- Hello everyone – Wow! I can’t believe it’s Thanksgiving this week! *boggle* Where did this year go???Yesterday was our last San Diego RWA meeting, my last one as the Publicity chair and I’m relieved to say it went really well… Shew! So next on my list is to write the synopsis for Hunter’s Moon so I can get it submitted for RWA’s Golden Heart contest by Dec. 2nd. Yikes!
This is also the last week to cast your votes for Moonlight in the Writing with the Stars contest! 🙂 I posted an excerpt on last week’s Hebdomadal blog. (Hebdomadal = weekly! LOL)
Here’s the link if you missed the sneak peek… http://lisakessler.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/moonlight-new-excerpt/
Please swing by and vote for Moonlight… http://www.rtbookreviews.com/content/writing-stars-vote-best-hero-and-heroine You can also leave comments. I’d be so grateful for Moonlight shout-outs! LOL
Speaking of grateful, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my blogs each week! Your comments and emails and encouragements mean the world to me!
I’m also very grateful for my family. Ken and my Mom help me edit all my novels and read every word I write. I couldn’t have made so much progress toward getting my novels published without their input and feedback!
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving this week, and I’ve gotta ask… What are you thankful for this year? 🙂
Lisa
PS – Hope you enjoy the new Flash Fiction. Halloween’s over so we’ll see if I can keep the spook factor to a minimum this week! LOL
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This story was inspired by spending a weekend watching over my best-friend’s assisted living home. I really enjoyed my time with the old folks there. It felt so good to see them go from glazed over in front of the television set to interacting and coming back to life while sharing stories from their past.
Hope you enjoy the story! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Connections – By Lisa Kessler
Gravity had taken its toll on the withered man staring out the window. From the doorway, Carol could see each vertebrae of his spine through his worn undershirt. The only sign of life was in his hand, gnarled fingers tapping out the familiar beat against his loose fitting blue jeans.
“Carrie, they’re playing our song.”
Jerry Lee Lewis blared out of Mr. Gardner’s digital clock radio. Carol smiled at her new trainee. “Carrie was his wife.”
“He thinks you’re his wife?” She shifted to rest her hand on her hip. “He shouldn’t be in this wing if he’s lost touch with reality, right?”
“He’s all right.” Carol’s gaze shifted to the elderly gentleman at the window. “I think it’s the music. It takes him back.”
She entered the room, placing her clipboard on the mattress as she crossed to the window. “Mr. Gardner?”
Now that she was closer she realized he was also swaying in time with the driving piano chords of “Great Balls of Fire”. She took his hand and he finally shifted his gray eyes toward her face. The corner of his mouth turned up and a playful twinkle warmed his gaze.
“Why you’re not Carrie at all.”
Carol grinned and shook her head. “No sir, but I bet she loved cutting a rug with you to this song.”
Mr. Gardner chuckled and ran a shaky hand back through the disarrayed wisps of white hair on his head. “I could Lindy Hop with the best of ‘em. Carrie used to say I made her feel like she could fly.”
Carol gave his hand a squeeze. “I can’t listen to music without dancing.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were fishing for a spot on my dance card.”
Although his spine was no longer straight, he still stood a head taller than her. Carol raised a brow as she looked up at his lined face. “Are you saying your dance card isn’t full yet?”
Mr. Gardner laughed, bringing out the crow’s feet around his eyes. “I think I could fit you in.”
Through the tinny clock radio speaker the Platters’ “Only You” crooned as he took her hand, and the lead. Carol smiled over at Holly, her new trainee, as they danced. When the song ended, Mr. Gardner dipped her and cracked a wistful smile.
“Thank you for the dance, Carol.”
“Anytime, Mr. Gardner.” She reached over to retrieve her clipboard.
“I never stop missing her.”
“I know.”
“We were married over fifty years.” His voice softened as he turned back toward the window. “Sometimes I get lost in the memories.”
Carol stood beside him with her clipboard. “We’re always here to bring you back.”
He nodded and took a deep breath. When he released it, he turned toward the door. “Are they still playing bridge today?”
“Just waiting on you.”
He grinned. “I best be going then.”
Holly stepped aside and Mr. Gardner ambled down the hallway. When Carol stepped up beside her, Holly shook her head. “That was amazing. You brought him back.”
“Medication can only do so much.” Carol shrugged. “It’s the human connection that can heal.”
The sound of elderly laughter echoed down the hallway and Holly smiled. “I think I’m going to like it here.”
THE END
(For Marvin we had – “connection that can heal”, Hebdomadal, and “Carrie” was the Stephen King title… 🙂
Awww… such a nice little story 🙂
I’m sure I’ll talk to you between now and then, but just in case, Happy Thanksgiving 🙂 Hope you have a fantastic day full of happy times and smiles.
