THE REVIEW

‘TIS THE SEASON


Seven Rams came together Wednesday to celebrate the Season in authorial fashion, with food and phraseology. Wendy, Julie, Jim, Bob, Ellie, and Jason all joined me, bringing snacks and some reading to savour.

Ellie brought a young adult novel she has started, urged on by the online writing course she has been taking. In the opening we see Jordy, who has lost his Dad, go outside with his mother and their Irish setter in a storm. They stand and watch the storm blow in from the ocean, each grieving their loss. When they return to the house, there is a power outage. We all liked this beginning and the promise of a good read it gave us.

Wendy now has five chapters in her story “A New Dawning”, about a middle aged woman being diagnosed with breast cancer. She is divorced and does not have a close relationship with her children. She goes into denial, refusing to tell anyone and not willing to think about anything to do with treatment. This is the beginning of her journey through self-discovery and toward changed relationships with her nearest and dearest.

I gave everyone a printed copy of my poem “The Ghost of Christmas”. It was first published in several newspapers in the mid 1980s and read on the radio by Roy Jacques at CKWX. In the past I had played the tape of him reading it each year, but no longer have a tape player, so I printed the poem and handed it out instead.

I also read aloud a letter I received with my copies of the anthology in which my piece “Freedom”, about a homeless man, was awarded an Honourable Mention. Out of 700 entries, mine was in the top thirteen. It was a very nice letter of congratulations, and my name appears on the book cover of the book as one of the authors.

Bob read more of his biography, spanning from 1938 to 1940. He starts school, and travels with his family to the San Francisco World’s Fair and then to Los Angeles to visit relatives. He heard a war had been started. And his stepsister, Mabel, died. This affected his stepmother greatly, and life was never the same after that.

Jason read his chapter “Reminiscence” where Jody is remembering Gregg’s kindness and understanding he gave her after the loss of her parents and over her injuries. Seeing him thrown into a grave at the cemetery, she assumes he is dead, as she is kidnapped by a figure that terrifies her.

In the December issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, Margaret Moffatt has two pieces published. And her book “Blow Up The Castle” is now available at Coles in Langley (Willowbrook) and in Portland, Oregon. We ran out of time and I was unable to read Margaret’s latest chapter in “Coffin And Dye”. Hopefully next time I’ll be able to.

Scanning a list of authors in “Inkspots”, the anthology that has my story in it, I came across Gemma’s name. So there is also a story by Gemma Tamas in the same book. Congratulations, Gemma! We haven’t seen Gemma recently as she has been nursemaid to both her husband and her brother. We send our regards and wishes for the best.

Margaret Florczak recently moved and then learned her husband had to have by-pass surgery. So we send our best wishes there as well.

In spite of the world’s problems, our meeting was joyful, and at Christmas that is always a sign of hope and renewal. I wish to thank all those who brought snacks for us to eat, and their writing for us to enjoy. It is miraculous that people are so willing to share those heartfelt personal endeavors with us. Thank you for allowing us to savour the baking and for trusting us to hear or read your words.

Next Meeting will be in the New Year, Wednesday, January 4th, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!

Lisa.