August 22, 2019 FREE FALLIN'

 Believe it or not--I fell again.  How many times can ONE PERSON FALL-- Seriously?? I can NOT believe my bones are still intact. OK--So I've fractured my elbow a few times--my ribs a few times but NEVER A CAST. Knocking on wood right now. This time--I was running to my car in the rain and SLIPPED. Banged the SAME ELBOW--whacked my Back--Tailbone-Wrists. It's been 9 days and I'm still BLACK & BLUE --with a sickly tinge of YELLOW.  Actually--ICING 3 of my injures-- while I write this blog. Sitting on an ice pack--another wrapped around my knee--another wrapped around my elbow. Trying to recap my falling history. Fell off of a trampoline--hit by a truck--hit by a car- rollerskating/ice skating falls--Nine months pregnant tripped over MYSELF--sidewalk falls --sand falls--running falls--rain/ice/snow falls. OUCH. THERE ARE TOO MANY FALLS TO COUNT. No worries. Still out running--walking--and doing  some WRIST-FREE yoga. CAN'T KEEP ME DOWN FOR LONG.
The same could be said for Bhima, the main character of Thrity Umrigar's wonderful novel of 2018 The Secrets Between Us. Before I go any further, I need to tell you that this is the sequel to The Space Between Us which was a National bestseller in 2006. In the first novel, Bhima has been a servant for the Dubash Family in Mombai for over 20 years. After her granddaughter, Maya, reveals a crime against her by a member of the Dubash family, Bhima is fired and forced to find a new way to support her family. As  The Secrets between Us unfolds, Bhima's only wish is  that her granddaughter attend college and have a better life, and for that to happen,  she needs money.  As luck would have it, Bhima meets Parvati, and older woman with a sad past,  at the local market and the two become unlikely business partners. As their friendship grows, the two women learn to live on their own terms and make peace with the past. This is a story about second changes, friendship and the  survival of women at the lowest end of the caste system in India. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run worth every page.

August 17, 2019 EVERY DAY I WRITE THE BOOK

REREADING BOOKS. I wonder how many people actually do it--besides me. There are actually many reasons to reread your favorite books--you know--the books that you hold dear to your heart. I spent the last week rereading ONE OF THEM. The books I reread are the books I'll never forget.  They are the books I buy and keep in my library because I want to keep them close to me so that I can reread them whenever I want. The characters in these stories speak to me and become almost real. They are people I'll never forget. I actually remember their names--which is crazy--because I can't even remember the names of my own kids. It doesn't matter that I already know what's going to happen--that's not the point. I guess I reread books because the writing is so special that I want to enjoy it again. They are like old friends--comforting to be around. Instead of reviewing a book today--I thought I'd leave you with a list of  books worthy of rereading to inspire you to either read or reread one.
Books I have REREAD:
-A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 
 -A Widow For One Year by John Irving
-A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
  -I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
-Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
  -Bleak House by Charles Dickens
-To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
 -Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
-The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson Cullers
Books I NEED to REREAD:
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte     -Son of the Circus by John Irving
-A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles  -Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
-Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham -The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass
-Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton          -The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
-Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 
ENJOY!

August 9, 2019 ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

There are many mental and physical benefits of yoga. Not only does it increase flexibility--balance--muscle tone--strength--circulatory health--energy--vitality--weight loss-- It also makes you more MINDFUL. And that is the KEY. Because it teaches you how to breathe--clear the mind-- AND--live in the moment--It actually reduces stress--anxiety--depression. Yoga has personally helped me get into the GRATITUDE HABIT. Living in gratitude has  changed my whole mind set-- focus on the POSITIVE.   Okay--so I can't run like I used to--that's okay--I'm grateful that I can run and enjoy it. It's easy. And it really works. It's a game changer. The power of positivity is underrated--it attracts others and even changes the atmosphere. Now that's power!  People really prefer to be around people who make them feel good.  Negativity poisons--Positivity helps people thrive. It's a NO brainer. My yoga teachers stress--We have to take care of ourselves first. Then we can take care of others by  shining  our light--gratitude--positivity--kindness-- on others to make the world a better place. If you're looking for other ways to make positive changes in your life, you might want to pick up Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project. 

The Happiness Project is essentially Rubin's one year personal journey to reevaluate her life and make some changes in order to make her life happier.  Rubin first identified the things that brought her joy. Then she made resolutions followed by actions that would help her attain her goal of living a more satisfied life. Some essentials of happiness in her book included--boost energy--remember love--aim higher--make time for friends--pursue a passion--pay attention and keep a contented heart. Rubin spent a month on each resolution and learned many things about herself and her family in the process. One of the interesting things about the book is that she draws on scientific studies about happiness as well as philosophy and the experience of others. There are definitely many parallels you will find between Rubin's struggles and your own as she tries to balance--work--kids--husband--and her own happiness. This self-help book is about 300 pages or a 4 mile run that could put you on the road to starting your own happiness project.

August 2, 2019 GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD

Plastic bags. I'm not a huge fan--but confess that I've been using "Paper in plastic--packed heavy"--at the grocery store for years. Until Now--I know there is a NEW tax on plastic bags--WHATEVER--but that's not what changed my mind. While at East Matunuck State Beach yesterday--I had a life changing experience.  I saw a poor seagull walking along the beach with a plastic bag in its mouth. Tried to lure the plastic bag out of the seagull's mouth by offering it some food but it flew away. So sad. That poor seagull either choked to death or will have a slow painful death after the plastic bag obstructs its digestive tract. I can't stop thinking about it. The story gets worse. While trying to help the bird--a woman walked by and said, "Good it will die now." WHO SAYS THAT. I was shocked. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?? I turned to her APPALLED and said, " How could you say such a thing about an animal?? And she ignored me. I wanted to jump on her and punch her in the head. WHAT DID THE SEAGULL DO TO HER---steal a few potato chips??? When did HUMANS become so INHUMANE??
Juliet Armstrong wonders the same thing after she becomes a spy in Kate Atkinson's novel Transcription. Set during World War II in England, Juliet is recruited by M15 to monitor and transcribe the conversations of British Fascist sympathizers. As the war continues, Juliet becomes a double agent charged with  turning over sympathizers to the government. Her intrigues during the war are somewhat questionable and she gains many enemies who come back for vengeance after the war.  The novel then turns to the 1950's where Juliet and many of her cohorts are now working for BBC. She is a radio producer trying to come to terms with the war. Just when she thinks her war days are over, she is pulled in for one last job that could get her killed. I am generally a big fan of Atkinson but have to confess that I found this novel a bit confusing because it jumped around too much. She is a great writer though--so it could be that I'm just a bit preoccupied with other things. If you like mystery, murder, suspense and spy novels then you should give this a try and see what you think. It's about 350 pages--4 mile run--that I could see being made into a movie.