April 19, 2017 MAGIC POWER

Back to school--but the finish line is in sight! It's already April 19. Our seniors have about a month left until they graduate. It's crazy--time just flies by. It's bittersweet really-- time for them to leave the nest--Fly Free. I can still remember being a senior in high school. I have VERY fond memories of those years. Great friends and FUN had by all!  I remember feeling--WILD and FREE--like the world was at my fingertips.   It's the best feeling in the world--to be young and believe you are invincible. It's actually kind of like a runner's high. A runner's high happens when you are running and all of a sudden it feels effortless-- there's no pain or discomfort. The body and mind work in tandem--running feels--magical--insuperable--carefree.   It's the best feeling ever AND it's the closest I can get to feeling like an eighteen year old--I'll take it! All this reminiscing has made me nostalgic for the past. It's time to take a trip down memory lane--back to when I was in high school and read EVERY Danielle Steele book I could get my hands on.

I guess I was a sucker for romance--way back when-- because Danielle Steele was the master and still is I hear. I've not read Steele in years, but loved her back in the day. She has written to date 102 novels and is the best selling living author in America--with 22 books adapted for television and another 30 sold for the big screen. WOW. Her books can be "formula" and some critics call them "fluff"  but they are still fun to read. The one that sticks out in my mind from high school is The Promise--which was also made into a movie. Anyways, Michael and Nancy are young and in love. They have decided to marry--much to the dismay of Michael's mother. Shortly before the wedding, Nancy is involved in a terrible accident that changes the course of events forever..........Fast forward a few years. Michael is living in New York and Nancy is safely tucked away in California. Will they find each other---keep the promise they made to each other long ago--or has his mother's deception been a success?? Find out when you read this easy page turner of 288 pages. It's a fun, quick read--maybe a 3 miles run--a blast from the past. It's fun to reread a book from long ago. Although our perspectives change with age,  we can still appreciate why we originally loved a book and for just  a few minutes remember who we were. Enjoy!

April 17, 2017 TRADITION

Perfect weather for Easter. Daffodils,  hyacinths and tulips in full bloom. Kids ran around in search of the golden egg.  Pure joy. Easter is the only Sunday all year that I don't run. Very busy getting ready for our annual brunch--home fries, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, fruit salad, corn bread, muffins, mimosas.....you get the drift. I really enjoy this annual tradition with family and friends. It's a great way  to reconnect after a LONG winter. After a delectable brunch, we always take a long walk on the beach. People were out in throngs yesterday--some even braving the 45 degree water temps--taking their annual plunge--a part of their Easter celebration.  Family traditions are important, I have to admit I never really had any when I was a kid--except baking with my grandmother.  Whether it's Easter brunch,  4th of July shenanigans, apple picking, baking christmas cookies or even jumping in the frigid ocean on New Year's Day--traditions are really important. They are what weave a family together--forming bonds that last forever. I hope my children grow up and continue the traditions we've forged together. Pure joy--it's really that simple. When I think of traditions, I can't help but think of this extraordinary book I read a few years back called Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.

In this beautifully written novel, the reader is transported to a village in Hunan, a province of Central South China in the 19th century through the narrator--80 year old Lily. Lily is  reflecting back on her life and the remorse she still feels over a misunderstanding with her "Loatong". When Lily was 7 years old, she was paired with her "Loatong" or "old same"-- another 7 years old girl named Snow Flower. This was  a match that lasted a lifetime and was a great honor.  The two communicated by writing to each other on fans using a secret language known as "Nushu". They were the best of friends, sharing their hopes, dreams, accomplishments, and after their marriages, loneliness, and the joy and sorrow of motherhood.  They also shared many ancient traditions including arranged marriages and the brutality of foot binding--until their feet were 7 centimeters long. This book is also inadvertently a history and cultural lesson on ancient China. It is both fascinating and deeply disturbing at times, especially,  when reading about how women were treated during that time period. Through it all, Lily and Snow Flower's friendship endures-- until a misunderstanding  forever changes their friendship and tears both of their worlds apart. This book is a keeper--sitting on my bookshelf--waiting to be read again. I really loved it that much. Find out what happens to their friendship and why Lily, an 80 year old woman, is still sad when you read this exceptional  book of about 260 pages. It's about a 5 mile run that has much to teach every one of us about friendship.

