.
Major Gerard Lucas has always been a rogue. Transferring to the so-called “Office of Dirty Tricks” to escape a court-martial, he poses as a husband to one of his trainees on a dangerous secret mission. But when their cover is blown after only three weeks, he has to flee with the young schoolteacher to avoid Nazi arrest.
Running for their lives, Emily clings to her mentor’s military experience during the harrowing three-hundred-mile trek to neutral Switzerland. And while Gerard can’t bear the thought of his partner falling into German hands, their forged papers might not be enough to get them over the border.
Everything on this list was a winner. Every single one of them kept me reading much longer than intended and planned tasks were sorely neglected and most did not even happen. The positive effect on my emotional state though was more than worth it. My attitude about life at the moment is upbeat and I’m grateful. Inspired even.
My absolute favorite was this first one. The synopsis didn’t do it justice. It wasn’t until I was immersed in the story that I realized what a treasure I’d found.
In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name–but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.
Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.
Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.
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The next favorite read was possibly the last book in the author’s latest series, although I’m not clear on that point. There are new books being released every few months it seems. The next book was mentioned at the end of this one and I can hardly wait to see what it will be like.
Sarah Chamberlain enjoys a new life far away from her abusive ex-husband, thanks to help from Vanishing Ranch. But when she starts to have unexplained, dangerous episodes and suffer memory lapses, she begins to doubt her reality.
She senses her ex has found her. But she doesn’t know if the problem is real or if her mind is playing tricks on her. She can’t contact the police—they would ask too many questions. So, she turns to the very people she knows can help her.
When former Secret Service agent and Vanishing Ranch operative Ruger Stark is assigned to check in on Sarah, he comes determined to find what exactly has her so spooked. But when he arrives at her lakefront home, he realizes he has much more to handle than a typical protection detail.
Ruger and Sarah must stick together to sort through the lies and uncover the truth. Is Sarah drowning in confusion. Or is someone playing a deadly game?
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This one was a great experience and I’d like to read more from this author. Life for Delilah seems bleak until the unexpected shows up.
Delilah Morrissey has always wanted to be a mother, but when she becomes a young widow, that dream now seems farther away than ever. Unable to continue to live alone in Chicago, her only option is to accept her sister’s offer to move in with her family back in West Virginia. Will Delilah have the faith to pursue a new dream–even if it means giving up the old?
In this charming novella, debut novelist Sarah Loudin Thomas introduces readers to Wise, West Virginia–a small town nestled in an Appalachian valley where the everyday miracles of life and faith play out in stories of healing, hope, and love.
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Last but not least, was a tale that still has me smiling. Hector was quite the character and Amanda knew just how to handle him. The deep connection formed between them was an unexpected blessing.
Amanda became a nurse to save as many lives as possible. After her mother died while being swindled by a church leader, Amanda swore off religion and turned to medical science to solve all of life’s problems. But when she loses her home and job, and struggles to make a new life in a new town, Amanda’s feeble beliefs can’t withstand the pressure.
Hector’s work on earth is done. He spent 92 years living, and now he’s ready to spend eternity with his late wife in heaven. But when a foolish accident lands him in the hospital, he’s saddled with a home nurse who wants to keep Hector alive as long as possible, much to his dismay. When Amanda meets Hector, their personalities clash, but as they learn to open their hearts and listen to each other, they grow to realize the value of true friendship.
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It has been a good weekend for reading… and the day is not over.
The next read is still to be determined, and another bargain has been stumbled upon. I will check that out and share it and maybe the new read in the next post
Oops. There is one more excellent read that I forgot about.
Secrets are like pennies. Everybody’s got one, even the poorest among us.
For generations, the Jensens have raised their families in the small Montana town of Moose Creek, where gossip spreads faster than the wind. Yet some secrets need to be told.
When twenty-one-year-old Bea discovers she’s pregnant on the heels of her husband losing his job, she’s forced to admit she needs help and asks her dad for a place to stay. But past resentments keep her from telling him all that’s going on.
Mitch Jensen is thrilled to have a full house again, though he’s unimpressed with Bea’s decisions: dropping out of college, marrying so young–and to an idealistic city kid, of all things. Mitch hopes to convince Bea to return to the path he’s always envisioned for her, but she’s changed since her mom died. And he refuses to admit how much he’s changed, too, especially now that he might be losing his mother as well.
