Friday, August 31, 2018

August 31, 2018 WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES

Many people have never heard of Williams syndrome--a rare genetic disorder caused by a spontaneous deletion of  26-28 genes on chromosome 7--that occurs at the time of conception. Williams syndrome affects 1 in 10,000 people in the United States. Complications of Williams  include delayed development, cardiovascular disorders, scoliosis and many other significant health problems. People with Williams are unique in many ways but a hallmark of Williams is having personality plus.  These special people are overly friendly and affectionate to everyone. They don't understand stranger danger-- believing instead that everyone is their friend.  They have excessive empathy, anxiety, phobias, and attention issues. I have to admit that I had never heard of Williams syndrome either--that is until my brother called me about twelve years ago to tell me that his son was being tested for it. When my nephew was about three months old, doctors discovered that he had VSD--ventricular septum defect-- a 10 millimeter hole in the wall of his left ventricle. Luckily, his heart doctor recognized it as a symptom of Williams and recommended they see a geneticist. At the tender age of twelve, the poor kid has had 19 surgeries because he has scoliosis and he has been shuffled around to more doctors than most people see in a lifetime.   So why is he lucky?? He has parents who educate themselves on the subject and work hard to make sure he has every advantage in and outside of school. He has had OT, PT, speech therapy and attends school where he learns social and life skills. He has parents who will ensure that he reaches his highest potential and a family who loves him-- accepts him and will continue to care for him in the future. If you are interested in learning more about this syndrome then you should read The Boy Who Loved Too Much by Jennifer Latson. 
After reading a review of this book, I decided to read it so that I could learn more about Williams. Although I learned more than I bargained for about genetics and research-- the most important thing I learned was about the unique challenges parents faced when their child had Williams syndrome. Latson wrote this book after spending three years with Gayle D'Angelo and her twelve year old son, Eli, in their Connecticut home. Eli was diagnosed with Williams when he was young after missing several developmental milestones. His parents divorced when he was about 5 years old leaving Gayle a single parent. Between medical appointments and schools meetings, Gayle was forced to change jobs because her employer had no empathy for her situation. The challenges Gayle faced were endless too. The vigilance to keep Eli safe was constant --she never left his side unless he was at school. The worry about "inappropriate behavior" and phone calls from school were a mainstay.  Just being his advocate at school and doctors appointments--making sure he had every possible service was mind boggling. I learned so much about what it was like to be a parent of a special needs person--things  I could never know or understand unless I lived it.  Bless you all.  Seriously, I walked away from this book thinking--Never judge anyone until you have walked a mile in their shoes!! Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. It will change your life and humble you. Its only 260 pages--or a 4 mile run--worth every page.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

August 29, 2018 EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT

Shingles. I thought those were only on roofs. Dragged myself to school on Monday--with what I thought was a pinched nerve in my neck.  Barely survived the HEAT  and PAIN only to repeat the same on Tuesday. Noticed I had some weird rash on my neck when I got home on Tuesday.  Seriously--I thought it was poison ivy. Then my husband said something about shingles.  I ignored him--OF COURSE--for a little while. Then I started reading about shingles and looking at images online and--LO AND BEHOLD--HE WAS RIGHT.  Not sure if I caught it in time but started taking Valacyclovir just in case. I have this weird rash that wraps around my neck--up my scalp--following the nerve endings behind my ear. Literally feels like someone is yanking my hair at its roots OR an alien is trying to break out of the side of my head--its that PAINFUL!!!!! Can't go to school til next week because it's CONTAGIOUS TOO. As a teacher--it's really hard for me to miss the first week of school--it's such an important time.  I have to let it go--BREATHE deeply-- go to my ZEN place. In the big scheme of life this is just another bump in the road-- far from the horrors Isabelle Rossignol experienced in The Nightingale.  

TRUE CONFESSIONS FIRST--It took me a while to pick up this book because I generally lumped Kristin Hannah into the CHICK LIT category.  I APOLOGIZE--I CAN BE SUCH A BOOK SNOB. After reading The Great Alone last month and loving it, I knew that I had to give The Nightingale a chance.  In this work of historical fiction, two sisters must confront the atrocities of war while living in German occupied France during World War II. Vianne Mauraic is a teacher and mother living in Carriveau. When her husband is called to serve France, she's left to manage the home front.  As Nazi soldiers invade her small town,  she is forced to let them billet in her home. When her Jewish friends start to disappear, Vianne finds the  courage to make a difference and becomes a Nightingale in her own way. Her younger sister is Isabelle Rossignol. She is a bit of a renegade. She joins the war effort and eventually escorts downed airmen through an escape route to Spain whose code name is Nightingale. This is essentially the story of the fortitude of women during war. Hannah tells the reader what it was like to be a woman during World War II, setting the record straight because this glimpse into history is accurate.  In addition to the historical aspect of this novel,  I loved  the writing and character development. I'm actually having trouble letting them go. Although this novel is 565 pages--or a 6 mile run--I could not put it down and was sorry to see it end. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the powerful novel.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

