Back again. "Writer's write--that's what they do."

I feel compelled to renew attention  to my blog. I have recently discovered that there are people posting elsewhere on the Internet who are in profound, deep-seated pain due to internal conflicts with the content of the three books I wrote.  At this point there is nothing I can do for them, but it's so sad that they have such anger and hatred in their hearts, brought about by arguments over details of incidents that are now nearly seventy years old.   The most troublesome part is that they, in their own minds, exaggerate, amplify, and outright fabricate supposed offenses that, if true (which they are not), would send them or any rational person over the brink.  Why do they want to torment themselves that way?  Because of my telling their story, the world at large (thousands of book buyers) have expressed immense empathy and admiration for them, as little girls and as grown women.  In this case, the truth is bad enough. Why the need to embellish it. It seems to be a desperate attempt to beg the world to believe their story.  My response would be, "Enough already! Everybody believes you. Hatred and rancor are only weakening your credibility."   I wish I could hold them on my lap and tell them "You're okay! Better than okay! You're wonderful."  Maybe someday. God grant them peace.

A lot has occurred since I last posted.  My sweet, four-foot-ten  mother-in-law died and my youngest son has fought cancer and (so far) has won. I will post more (especially about my new projects) when I'm not so sad.

I have a negative knee jerk reaction to the hate-mongering on the FOX news channel. I can't figure out why anyone who professes to love themselves and all mankind can expose themselves to the vitriolic diatribes, hatred and violence that seems to prevail on FOX. Rupert Murdoch has stated publicly that he cares nothing for accuracy, honesty or good manners as long as what he prints (or broadcasts) sells. As for me, when I'm accidently trapped by the ubiquitous blonde bimbos or the likes of Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin, (in the airport or restaurants, for example) I come away feeling like I should take a shower. Why can't viewers of FOX realize they are being manipulated by powers that do not have our best interests at heart?

As for the Tea Partiers, have they done enough research to learn that we pay the same amount of taxes now that our grandparents paid when Harry Truman was in office? There is a much bigger game than tax reduction afoot, and the TPs are playing right into it.

GO JON STEWART! Make us laugh.

So many wonderful thoughts have escaped in the past four months. I apologize. We spent five weeks in Arizona in Jan, Feb and early March. It was a wonderful respite. It took some degree of bravery to leave Jim's mom alone that long, but it was very good for him. He had nearly made himself ill from worry about her, and the extreme costs of nursing home care. It's better now--we're getting used to writing those big checks. We're gradually thinning out the overabundance of property generated by her temporarily moving in with us last year.

I'm working on a couple of projects: My youngest sons and some of the grandkids have asked me to write the story of my second husband's life. He was a WWII veteran whose mother immigrated to the U.S. after WWI at age sixteen to homestead by herself. The two of them shared many great stories with me. I'm also considering a science fiction type story based on my forty years of research and study into the paranormal and the 2012 phenomenon. I have not set a deadline for completion of either project, although I believe the War Stories will take precedence.

Sales of all three books seem to march steadily along. I traveled to the Seattle area in early April to speak at a domestic violence/child abuse seminar. I plan to do more of that as time allows, although new projects seem to get in the way. I have a commitment in Sidney and Circle (MT) in July of this summer, and will visit other eastern Montana communities.

I'm keeping all the victims in my thoughts and intentions. Someday this terrible part of our earthly sojourn will be no more.

I've received another confirmation of my attitude toward organized religion. A friend whom I thought had reached a level of enlightenment, is deeply involved in a "church" I will call New Age, for want of a better title.

All my life I have seen evidence that organized religion divides people and sets them against each other (among other destructive products.) In so many cases, when a seeker begins to awaken and discover the reasons for his indwelling on this earth, he (spoken generically) is so taken with his "discovery" that his course of action is to 1) record his feelings and conclusions about it, 2) build a fence around it, 3) organize it, 4) limit access to it (by imposing all kinds of requirements and exclusions), 5) declare himself "enlightened," and 6) STOP seeking and learning. Even those who never intended to form a new "church" or organization-e.g. Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed--are trapped in this scenario, because other seekers read their written words and without authorization or affirmation, perform items 2-6 above in the name of their so-called Master. It is my sincere belief that none of us can ever learn everything there is to know in the Universe, and we should never stop seeking and learning. Everything should be challenged, especially anything that remotely smacks of organized religion.

I suppose if I presented this viewpoint to my friend he would reject it, because there is a certain sense of security in clinging to one's "enlightened" absolutes. As for me, I believe that everything is possible, in heaven and on earth, and I am prepared for the coming development and advancement of human potential.

Can I really be six weeks late with my posting? No excuse.

After all the trouble I've had with Trafford, now they've sold out to a company from Indiana. They decided to do a complete makeover of their website, and components have been missing for months. For example, I can't access the sales record for each of the three books. The website says they are "re-populating" my information, and it should be ready soon (first they said "mid-November" and now it's "as soon as possible.") VERY irritating. I don't like the webpages they built for each of my books. They are cryptic and not nearly as colorful as the old ones. The last order of books I received had sub-par photo quality, compared to previous shipments. Okay, I'm done complaining. I certainly hope they get their service straightened out soon. I'd like to order a few cases of books for next summer's book tour.