Grandma June is good at spinning stories, but there’s one she’s never told. Now that her mind is starting to fade, her time to tell it is running out. But if she reveals the truth before her memories are gone forever, the Jensen family will never be the same.
Can you believe it? It’s snowing in our part of the world. It’s coming down fast and furious but the flakes are too newly formed and much too small to live long. The snow is making a valiant effort though. There is a white strip forming along the fence rails in my yard. Someone 45 minutes away is seeing better progress than I am in the accumulation struggle. It’s fun to see the difference only a few miles can make.
It will be time to put up winter decorations in a couple of days, so says my grandson! I couldn’t agree more.
Snow is exciting but so are books.
BookRunes has a suggestion for us, but I have to warn you, it looks to be blatantly Christian. It also looks like it will deal with less-than-christian practices within the church. I’m sharing this because I want to read it. Maybe a few of you want to as well.
Amanda became a nurse to save as many lives as possible.
After her mother died while being swindled by a church leader, Amanda swore off religion and turned to medical science to solve all of life’s problems.
But when she loses her home and job, and struggles to make a new life in a new town, Amanda’s feeble beliefs can’t withstand the pressure.
Hector’s work on earth is done.
He spent 92 years living, and now he’s ready to spend eternity with his late wife in heaven.
But when a foolish accident lands him in the hospital, he’s saddled with a home nurse who wants to keep Hector alive as long as possible, much to his dismay.
When Amanda meets Hector, their personalities clash, but as they learn to open their hearts and listen to each other, they grow to realize the value of true friendship.
Fans of Karen Kingsbury will enjoy the realistic characters and faith-driven novels by Valerie Howard.
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Another interesting read showed up in the suggestion strip. It may be of a similar focus as the one above but less blatant. I’ve read the book that comes after this one but 2016 is in the far distant past and I don’t remember if I liked it. I’m looking forward to this short story anyway.
Delilah Morrissey has always wanted to be a mother, but when she becomes a young widow, that dream now seems farther away than ever. Unable to continue to live alone in Chicago, her only option is to accept her sister’s offer to move in with her family back in West Virginia. Will Delilah have the faith to pursue a new dream–even if it means giving up the old?
In this charming novella, debut novelist Sarah Loudin Thomas introduces readers to Wise, West Virginia–a small town nestled in an Appalachian valley where the everyday miracles of life and faith play out in stories of healing, hope, and love.
Includes an excerpt of Miracle in a Dry Season, the first full-length novel in the Appalachian Blessings series–a book New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber called, “Wonderful, simply wonderful.”
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Time has passed and now it’s mostly raining with a few flakes here and there.
I was hoping to wait another week before the yard cleanup crew arrived, there are still a few trees slow to drop their leaves. Now I’m glad they were paying more attention to the weather than I was and they showed up yesterday to clean up the record setting pile of leaves.
It must be all the rain we’ve had this year.
There was trouble with my book order going through today. It’s a mystery why. Hopefully they will show up sometime soon
Tossed on the stormy waters of Lake Superior, can three best friends risk everything to bring the safety of a lighthouse?
Guide in the Storm
April is a journalist, working tirelessly the night of November 28, 1905. She captures photographs of ships going down in the gale. A lighthouse could’ve saved them. When she shares her story and a lobbyist comes to team up with her, can the pair work together, or will his connection to the men trying to stop them keep them apart?
Safety on the Rock
Danielle travels to Washington D.C. to watch the lighthouse hearings. Her lifelong friend and confident, Oliver, sits by her side as the legislature determines what is more important, men or money. She takes a risk to keep a representative safe, but can Oliver keep her from the danger of people who’d like the world to forget the stormy waters of Lake Superior?
Light in the Darkness
Candice has watched her friends help the process of bringing a lighthouse to Split Rock, but what can she do? Her father is a ship’s captain and she’s far too close to the problem. He introduces her to Acke, a young captain who is the answer to the problems at the build site. But will he survive the dangerous conditions to bring the needed supplies when fall storms hit the Great Lakes?
Will anyone see a light over Lake Superior from Split Rock? Follow these three friends in their quest to bring a lighthouse to the largest of the Great Lakes.
