What is love?

When I was a young teenager I asked my mother how I would know when I fell in love. Her answer wasn't very helpful as I remember. She told me I would know. Well, I didn't. There was always a question in my mind. Was it love? Was it infatuation? A crush? Some sort of obsession?

Science has studied love and attraction and come to some conclusions as to why a certain person might be more appealing to the opposite sex, etc. Psychologists talk about the father and mother complexes. Astrologers see it in the stars.
But what is love? And what sort of love? Certainly there is the love of a mother or father for their child. Love of humanity. Love of nature. But I'm talking about the love between man and woman. And is it really love or is it a mating game?
And why doesn't it always last?

I'm sure there are many stories around how someone knew he/she was in love.
If anyone wants to tell a story, you can comment here.
Happy Valentine's Day. Ann

I am privileged

Today I feel privileged to have witnessed a great historic event in the history of our United States, the inaugeration of the first black president. Regardless of our political standing, this day will go down in history. I was the daughter of a southern mother and northern father, neither of whom were very politically minded. I grew up in the north. When I was a little older I saw a few things that shocked me and never forgot them. I was very happy to hear our new president emphasize the need to be one united nation.
I was also privileged to have been born toward the tail end of the depression years, hear about days gone by in the old south, about the rise of Hitler, about unions and then World War 11. There were some terrible times in history, but I feel privileged to have been around to hear first hand about them. There was industry moving south and then to Mexico, competition from foreign countries, wars and skirmishes, the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam and most recent the problems in the Middle East. I feel privileged to have been around for parts of history that we would like to have been erased. I have been privileged to have known very fine people and read wonderful books. If I'm very, very lucky I'll be around to write about some of the things I
can remember. Most of all, though, I'm privileged to be an American.

New beginnings

Well, the holidays are over and people are beginning to get back to their usual ways of life. Some are still dieting, others have given that up. I never promised myself to stay on a diet because I know how terrible I am at that, but I did decide to try to eat sensibly. That means less sweets, generally.

I had a wonderful beginning to the new year. I received a check for a short story I wrote called "Cooling Off the Fireworks." It's published in the new Love Stories Magazine. Right now the magazine is by subscription, but soon will be on the stands. I'm wishing it lots of luck. I like writing short stories, but most of what I've written is not about love, but other topics. I have written a few about nursing subjects, sold two of them and would like to try to sell more if I could find a place to send them. I hope short stories comes back as a popular form of publication. I remember my mother spent many an hour reading short stories from women's magazines. I used to like Redbook Magazine with all its stories and it was a great place to try to sell what you've written. Other women's magazines used to sell more short stories, also. With today's economic problems, it's anyone's guess what's to happen.

Well, have to get busy catching up after the weekend. I'm going over a story I wrote.

Make a Smilebox greeting

The season and the spirit

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas will soon be here. The lights are on the tree and outside around the door. Christmas music plays on some of the radio stations, displays are in the stores.
There was much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving. Most of the family was together and that's what made me most thankful. My grand-daughter was home from India, safe and sound one month before that terrible event. We have much to be thankful for in this country.
Christmas was always my favorite time of year. The good wishes around the town, the cheerfulness of friends and family. The spirit of giving and wondering just what would be the right gift for someone and giving to your favorite charity. This year I sent for the DVD of the Christmas show at Rockefeller Center. I was fortunate enough to go there many years ago and see the Christmas show. I'll never forget it or the rockettes. It truly is spectacular. I wish everyone would have an opportunity to go there someday.
Yesterday the writing group I belong to had its Christmas/Holiday party. It was so nice to be together with them. They are a great group of people and we all had a wonderful time. The people in charge worked very hard to have things perfect.
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Ann

Halloween 2008

It's Halloween and soon the little goblins will be coming to the door asking for treats. Thankfully, people don't seem to mess up things as much as they did years ago by soaping windows, cars, wrapping trees in toilet paper, etc. Halloween parties are the way to go.
The little ones look cute and enjoy the thought they are scaring someone. Don't forget to tell them not to eat anything from their bag of treats until they get it home to the adults in the family so they can check it out to make sure it's safe.
I've noticed there are so many people walking on the sides of the road lately in dark colored clothes. Please tell them to carry a light and try to find some article of clothing that is light in color or have a fluorescent patch, or something that will show up easily with the headlights of oncoming cars.
Above all, have fun. Life is to be lived.

Cookie anyone?

I've been spending the morning making cookies. That seems like a strange thing to do as a nurse, but that's what's happening. We have an organization here, in Williamsburg, called The Nightengale's. Appropriate for a bunch of retired nurses, and there are quite a few. Once a year we make cookies for the student nurses at the local hospital. I remember when I was a student nurse how some homemade food was so tasty and hope the students, here, like the ones I made.
Student nurses are a blessing. They are so caring and comforting. They want to do everything perfectly. What would we do without them? I remember when my mother was a patient in the hospital. She was in a coma for three months. Those were the days when the hospitals sometimes kept patients for long periods of time. The students would come in and care for my mother and they were so gentle and nice to her. I loved the students.
I have written a story about student nurses, which takes place in the 1950s. It took me a year to complete this story and that was in 1995. It is around 90,000 words long. I was going to try to publish it myself, but the cost is very high. Now I've decided to try to get it published. I know that will be difficult, but I have a reason to want it published. There were certain differences between the 50s and now and I wanted people to be able to see some of this in the context of a fiction story.
Well, got to go check on the brownies that are in the oven. Decided to add them to the bunch of cookies. Just about everyone I know likes brownies.
Bye for now.