Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Book Ready!

So this is the big project I've been working on for the past few months.  Actually,  I wrote it over 2008-2009, but just recently decided to get it out of the closet and publish it.

Those who have read it say that it is a very compelling book!  It is something of which I am definitely proud.

Here's a brief summary:


In 2007, Everson Museum featured a display on The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic.

The main character, Delores Williams, attends that art exhibit and sees there a picture of a long lost relative she has only recently discovered she had.  Who is this woman, and how is Del connected?  

This is the story of Del’s journey to unravel her past.   Her journey connects her with four generations of  women, each of whom dealt with trauma, abuse and uncertainty in her own way.  Delores follows the tenuous trail of clues from Syracuse to the Mississippi Delta and eventually to Italy.

Can Del find the strength to rise above her family’s past to build a new legacy of hope, love, and redemption?
+++
Available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.
Fill in search line:  In Its Time Nancy Rehkugler
Available in:  Hard Cover, Soft Cover, Ebook



Sunday, February 24, 2013

Birthday # 4

Birthday Princess
Opening Presents

Today we celebrated a special little girl's birthday. Granddaughter Sadie turns four years old.

Family gathered.   We snacked.

Then we ate cake and ice cream.

We took lots of pictures.

Pedro played music in the background.  He has a lovely voice!








So here are some pictures, just for the sake of memories!
Emma and Sadie

Background Music





Greeting "Rusty"

After church, I decided to greet "Rusty".  "Rusty" is in a wheelchair and does not get to church very often.  In fact, he is in long term extended care at the hospital.  His wife cannot manage navigating him on her own. She is frail and at least 93 herself!

So, when I went to greet Rusty, I wasn't really expecting him to remember me.   I had visited him in his home some years back...maybe three years ago.  I had attended their big anniversary celebration held in the hospital party room.  I spent some time as an interim in this church.   But I knew our association had been minimal, and he was not likely to remember me.  I wasn't expecting that.  I just wanted to say hello.

As he took my hand,  I could tell by the look on his face, he was trying to remember. His mental wheels were definitely turning.  I tried to help.  "I visited you one time."   Wheels still turning, he pulls me in closer.  I tried to help again, by reminding him of my name.

Then a smile lit up his face.  (I was surprised by his look of recognition, and wondered what was coming).

"Ah, yes," he said, "You're the one with the good sermon!"

What a delightful surprised.  He remembered me from my preaching.  I must say that is a mighty fine way to be remembered!


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Friday Cheerleading

Zanni on the Right
Daughter Cilla asked if I wanted to go with her to see my granddaughter cheer.  So far this season, we have not been able to connect on that, so I was delighted.  Of course Gerry went too.   We were expecting just a cheer-leading experience,  but the game was thrilling!

It was a girls basketball game between Newfield and Lansing.  And it was the semi-finals, or the playoffs, or the sectionals, not just any game.  Very well attended, lots of enthusiasm and excitement.

 Lansing is a much more powerful school, larger and far far more affluent.  I would have expected them to be the superior players.   But what a thrill it was to see the Newfield girls soundly outplay and defeat Lansing.  We were really impressed. They were clearly very well coached.

Of course, I took lots of cheer-leading pictures, too! They were adorable.   I think it is really awesome that the school requires that the cheerleaders cheer at both the boys AND the girls games!  There is even a boy cheerleader.

Gerry, who watches professional and college basketball on television all the time also thought it was a thrilling game.  He was not expecting such an exciting Friday night.  It's been a really long time since we have attended a high school basketball game! (oldest daughter played maybe 25 years ago!!)
One forgets what that is like!

Way to go Zanni!  Great cheering.  Way to go Newfield!  Great scrambling and shooting!

Thanks for a super exciting Friday night!














Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Cross Country Trip

I have spent days in the planning stage of our cross country trip scheduled for summer.   Doing the planning, the locations, the miles per day, the accommodations,  the activities,  the places to stay,  etc. has been most daunting.  The biggest surprise has been that we will be traveling during the tourist peak, which means that the overnight lodging costs way more than advertised in the AAA Tour Guides!

Destination:  Seattle, Washington

If I thought it was daunting before,  I found the maps and the layout of Seattle so daunting, that I had to take a three day break, before I could begin to try to figure it out.  Where is the center?  What are all the waterways?  What does one need to see?  Where does one stay?  Etc. Etc.

For the most part, we will be traveling west through some rather un-populated areas.  Our major- city stops:  Chicago,  Minneapolis, and  Seattle.

In all honestly, we don't do all that well navigating our way in densely urban territory.    This time, hopefully, with various tools, it should be easier.  For instance,  we have a car now that has a built in navigation system.  Plus, Gerry got a SmartPhone which also has a navigation system.  (but of course that depends upon reception, I believe).     That may mean that I will have to do the driving so Gerry can navigate the various devices.   Usually, he drives, and I "navigate" by reading directions.

I've got our plan worked out as far as Seattle.   After that, we will begin our trip back.  In all of my whole entire life, I have never been away from "home"  (wherever home has happened to be) for this length of time.

Can I do it?   Given that many of the hotel reservations are non-refundable,  I will certainly make my best effort!   It is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.   We chose this particular journey because neither of us has ever been to Seattle.  Neither of us likes to fly.  Both of us like to be in control of our vehicle.  And I have never been in most of those northern most states.

Our marriage has survived many things.  I presume it will survive even this!


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Weather Worries

A year or so ago, we were traveling to visit our daughter and spent our time there with Hurricane Irene, and without power.

In December, we were once again scheduled to go but had to cancel because they had no power due to Hurricane Sandy.   In fact, they had no power for almost two weeks, and ended up coming up here to enjoy some heat and electricity for a weekend.

Once again, we are scheduled to go to Long Island this weekend and now the gathering storm is being called the "Super Bowl of Blizzards".   We will at least plan to give it our best shot.  We will leave early in the hopes of beating most of it, as the worst is due in the afternoon and evening.   Still, high winds and whiteout conditions are predicted.

And NYC and Long Island are expected to get a couple of feet, maybe.   Having a daughter who lives on Long Island has been most challenging for us, not only due to storms, but also due to driving challenges!

Our fallback plan is----if the conditions are terrible,  get off the road and into a motel somewhere to wait it out and perhaps finish the trip on Saturday.  There's just no way to tell how bad it will be.

Hurricane Irene was not as bad as the predictions.  Hurricane Sandy was much worse than the predictions.  This time, we are taking some emergency clothing and food supplies, just in case of being stuck for a while.

Maybe this is dumb dumb dumb,  but at least, we will start off and see what happens next.

(Oh, and by the way, I flew into Mississippi to see my mother and got there a few hours before Hurricane Katrina struck the coast and caused utter devastation.  For a while, I wasn't sure I'd make it back home.

Come to think of it,  it's no wonder that I am not so fond of travel !)