Wandering the highways

Wednesday morning, before dawn, I scraped ice from the windshield and started the long trek southwest to Arizona. The only good thing about the freezing rain was, I knew I was leaving it for 4 months! Those of you who have followed my travels over the years know that I always look for a sign from a bird(s) as my good luck omen - he was there! Just past Brockville a huge barn owl sat perched on the fence back to the road but head swivelled so his unblinking eyes could survey the traffic. The weather cleared and I made record time to Ohio and went beyond my usual stop another 65 miles. The day was grey, grey skies, grey road and snow that was less than white (grey) but this meant no glare and the driving was easy on my eyes. I settled for less than the best accommodation and did not have internet.

Today, I wandered west and south through St. Louis, always in admiration of the Arch. The thing about the first part of the journey is it is much of the same over and over again, grey roads and scattered rest stops so to break the boring ride, I played my new CD of  Rene Fleming that Santa tucked in my stocking and before I knew it I was in the Ozarks. It happens so quickly that one is not prepared for the panoramic views on all sides. Even with the dull of winter, nothing can make those hills less stunning. Ever wonder where the Canada geese go in winter? Thousands filled the sky like a black cloud just past Terre Haute, truly awesome. Traffic was solid but moving well and I got caught only once in a truck tunnel. God, I hate it when you are wedged between those towering demons of the roads. I am now hunkered down after another scenic change to the mid west plains of open fields and the beginning of high skies. Bailey and I wandered around our hotel in Joplin, me in shirt sleeves, she in sniffing mode. Tomorrow we are off to wander down to the I40 and points west. Do check in again and leave me your comments.

Christmas Wanderings

Wandering this week meant wandering down aisle after aisle trying to find the perfect gift for the names on my list.  Bet you were too! My writing fell by the wayside but I want to share a poem (I am not a poet but all writers take a stab at the terse word form every now and again) that I wrote a couple of years ago. I thought about mothers who did not have all their family with them at this special time of the year.

Listening

Festive Christmas cheer

Reflects the sparkle of the tree

Friends and family gather here

Where everyone should be.

                          She listens.

She sits apart, the matriarch

Smiling, nodding, watching,

But her eyes hold no spark

Body straight, fingers clutching

                   She listens.

Gifts, drinks and food

Offered with warm embrace

To glean a smile she’s constantly wooed.

But her eyes remain distant; still her face.

                   She listens.

Knowing glances sweep the room

Aware of one so far away

One of her heart, one of her own,

Missing on this Christmas day.

                   She listens.

The gifts are dealt, the twilight grays

The table cleared, laughter settles.

Happiness throughout the day

Defies her lonely vigil.

                   She listens.

A distant bell, voices heard

“Merry Christmas from us all,

No, no right here. She’s in her chair.”

All day to get this call,

                   She listened.

May you have all your loved ones close to hand and share a wonderful festive season.

Winter Wandering

Wandering down my back lane every morning with one dog racing and jumping for joy and the other plugging along, I always take time to see if there is something my camera might capture. This week we came out of a deep freeze and so did the animals. I saw deer, turkey, rabbit and squirrel tracks. They too, were wandering. I captured tracks in the snow.  I wonder where this creature was going?

I visited and read to, as I often do, several seniors groups. I always feel so gratified when, as I am reading from Wandering Backward, I see a head or two nod in recognition of a moment remembered. I was not disappointed, there were more than a few nods. The discussion was lively and, as always, I learned of other childhoods in Canada and abroad. This book is rewarding me more than I imagined.

Did I tell you I sing in a choir? Our final performance of Handel’s Messiah was last night and as I let my eyes wander over the audience the spirit of the message was written on glowing faces.

Please check back on a regular basis to see where I wander next. And leave me a message, I’d love to hear your comments on my books and my blog.

Happy wandering

Wandering different paths

A journey is usually thought to be a road trip or and adventure to exotic places. But to me a journey is a discovery place and can take me anywhere and is often found where I least expect it. Selling my books over the past few weeks, I have met and journeyed with wonderful people as I heard their stories. Little had I anticipated that by recording life in small town Ontario it would lead me down paths of other peoples’ memories.