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Then there is another one of their suggestions that looks like it could be interesting. Checking out my stash on Amazon I see I’ve downloaded and read one from this author before but it’s been seven years, too long to remember much about it. This will be a new introduction.
When a jilted romance novelist escapes to a small beach town, the last thing she expected to find was the start of an even better love story. In the wake of a broken engagement and the death of her last surviving family member, wholesome romance novelist Maya Reynolds moves to the haven of Coral Cove, North Carolina, to take over her great-aunt’s toy store.
Some of her grief is immediately eased by the local veterinarian’s daughter, eight-year-old Ashlyn Tanner, who talks her into adopting a kitten. Ashlyn’s dad, local veterinarian Brody Tanner, is quickly smitten by the newest resident of his hometown. As a single parent, he sacrifices a lot in order to give Ashlyn the world, so a romantic entanglement with Maya is not a distraction he is looking for.
As the three develop a deepening bond in the seaside town where Maya experienced some of her happiest childhood memories, clouds cast a shadow over Maya’s hope for the future. But together, they just might discover that sometimes happy endings happen outside the pages of Maya’s novels, too.
“The View from Coral Cove is Amy Clipston at her best—a tender story of hope, healing, and a love that’s meant to be.” —Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of On a Summer Tide A wholesome stand-alone contemporary romance More contemporary romance to love by Amy Clipston:?The Heart of Splendid Lake
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That’s it for now, for new books anyway, but I did just start a new read I’m excited about. The unique beginning has me hooked. It’s still a bargain too which makes it even better.
In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name–but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.
Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.
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1531 Entertainment has a bargain suggestion and Kari Trumbo is a popular author so we can’t pass this up.
★★★★★ “A fabulous read a few hours of pure delight!” ~ Pam Foster, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ “What a wonderful book! It is well written and will keep you turning the pages.” ~ Ann Ferri, Amazon Reviewer
Three brothers race against time to save their home in this gripping three-part historical romance.
After losing their Ma and Pa to a tragic illness, Ezekiel Wagner and his brothers are plagued by a mysterious addendum in their will. A threat against the only family they have left forces them to risk everything to save their aunt’s life before the curtain closes on the construction of her opera house.
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It turns out book 2 of the first book here is also at a bargain price. Who can resist. Not me.
Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason–to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian’s only hope for finding the truth–and the next big story–is small-town law enforcement’s lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes, and Vivian finds herself fighting for not only answers but also her life. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called The Watcher force Vivian to confront the secret of her past and decide: How much is she willing to risk for the sake of a headline?
Author Natalie Walters welcomes you back to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name–but no one knows your secret.
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It has been a good book day. My current read is not bad either. I have to admit I’m enjoying it more than I expected to.
One man’s last Christmas wish might change two lives forever.
Mallory Barrows has one last Christmas with her uncle. She’s determined to make it the best one he’s ever had.
She knows when she asks what he wants as his final gift, it won’t be a tie or a new mug. He won’t need those where he’s going, and he’s quite happy about that.
Mallory just didn’t think he wanted a miracle wrapped in paper and tied with a shiny red bow!
Photo by Esranur Kalay on Pexels.com Precious Memories
Last post (October 8th) ended with the promise to-be-continued. I was attempting to publish before midnight to avoid breaking the daily posting chain, that was the reason for the abrupt ending. Needless to say I was too late and we are back to the beginning, again. It was a valiant try, I have to say.
So, I was part way through telling the story of my trip to the grocery store for my contribution to our turkey dinner today. I was working through my list and was having trouble finding the canned cranberry sauce that goes so well with turkey. It’s tart and makes for a nice pairing.
Anyway, here’s the part that was unusual and unforgettable. I spied a young woman stopped in the middle of the aisle looking over her grocery list and I decided to ask her if she knew where the cranberry sauce was. (they keep changing things around just about the time you figure out where things are) It appeared that her family didn’t have cranberry sauce as a tradition because she didn’t really know what I was talking about. I was at a loss as to how to describe it. In a way it is in a category all it’s own. Cranberry is a fruit that it is cooked up like the jam you would put on toast but it is used more like the mustard and ketchup you would add to a sandwich or spread on a hot dog bun. How in the world do you describe that to someone?