August 22, 2018 GOOD LIFE

All good things must come to an end. At least that's what they say. It's been a great summer. One of the most relaxing that I've had in a LONG time. Perfect-- running--yoga--reading--painting--and hanging at the beach. Mostly--Carefree. It's wonderful when the biggest decision of the day is what time we should go to the beach. WHAT A WORLD.  Wish I could stay there. It took me a long time to learn to relax though.  When I was younger-- I always felt like I had to complete AN IMPORTANT task--cleaning--organizing--STUPID STUFF. It took me a long time to let that go. Then I remembered some SAGE ADVICE from my grandmother. She actually told me not to waste my time--changing curtains every season--shining the silver--waxing the floor.  Those things really weren't  that important in the big scheme of things. As I've grown older--I've also grown a TINY bit wiser. Today I find things that bring me joy and help me appreciate life. That's what  really matters. These are some of the issues Julia Win struggles with in Jan-Philipp Sandker's novel A Well-Tempered Heart. 

A Well-Tempered Heart was written in 2014 and is the sequel to the wonderful novel The Art of Hearing Heartbeats of 2004. In the sequel, it has been 10 years since Julia's return from Burma. She is now a high powered attorney in Manhattan who is at a crossroads after her fiancee moves out. To make matters worse, Julia starts to hear a voice inside her head that makes her question her life. Unable to work because of the voice, Julia takes an unpaid leave and returns to her father's homeland of Burma to see her brother U Ba. Once in Burma, U Ba helps  Julia figure out that  the voice belongs to a woman named NuNu.  U Ba takes Julia to visit NuNu's sister in an effort to be free of the voice. Julia learns about NuNu's life and later decides to visit NuNu's son Thar, where the story comes full circle. This is a beautifully written story about love, loss, family and forgiveness that I thoroughly enjoyed. Please read them in order though or you will not fully appreciate the story. A Well-Tempered Heart is about 400 pages--or a 4.5 mile run--that I will never forget. Enjoy.

Friday, August 17, 2018

August 17, 2018 YOUNG, WILD & FREE

Ah--to be 22 again. Yesterday was my daughter's birthday. I get such a kick out of how much she LOVES HER BIRTHDAY. She starts THE countdown to THE BIG DAY at least a week before. Maybe it's just to remind us--TO GET HER A PRESENT--who knows. She loves the whole SHEBANG. The balloons--glitter-- party on the beach. She's had  birthday parties on the beach--with various themes--AND the same group of friends--forever. These days-- a party on the beach IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THOUGH. It involves having a few cold ones with the gang--AND some complicated form of BEER PONG--I still can't quite figure out.  After a day at the beach--the party continues-- dinner with family and a few friends--followed by a night on the town with the gang. CRAZY.  That girl's got a lot of energy. Up at 8:00 this morning to spend the day in Block Island. Ah--to be 22 again. Maggie O'Farrell was about 22 when she had a near death experience as she describes in her memoir I AM, I AM, I AM:  Seventeen Brushes with Death.  

I have to admit that I was really on the fence about this book but decided to give it a chance after reading an article about it in the paper. It's essentially seventeen brushes with death that O'Farrell has grappled with in her life and the appreciation she feels for her life because of these experiences.  The stories are terrifying, tragic, and at times it's unbelievable that so much has happened to her.  Like I said, wasn't sure about the book but decided to read the first story and I was hooked. The first story is about an encounter she had with a VERY SCARY MAN while out hiking one day. I really could relate to this story because like O'Farrell--I was really naive when I was younger--too trusting of people. Luckily for her, she made some smart decisions out on that trail that saved her life--not sure I would have done the same. Each story will help you appreciate your life and encourage you not to take it for granted. The writing is lovely and easy to read. It's about 300 pages--or a 4 mile run--that will help you feel grateful too.