PS: I love wordpress… lemme know if you need help with stuff 🙂
Hi Jennifer! *waving*
Thanks for reading and commenting!!! I’m glad you enjoyed the story! 🙂
You know how to work wordpress too? You rock!!! 🙂 I’ll definitely shoot you an email later with my zillions of questions! LOL
At least I know the comments work now…
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
*HUGS*
Lisa 🙂
I have 4 blogs on WordPress, lol. My reviews site, my book club site, my sister’s birthday RSVP, and my family’s perpetual wish list site, lol. I *kinda* know a few things about WordPress, lol. Looks like you’re getting the hang of it pretty well, though 🙂
Wow!!! 4? I can barely keep up with one blog and I usually only blog once a week! LOL
You over-achiever you! 🙂
I think I’m starting to get the hang of it… I miss my feedjit thingie that showed where all your blog visitors came from… (countires, states, etc.) But I can’t get it to work on wordpress so far…
But I got my rss feeds switched over so tomorrow I can check and be sure they’re working… *fingers crossed* If they don’t I’m totally sending you a whiney “please help me” email! LOL
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HI! Boy, I like how this blog looks. Nice job!!
Hi Lynn! *waving*
YAY!!! I’m glad you like it!!!
So maybe WordPress will be my new blog home… 🙂 I still want to tweak a few things and add a couple “Pages”… Why are website things ALWAYS a work in progress??? LOL
Thanks for reading and commenting Lynn!!! Have a great Thanksgiving!!!
Lisa 🙂
Hi Lisa — Oh, this blog is cool! It is so much easier to view on my iPhone, so now I can read up and check in more!
As for the story…loved it! I had tears in my eyes…very touching.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Vanessa!!! *HUGS*
Wow you read this blog on your iPhone??? You are so high tech!!! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!!! THanks for reading and commenting!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
*HUGS*
Lisa
PS – Don’t forget to vote for Moonlight! 🙂
YAY I can comment here. Since I don’t have a MySpace anymore I could never comment there. 🙂
That was such a nice little story to read this morning. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Brooke! *waving*
So nice to see your comment!!! 🙂 I’ve missed you on MySpace… But here I am moving out of the blogging dark ages… LOL
Thanks for reading and ocmmenting!!! I’m glad you enjoyed the story! After October it felt a little strange not to have some sort of demon pop out and eat someone! LOL
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!!! Think good thoughts for Moonlight… Voting closes Sunday! Yikes! 🙂
*HUGS*
Lisa 🙂
Hi Lisa!
The new blog looks great! Happy Thanksgiving!
Ken
Thanks Ken!!! I’m glad you could comment here too!!! 🙂
I’ll keep tweaking and see if I can get the RSS feed to work for Feedburner…
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Lisa 🙂
Welcome to WordPress, Lisa! I’m pretty sure you’ll be happy here. There are lots of things you can easily do with your blog home. You’ll be tweaking for some time. You know I’ve already voted. Good luck! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Thanks for the wordpress welcome Elen!!! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thanks for voting too!!! I really appreciate all your support!!!
*HUGS*
Lisa 🙂
That brought a tear to my eye…..nice job hon.
Awww thanks Clarkster!!! I’m glad you enjoyed the story!!!
Have you been trying out wordpress too? I think it could work for Blogophilia… (Although I don’t know if we could post video comments…)
Thanks for reading and commenting!!! Have a great Thanksgiving!!
Lisa 🙂
Lovely little story xx thanks for sharing it xx And I LOVE the look of the new blog xxx
I’m glad you enjoyed the story JoAnne!!! 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting!!! I’m so glad you like the new blog… I’m still getting used to how everything works, but I think I like it too!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
*HUGS*
Lisa 🙂
Hi Lisa! Good to know you are on wordpress! I am here…somewhere! LOL When I log in here this evening instead of this little venture off of the myspace trail I will come back and subscribe!
Hi Dave!!! *waving*
Great to see you over here too!!! 🙂 I’ll add your blog to my blog links too…
Thanks for subscribing… Now we just need to convince the rest of the Blogophilia crew to wander over… 🙂
Have a great Thanksgiving!!!
Lisa 🙂
Just testing…
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/3PFERpWahZE?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca
I love how you did this one. Having spent some time working with the elderly this really did strike a cord with me. You have let people know what it is like to interact with some of these people, it can be beautiful and heart-wrenching all at the same time. *wiping tears from eyes*
I’m glad you enjoyed the story Peggy!!! *HUGS*
It is definitely a beautiful moment to reach someone and bring them back into the present… Such worthwhile work! It’s a gift to see someone smile…
Thanks for reading and commenting!!! Glad you found my new blog home!
Lisa 🙂
Didn’t know you were at wordpress! Will have to add you to my subscription list 🙂
Hi Joleene!!! *waving*
Are you on wordpress too??? I’ll have to add you to my blog links! 🙂
I hope Marvin will move Blogophilia over here too!
Have a great week!
Lisa 🙂