We were in the canned fruit aisle and after a complex discussion she thought it was at the end on the top shelf. I said I would check it out but continued on down the aisle away from the section she was describing. I was thinking that sometimes they have racks of seasonal things like cranberry sauce closer to the meat department and thought I would look there first. The cream cheese was on my way there and I was stopped, looking it over, when someone approached me from behind.
It was the young woman with a jar in her hand. She had gone back to look over the section she had in mind and found what she thought I was looking for. It was cranberries alright. A fancy version I had never seen before but it looked like it would work.
As I think back, the memorable thing about the encounter was her kindness. She took the time to look for the item I needed and then made the effort to find me and make sure this was what I wanted. What I expected was the usual response where people consider the discussion closed and continue on with their shopping. To have someone go to these lengths for a stranger and to fully engage like she cared was truly amazing. And deeply touching. I think there was a connection we both felt in that moment.
There were clues that we moved in different circles and probably had different life experiences. I knew that when I approached her. But it didn’t matter to me. I looked her in the eyes when we talked and it was a comfortable discussion, it didn’t matter to her either and we were contributing equally.
These encounters don’t happen nearly often enough but when they do they are unforgettable. Something significant passes between us and I, for one, will remember.
Sometimes it’s as little as catching someone’s eyes and smiling. This doesn’t seem like much but a smile can make our day.
It’s true that we all have a need to be seen. Not for show sake but for the deep need in our lonely or hurting hearts.
I will never forget a shopping trip where a father and son came around the end of an aisle I was waiting to go down. The encounter was seconds long and as they passed me I looked into the eyes of the man in the wheelchair and then into the eyes of the older man I assumed was his father pushing it. It shook me to my core. The meeting felt like it was meant to be. I can’t express what I saw in their eyes. I just knew they needed someone to look in their eyes and see them. To see their pain. I had no idea who they were or anything about them but I don’t think I will ever forget.
Looking into strangers eyes is not something I do often. I’m an introvert and making eye contact is not always easy or comfortable. I am open to the possibility though and as a result all of the memorable encounters have been spontaneous. Maybe my radar is set to recognize hurting people, I don’t know, but when I feel an inner urge to look up I go for it.
I mention this doesn’t come naturally because it would be easy to assume this is just an everyday part of who I am, and that not everyone is like me. Contrary to these impressions it isn’t easy for me. Anyone can do it if they are aware of people around them and are willing to be there for them in some small way. It’s worth it when you make contact with someone needing a smile and maybe a hello. I have many spontaneous encounters I could share and I’ve even joked about writing a book about what, in the moment, feels like a divine encounter.
In another setting I have discovered the importance of thoughtful eye contact.
I think it started out for me as self-protection, looking people in the eye to gauge their intentions for good or evil. To this day there continues to be some element of protectiveness in place when speaking to people I don’t know well. This is where the contact starts, but then it continues to a different level because now I’m interested in what they are saying, or not saying, and I want to know who they are. Some folks are uncomfortable with the intensity of such contact but most of the time it is welcomed and the response often turns into lengthy conversations. The truth is that most people are starving for meaningful contact. We all have a deep need to be seen, heard, and understood.
It still shocks me how deep the needs are out there.
Maybe this recognition of need comes easily to me because I have my own life’s deep unmet need. It takes one to know one as the old saying goes. Multiple interactions have also reinforced the certainty in my mind and heart.
Years ago there was a man who was convinced I was in love with him. I asked him why he would think that. He said it was because I treated him like he was a human being. He felt seen, heard, and worth something. I’m convinced he wouldn’t have thought that way if he was without an unmet need.
I think that was the beginning of the starvation awareness for me. I wish more of us would catch this vision, especially in everyday relationships. Just think of the positive revolution that could happen and what it would mean if we felt secure and valued and offered the same to others.
Have you noticed the deep need phenomenon in people around you?
They say it is more blessed to give than receive. It’s true.
There is something magical that happens inside of us when we set aside our own needs and step up to be there for others.
So this is the rest of the cranberry story. Like other past encounters I’m sure I will have a hard time forgetting this sweet young lady. I don’t even want to. I’m sure our few minutes together will reside in my precious memories box forever.
For the Love of Books 