Saturday, August 11, 2018

August 11, 2018 HOTTER THAN HELL


 Imagine. Standing in your kitchen making chocolate chip pancakes at 8 in the morning covered in sweat. That's my life. I'll let you in on a little secret --I DO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. Not even a window unit in the bedroom. Isn't that CRAZY?? Whenever I tell people I don't have AC-- they look at me like I HAVE A SCREW LOOSE. And I must BECAUSE what normal person would tolerate this heat-- It's NOT like we live in a third world country. It's definitely been a BONE OF CONTENTION in my house EVERY SUMMER FOR 25 YEARS. My husband is NOT a fan of AC but he goes off to his air conditioned office every day--while I sit at home SWEATING MY ASS OFF all summer. A few years ago after a particularly HUMID--SCORCHING--HOT summer--and a HELL of a lot of WHINING-- he DID have someone come to our house to give us an estimate for central air-- Apparently it was just a RUSE meant to appease me until the HOT SPELL ended though.   How much do you want to bet we will have AC when he retires?? SHOULD HAVE DEMANDED IT FROM DAY ONE. Once a SETTLER--always a SETTLER.  Harriet "Hal" Westaway, the main character of Ruth Ware's new psychological thriller The Death of Mrs. Westaway should have been more demanding too.
After the tragic death of her mother, Hal Westaway is barely making ends meet. Desperate for money, she borrows from a loan shark but can't afford the payments on her meager salary as a tarot card reader on Brighton beach. Her prayers seem answered after she receives a letter from a solicitor informing her that she is to inherit a significant amount from her grandmother. Even though Hal thinks it's a mistake, she decides to skip town and the loan sharks  to go to her grandmother's funeral  and find out about the inheritance. When Hal gets to St. Piran, she finds that her  grandmother lives on an old Victorian country estate and that she is the sole beneficiary-- much to the chagrin of the rest of the family. It doesn't take long, however, for Hal to realize that something is very wrong at Trespessan House and she must uncover the past to understand how she is entangled in the web.  Hal doesn't know whether to trust her new found family either. Will they  keep her safe or would they rather see her dead?  Ware does not disappoint, another great read with lots of twists and turns. This mystery is about 365 pages-- or a 4 mile run--that you will have a hard time putting down.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

August 8, 2018 WHEN I'M SIXTY-FOUR

It's all relative. So I'm a physical therapy the other day--strengthening my GLUTES--watching this 20 something year old woman in PERFECT shape--work on a shoulder injury. Couldn't help but check her out--WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT OKAY--she was LONG--LEAN--BEAUTIFUL. Flash ahead 15 minutes. The beauty queen leaves--in walks Sally--80 SOMETHING YEAR OLD. I'm still busy working on the BUTT--when Sally yells--Hey Blondie. I have NO IDEA she's talking to me because it's FAKE--but I look up cause there's NO ONE ELSE AROUND. Sally's checking ME OUT-- She THINKS I'M--LONG--LEAN--WOULDN'T GO SO FAR AS TO SAY BEAUTIFUL-- but you get the idea. She bellows-- like a drunken sailor--a few compliments my way. I'M SHOCKED--but want to PAY IT FORWARD--so I say--I  HOPE I look as good as you look when I'm 60!! She gave me a hardy laugh--blushed-- and went on with her workout. We all need a little ADMIRATION now and then--whether we're 20-50-80. A little compliment can go a LONG WAY. 
 In Jane Harper's second book Force of Nature, Falk and his new partner, Carmen Cooper,  are sent to investigate a woman gone missing while on a corporate retreat in the Giralang Range--a long way from home. Not sure if you read Harper's first book The Dry which won the Golden Dagger Award for best Crime Novel last year--but I'd start there first. It's a great read and since this is a series, it's nice to get to know Falk in book one. In this installment also set in Australia, the missing hiker is Alice Russell. She disappears on a weekend retreat  meant to be a bonding experience. Five women walked into the woods and only four walked out. Five women who didn't necessarily get along in the first place. Add to the mix the fact that Russell  has been secretly working with Falk to uncover a money laundering scheme that her company is involved in.  It's a great mystery with several suspects and twists and turns. Wasn't sure about anything until the bitter end. If you're looking for a new crime drama series-I'VE FOUND IT FOR YOU! It's an easy read of 325 pages--or a 4 mile run--that will keep you guessing. Enjoy.

Friday, August 3, 2018

August 3, 2018 WHAT HURTS THE MOST

I am the BIGGEST PROCRASTINATOR. Seriously. What NORMAL person would walk around for a YEAR with an ACHING ASS??  Finally couldn't take it anymore.  After seeking the WISE counsel of my running circle--I finally took the plunge and found a new PT.  I really DREADED going--but can happily admit that I think I've found the RIGHT PT for my problem. And the best part--He's young--has a good sense of humor --AND IS GOOD LOOKING. You already know how SHALLOW I am--ENOUGH said. On a serious note though--there are all types of PTS out there and you need to find the one who can help with your specific problem. Should have listened to my running GURUS months ago but I really thought --PTS WERE all the same. How DUMB--that's like saying all teachers, lawyers, writers, doctors are the same. Today people specialize in certain areas so it's important to ask around. Another lesson learned..........
Seems like Arthur Less the main character in Andrew Sean Greer's Pulitzer Prize winner of 2018, Less,  has difficulty learning lessons as he keeps repeating the same mistakes. Arthur Less is a gay man on the cusp of fifty living in California.  After his lover of nine years breaks up with him to marry someone else, Arthur Less, a struggling writer, accepts several literary engagements around the world  to avoid the embarrassment of  the wedding. He finds himself in Paris, Berlin, Morocco, India and finally the Arabian Sea. During his travels, Arthur Less reflects on his past and realizes his mistakes.  In the end, this is essentially a love story--quirky, bizarre at times, but I couldn't help but like Arthur Less and have empathy for his situation. The writing is also top notch. Find out what crazy situations Less finds himself in and all the discoveries he makes when you read this novel for yourself. It's about 270 pages-- or a 4 mile run--by a fine writer that's worth the read.