April 15, 2017 STAYING ALIVE

 If you're looking for a good book to read check out THE BELLE OF THE BOOK. You can find me on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and BLOGSPOT.  Thanks for your continued readership.

April 15, 2017 THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS

Ran 9 torturous miles this morning. It was hard from the get go-- kept thinking it would get easier--I'd get into the groove-- I did during certain parts but--some runs are just easier than others. That's just the way it is. THANKFULLY one of my comrades joined me for the first 4 miles, so I was only alone for the last 5 miles. During those LONG miles I had time to think.  If you've lived long enough then you know that life is hard--but it can be especially hard for others. Case in point-- I was driving to the grocery store yesterday--and I saw this man holding a cardboard sign--apparently begging for money. He looked familiar to me. So I drove by him again to get a better look and I'm pretty sure that I recognized him. Haven't seen him in at least 30 years--the son of blah blah blah.  Life hasn't been easy for him--he probably never stood a chance--like father like son. The sad thing is the CYCLE continues. It's a tragedy. We really are all products of our past--and he got a BUM deal. While some people have the strength and smarts to break the cycle, others get stuck in a web of substance abuse and poverty  that spirals out of control. It hurt my heart to see Jim standing there--wish it could have been different for him. DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. Remember to stop and smell the flowers today. One of the main characters of Peter Swanson's The Kind Worth Killing has also been scarred by the past which has turned her into a cold blooded killer.

Ted Severson is a rich businessman who has  recently caught his beautiful wife, Miranda, cheating on him with their builder Brad.  He's not sure what to do about it, but it's really eating away at him. So, on a late flight from London to Boston, Ted stops at the airport bar to have a drink and think.  There he meets the stunning Lily Kintner. After several drinks, they start playing a game of truth or dare and Ted confides in Lily about his wife's indiscretion and half-heartedly says he wants to kill her. In response, Lily says she'd like to help. Back in Boston, Ted and Lily continue to see each other and plan his wife's demise. What Ted doesn't realize is that just maybe his wife is trying to get rid of him too. This is not your ordinary murder mystery. It is a web of deceit, lies, double-crossing and revenge. It's a marriage gone horribly wrong with characters who appear normal on the outside but have serious mental health issues. Find out what happens to Ted, Miranda, Lily and Brad when you read this suspenseful page turner of about 300 pages. It's an easy read--about a 4 mile run--that will keep you out of airport bars forever!

April 12, 2017 RUN LIKE HELL

17 HOURS. That's how long it took to get home from our trip to Florence. That was a huge improvement over the 24 hours it took to get there. Traveling is hard work. Absolutely loved our time in Florence but it was a comedy of errors. Plane left Boston 1 1/2 hours late because a passenger had a medication issue---causing us to miss our connection in Amsterdam. Of course--there were NO other flights to Florence--our only option was a flight to PISA--a BUS to the train station--and THEN a 1 1/2 TRAIN ride to Florence. 24 HOURS. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they LOST our luggage for 3 days. Don't worry--WE didn't let any of this ruin the trip. So what if we didn't have any underwear--toothpaste--ANTI-wrinkle cream right??  Seriously, we had a great time despite all the traveling nonsense. Like I said--TRAVELING IS HARD WORK. Didn't run for a week but boy did WE WALK--between 8-10 miles every day.  No running, reading or writing  UNTIL we got on our flight to come home. Read a great book on the way home about running called Again to Carthage--which inspired me to get up this morning--jet lagged and exhausted-- for an easy 5 mile run.