With Betty (Jim's mom) in the local nursing home, this house feels to big and too empty. We are trying to heat only the rooms we use regularly to save energy. A few years ago I made the statement that I would never spend another winter in Montana. And now here we are, and it's thirteen degrees below zero. "The best laid plans of mice and men." Because we don't want to get too far from her, we'll have to think of another way (other than going to Arizona) to get through till spring.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving compared to past years. Only two kids made it home: Marty and his family and Randy. Only one deer was harvested. I have a freezer full of leftovers. We'll be having a quiet Christmas at home, I think.

Speaking of Marty, there is concern in the family about his status as relates to the new troop surge for Afghanistan. He has not received notice of deployment, but he hasn't yet served a tour. We are thinking all kinds of positive thoughts to keep him home with his family.

I'm working on my essay. The trouble is, my research is leading me to an opening of mind and heart, and consequently a change in my preconceived notions. What a magnificent creature is man! And what a fantastic trove of information is out there for the seeker. If we could all realize our power and potential and link our abilities, we could change the ills of the Universe. We are not the broken, sinful misfits we are led to believe, by the Powers That Be and their cohorts. We are powerful, beautiful beings who choose our experiences and, through those choices, become co-creators with the universal intelligence. So far, from what I have learned, I have developed a few recommendations: Never stop questioning those in power, never assume that you have to allow others to make your decisions, and don't trust those who preach to you in absolutes. Challenge the accepted version of science, challenge organized religion, challenge politicians and challenge all others who have or wish to have power over your life.

I'm sorry to report that this blog was hacked, so I had to hide any comments, including those sent by my friends. The hacker was using my blog to further a hostile agenda. My friends may still comment and I can selectively receive those comments, but they won't be available for the world to see.

I've decided to skip the last three book events for the year--Billings, Missoula and the Western Literature Association being held this year in Spearfish, S.D. Instead, Jim and I took a mini-tour around eastern Montana in late September, and it was very productive and enjoyable (we included Williston, North Dakota.) I have been lax in preparing to take part in the bookfests. It takes constant diligence and keeping in touch with the organizers, and I've had my mind elsewhere. I'll try to resume my efforts at promotion and speaking engagements next year.

One of the stops on our mini-tour (we pulled our camper) was a weekend in Circle, Montana, for their community's fall fun day. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my high school graduating class's fiftieth reunion was also being held that week-end. I was assured that I had been sent a letter of notification, but I had to admit I either didn't receive it or forgot about it (highly unlikely.) It was a very small class--only about thirty graduates--but of those, twenty six attended the reunion. I was amazed, and had a great time getting reacquainted. I also sold many books, and danced all night at the local pub.

In Williston, we were welcomed with enthusiasm at a local bookstore, and sold many of all three books. Several people came from eastern Montana for the event, people who had known me in my childhood and youth. I missed an opportunity to speak at the annual conference of North Dakota organizations that address domestic violence--the timing was off slightly and we couldn't connect. I've committed to try to attend next year. I've also agreed to be in Sidney (MT) in July. The need is great--it keeps me very busy.

Our last stop was at a wonderful little boutique gift shop in Terry, MT, that has sold dozens of my books. We met wonderful people and visited with aspiring authors. Check out the"Prairie Unique" website.

Now it's back to work. We've been hauling huge loads of firewood (beetle-killed pines) with the help of my two sons, Barry and Randy. I think we're about done, except for cutting and splitting all those logs to kindling size. It's hard work but it keeps us in shape (we intend to keep dancing!)

My mother-in-law's condition has improved slightly, but it appears she will be in the nursing home for the duration. A word of advice: Get Long Term Care insurance. She doesn't have it, and next month Medicare will cut off her nursing home payments. She then has to pay it herself, because she doesn't qualify for Medicaid. We've learned that one in three Americans will spend time in a nursing home (currently at $5,000 per month or more.) That makes the premiums well worth it.

At the PNWA awards, "Dancing" did not place in the top three, but it was fun to be treated like royalty for a few days. I met a new agent; haven't decided yet whether to pursue that angle. My energy level is sorely wanting. I drove each way to Seattle and back in one day--a twelve hour trip. Good audio books saved the day.

A few weeks ago, my mother-in-law suffered a series of small strokes, so our time has been consumed with concern for her. She is currently residing at the local nursing home, making some progress. She is now wheelchair bound. We did manage to wheel her a block up the street for dinner out last week. That's the beauty of this small town--everything is within a few blocks. We have a lovely little medical center, and she gets lots of individual, loving care. We have big decisions facing us about when to move back upstairs and put her things in storage.

I'm still doing research for my next book--an essay concerning "What Does It All Mean?" or "What I've Learned From All This" for my kids and grandchildren. There's so much to study and learn that I sometimes wonder if I'll ever reach the point where I can elucidate my views appropriately. Thank God there are many brilliant people who have gone through this process before me, after spending years seeking. The information is all there, if one only keeps an open mind to all possibilities.