Every Day is a Saturday

Since hubby retired I've lost all track of time. All my summer TV shows have ended. Once Upon A Time starts again next Sunday. Can't wait! Hey, did any of you catch the first episode of Sleepy Hollow? Wow! It grabbed me. I don't remember Irving's Ichabod Crane being so cute. Tonight I'll be enthralled in the second episode. Will  you be watching it?

I watch Duck Dynasty periodically--always good for a laugh and a few life lessons. I know of some Louisiana people that are insulted by them, but really, this bunch could be from anywhere. I'm originally from East Texas and I have family members that look, sound and act just like the Duck Dynasty bunch. Come to think of it, I sound a little like them too.

I'm once again wrapped up in Project Runway--the only reality show I'm dedicated to. Odd since I can barely sew on a button much less create something one could actually wear. My mother almost put me up for adoption during my Home Economics sewing project.

Without my TV shows, I never know if it's a Tuesday, Wednesday or a Thursday. Truthfully, every day feels like a Saturday. Nothing feels real since we left Oklahoma.

 And as you know I haven't blogged.

I suppose all bloggers need a break now and then. Unfortunately, a break can turn into a very long time. I loved my blogging habit. I think I started in 2006 or early 2007. Now, I'm in non-blogging mode. Time to get back on track.

This weekend daughter invited her dad to see the LSU-Auburn game with her. They left around noon and got back to Lafayette around 1:00 A.M.

 While they were doing their thing, I met with a couple of very dear writer friends. When we lived in New Iberia, I'd drive into Lafayette to visit Barbara and Ro. We were all members of the Writer's Guild of Acadiana. That was 27 years ago. After we moved away, the three of us still visited each other, entered contests and went to conferences together. We all eventually got published one after another--books, short stories or poems. Barbara sold ten Silhouette Romances before she quit writing. Ro  published poetry and short pieces and ghost-wrote a nonfiction book. Her novel Hero's Welcome is available now and I can guarantee it's a wonderful read--about the POWs in Louisiana. She studied under Ernest Gaines and her novel--prepublished--won all kinds of awards. I've read it several times but I can still remember my very first reading, and how excited I was that it  was so wonderful. You know how you feel when you get hold of a really good book. I read Hero's Welcome straight through without putting it down.

When hubby, daughter and I moved to Luling, Louisiana, we added another writer friend to our circle: Barbara Colley, author of several romances, a Women's Fiction/saga and the Maid for Murder series set in New Orleans.

I love these friends. I wish we could go back to the way it used to be--meeting every week, keeping each other motivated, encouraging each other. Sad to say nothing stays the same. Believe it or not, I think I'd like it if things were always the same... as long as 'same' was good.

What are you guys doing? Finishing up manuscripts? Blogging daily? Have you sold anything? Let me hear from you.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

My friend Sylvia over at Writing in Wonderland tagged me and because I have so much to do and need a break, I'm going to answer her questions. So ... procrastination time!

1)      Do you think you’re hot?

Do you mean do I think I’m HOT or do I think I’m a HOTTIE? Well, duh!

2)      Upload a pic or wallpaper you’re using at the time.

Here’s a pic of my beautiful daughter. She’s always been my inspiration. Along with her hero dad, of course.

3)      When was the last time you ate chicken meat?

Been quite a while. My daughter read the book Eating Animals by  Jonathan Safran Foer and shared info with us. For the past month we’ve all been vegetarians.

4)      The song you listened to recently?
    
Last night I listened to Gravity by John Mayer. Love it.

5)      What were you thinking as you were doing this task?

Thank God, A blog post!

6)      Do you have nicknames? What are they?

Jess or Jessy/Jessie.  Another day and time, friends called me John Boy because of my writing and love for The Waltons. A crazy guy used to call me Fresca but don’t ask me why. And a friend from high school called me Roachie; my maiden name is Roach. Oh, yeah, I loved that one.

7)      Tag 8 bloggers.

Well, I can't bring myself to do this. Kinda reminds me of those pass-along things that tell me I’m gonna get rich or have bad luck if I do or don’t.  Or pyramid schemes. Or chain letters. If anyone wants to be tagged, just feel free. Love you all!

~~jess

Thank you, Jesus!

Some of you have asked about our friend Alvaro Garcia. There was a time we didn't think Alvaro would make it, but God has chosen our friend to be a miracle. Alvaro has regained consciousness. He was 'out' for a month. All his ribs are broken, his lungs are punctured, he has a broken hip, he had to have a tracheotomy for the breathing tube, he can't speak, but today, he can write, he responds, and he's been moved to rehabilitation and is in physical therapy.

We met Alvaro Garcia a couple of years ago when we rented an apartment in Houston. It all started with a nod. I walked to the dumpster and this wonderful, smiling Hispanic man nodded at me. I spoke. From then on, we always had a smile or a wave for each other.

When we were transferred to Beaumont in 2008 our paths crossed again. Alvaro was there too. I remembered his sweet face and he remembered us. We did more than nod and wave--this time we talked, like old friends who hadn't seen each other in awhile. We seemed to have a lot of catching up to do. Alvaro zoomed around the apartment complex in a golf cart, answering calls and needs when things broke down. He was a conscientious worker who took great pride in what he did. Every time we passed in the parking lot, he on his little white cart and me in my CRV, we'd wave like teens passing in the halls at school. Over and over and over again, waves and smiles. Several times I'd come in from the grocery store and Alvaro would zoom up beside me.

"Can I help you carry the bags inside?" he'd ask.

I'd always say no--he didn't need to be waiting on me--but then we'd stand and talk for ten, fifteen or twenty minutes. I struggled to understand -- his accent was thick, and I'm sure he had trouble with my southern diction. Didn't matter. We enjoyed visiting and getting to know each other.

Ever meet someone who seems happy to the very core of his soul? That's the way I saw Alvaro Garcia. His smile was genuine and contagious. His joy was authentic. He worked hard, and he actually seemed to like working hard. So when he became dissatisfied with his job, it seemed only natural that we would help him find work elsewhere...and that elsewhere was with us at a refinery in Beaumont.

I still remember how my stomach knotted when he motioned toward his little white car and told me he planned to commute to work every day. Premonition? No, probably just my own fear of traveling that treacherous I-10 on a daily basis. Those of you who have been praying for Alvaro know the rest of the story; he was hit by an 18-wheeler.

I just wanted to share how special this man is to me. For no other reason than he brought joy into my life when he breezed by in his little white golf cart, smiled and waved. For no other reason than he stopped to chat and offer to carry my groceries. For no other reason than he asked how I was doing every day. I can't think of him without crying. I can't help but feel a little responsible that he was traveling to Beaumont from Houston that day with snow and ice on the highways. You see, that's how dedicated he was to his work. He wouldn't be late or play hookey for any reason. Which is the very reason my husband hired him. Alvaro Garcia could be trusted to do his job and do it well. How many people do you know with such dedication? I only know two: Alvaro Garcia and my husband. :)

God has answered our prayers. He's saved our friend. But please don't quit praying. I have no idea if Alvaro will be able to work again, but I'm asking God for a complete healing inside and out. I want to see this man smile again, laugh aloud, and recapture his joy. And when he does, I want to take a picture of him so you can see it too. I want to show you his kind face, not an empty golf cart.


Salmos 62:8 (Reina-Valera 1960)

Esperad en él en todo tiempo, oh pueblos; Derramad delante de él vuestro corazón; Dios es nuestro refugio. Selah

Psalm 62:8 (The Message)

My help and glory are in
God—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
So trust him absolutely, people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.

Psalm 62:8 (King James Version)

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

No matter how we say it (or not) it's true.