Again to Carthage is the sequel to the cult classic Once a Runner by elite runner and U.S. Track & Field Steeplechase champion John L. Parker, Jr.

The first novel ends when Quenton Cassidy, the main character, captures the silver medal in the Olympics for the mile. In  Again to Carthage, it is about 10 years later. Quenton has graduated from law school and is a successful lawyer, separated from his wife,  living in Palm Beach. After facing  a series of  losses, including the death of his grandfather and uncle, Quenton decides to return to his passion. Running. Quenton enlists his old coach Bruce Denton to help him train--this time for the Olympic Marathon team. The training includes running in the mountains of North Carolina which is captured beautifully by Parker--I seriously wanted to make the journey to North Carolina to  run through the breathtaking mountains myself. What also makes this book special is that Parker actually gets the mind of the runner. It is inspiring because he understands that running is about will--determination--and the crazy--almost idiotic--reasoning of the runner. He captures the lonely almost spiritual journey the competitive athlete-- or any long distance runner for that matter-- endures--perfectly. It is a single minded journey NOT for the faint of heart. This book is GREAT--as good or even better than the first. It's about 380 pages or a 5 mile run that will inspire you to be the best you can be. Just found out that there is another sequel. Can't wait to read it!

April 5, 2017 KING OF THE ROAD

I'll be OFF the grid for the next week--taking a much needed respite. If you're looking for a good book to read while I'm gone don't forget to check out THE BELLE OF THE BOOK. You can find me on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and BLOGSPOT.  Thanks for your continued readership.

April 3, 2017 PLEASE FORGIVE ME

Went on my first long run this weekend--8 miles. Getting ready for the Mystic Half Marathon--CAN'T believe it's only 6 weeks away. Races have a way of sneaking up on someone who's--always in DENIAL. I literally had to talk myself into the LONG run because I had to go SOLO--one comrade has been sick and the other has a fractured ankle. The run went well though. Perfect running weather--sunny, breezy about 44 degrees. For me, it's all about the weather.  Last time I ran in Mystic it was for the 10K a few years back.  I was definitely ready for that race--I felt good and was running well. The race turned out to be a TORTUROUS experience though!! It had been in the low 50's leading up to the race--decent weather--but on the day of the race it was hot and humid like a day in August. It was with a HUGE sigh of relief that I turned to the 10k finish line--I don't think I would have been able to do 13.1 in that heat. I don't seem to tolerate the heat as well as I once did--another getting older thing I guess. Hey, as long as I can keep getting out there--run my best--it's all good! Queenie the main character in  The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey isn't so lucky.

This wonderful novel is the sequel to the International bestseller The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. In this novel, Queenie is in a hospice in Northumbernad waiting for Harold to arrive. He is walking all the way from Devon--a journey of atonement.  Harold is exhausted, blistered and weak from his travels much like  Queenie who is withering away day by day waiting for Harold. Queenie does not have long to live and fears that she may die before Harold arrives. A nun suggests that  Queenie write him a letter just in case. She also volunteers to help Queenie tells her story. Queenie has much to atone for too.  She needs  to wipe the slate clean and confess the truth to Harold before she dies. She has secrets  that Harold need to know--one involving his mentally unstable son, David, -whom Queenie befriended twenty years before. She knows things about David and his death that his family needs to know. Interweaved in this lovely novel are  other hospice patients and the nuns that take care of them. They are interesting characters and really give the book--a sense of humor--which one needs when reading a book set in a hospice. They also await the arrival of Harold as he has become quite a celebrity. Many residents hope that they too will make it until Harold arrives and even place bets. This is a  sequel that is as beautifully written as the first. Queenie and Harold are "everyman"-- imperfect people who keep secrets and  hide from the world in shame and condemnation. They are both characters who deserve forgiveness and freedom from their own self-doubt. Find out what ultimately happens to Queenie and Harold when you read this 400 page novel. Oh yeah-there is a shocking twist at the end that I didn't see coming. This easy read--about a 5 mile run--is unforgettable.