January 18, 2026 MONEY FOR NOTHING

 

The wedding is about 4 months away. Lots to do in the next few months. Super exciting but also SUPER expense. Every time I turn around it's a money bleed. Just yesterday it was the dance floor. Dance Floor? Just shaking my head. Have to go with it all at this point. After all--it's for my lovely daughter. It's her special day and I want it to be perfect. Too bad we can't pay for perfect weather in May though--JK-- I'll start praying now. Onward Ho! Recently finished a novel by one of my favorite Irish writers, John Boyne, called The Elements. Interestingly enough--this book is actually 4 novellas--Water, Earth, Fire and Air-- that are interconnected with characters from one story appearing in another. The first story involves a distraught mother running away from her life to a secluded island in Ireland where she meets many people including a soccer player, the subject of the next novella. This is followed by a story about a surgeon with serious PTSD and finally a father and son who deal with trauma in a very different way. This novel is a deep exploration of crime, victims, perpetrators, guilt, blame, abuse, forgiveness and in some cases, redemption. These are some dark--well written stories-- that will make you rethink the world we live in. This novel has won many awards including the Prix Femina Estranger in France and has been longlisted for a literary award in Dublin.