As I was doing my spiel at a Christmas Market I noticed a lady standing to the side but obviously hanging on my every word. Breaking in she asked me if I knew a certain name. I did. It turned out her uncle owned the corner store I featured in Wandering Backward. We wandered through the store together sharing special memories.

I spoke to a group and because it is December, I chose to read chapter 12, early December. One gentleman, I noted, was very attentive. I learned after that he had spent his life in the coal industry and because this was the theme of the chapter, was delighted. He led me through the process of mining and processing coal, a fascinating journey.

So, to me, my journey back in time has given me the opportunity to share others’ memories and led me down paths rich in imagery. Everyone has a story, a personal journey. I’m privileged to share them thanks to Wandering Backward.

Busy times

Ramping up toward the big holiday celebrations, I have been invited to speak to several groups. This is one of my favourite things to do as I get to see the reaction to my stories first hand. My Irish heritage helps me as a story teller. My father could blather a yarn as well as the best, the only thing was his offerings were few and repeated over and over again. I try to avoid that one!
The Author's day in Smiths Falls introduced me to a great group of writers that I would otherwise not have met. I have been invited back to do a seminar on memoir writing when I return from Arizona.
Ah, Arizona! I am counting the days until I load the car with my faithful furry friend, Bailey, enough clothes, and golf clubs to get me through 4 months and head off down the road. But my road trip is for later.
As the month of December approaches, my calendar, and I expect yours as well, is filling with wonderful invitations. I am mentally shopping fot the various people on my list - never an easy task. Oh, but when you find that perfect gift, it is so rewarding! And I have found a few already. With so many curious eyes in our house, I have to wrap and hide immediately. This creates its own problem because, of course, in order to divert curious eyes, I don't label the gifts. At my age, this can create a small dilemma when I try to remember whose gift is whose. Well we all have challenges in life and I just create my own.
I sing in a choir, did I tell you that? Actually, I sing in two, one in the Ottawa Valley and the other in the Verde Valley. The one here, in Canada, is doing the Messiah for two performances, one in Manotick and the other in Kemptville. What a wonderful way to be able to give and get the Christmas spirit.
Happy shopping everyone, may the weather continue to cooperate and make for easy driving.

On my calendar

As the year winds down, my schedule winds up. I just finished a Flash Fiction seminar for OIW - great bunch and the time flew by! I have been interviewed for both radio and newspapers (very pleased with the Citizen review of Wandering Backward:
Ottawa Citizen Sept.5
In 1944, seven-year-old Molly O'Connor moved from Huntsville, Ont., to Port Hope with her father, a police chief, and her mother and older brother. Decades later, she returned to her Port Hope roots, walking the streets where she had lived and played, eventually turning her reminiscences into this memoir. O'Connor, who now lives in North Gower, has penned a detailed account of life during the Second World War from a child's perspective, with coal deliveries, Eaton's catalogues, baking lessons, the latest Roy Rogers movie, mentholated oil rubs for colds, roller skates for Christmas and tragically, an uncle shot down over Germany. Many of the anecdotes are charmingly Ontarian. Older readers will wax nostalgic and younger readers will learn about the world "back then."

I have a number of speaking engagments booked for December and will be flogging my books at the the North Gower Farmers Christmas Market on December 4th.

I'm always looking for opportunities to speak to groups so welcome any invitations - just email me at fourteencups@hotmail.com

The cold weather is drawing me south. I still have not determined my exact location but have a couple of good leads. This week for sure, I will know when and where I will be from January to May.

Keep posted to my blog for regular updates

Molly O'Connor - fourteencups@hotmail.com

Fourteen Cups,my first published book, I self published. It is a selection of short stories each about a cuppa long. It has sold well and I am considering a reprint. What it did do was bring me a publisher, General Store Publishing, that published my latest book, Wandering Backward.

Wandering Backward is situated in small town Ontario in the mid 1940's. My reader can follow the adventures of a young girl and see the world through her eyes. It was a time very different from today and I wanted to capture the memories that linger and are everyday memories. It is not the big things in life that we carry forth but the small. It is my hope that Wandering Backward sparks memories for the older reader; prompts questions for the younger reader and gives those hovering mid-life an insite to their parents childhood.

Wandering Backward is available through http://www.gsph.com/ for $19.95