Today’s thoughts are all about friendships. They came to me from one of my early mentors, Virginia Kernaghan.

Words from Virginia Hollis Kernaghan:

“Since I have lived in many different places, and taught school for many years, there have been numerous special people in my life, some briefly, some for a lifetime. With the advent of computers and the availability of email, I hear from people who have never picked up a pen to write a letter, but now I hear from them now on email. Many of them still visit me in person, making my life richer because of their friendship. These people I call my angels…

Not long ago, a former student, Gary Mutchler, sent me the following poem. The author is unknown.

‘I wrote your name on a piece of paper, but by accident I threw it away.

I wrote your name on my hand, but it washed away.

I wrote your name in the sand, but the waves washed it away.

I wrote your name in my heart, and forever it will stay.

I believe in angels,

The kind that Heaven sends.

I’m surrounded by angels,

But I call them my friends.’ “

Friends are angels; they are the ones who call or text to check on how you’re doing. They are the ones who write on their calendar the date you’ll get test results, then call to see how things came out. They remember that your husband loves liver and onions, but you hate to cook it; then they send a dish of liver and onions when they make it for themselves, along with a portion of chicken and noodles for you. Yippee! I don’t have to cook tonight! Doctors have told us that “connectivity” is very important for Senior Citizens; in fact, for all of us. Friends are what keeps our connections going, and we have to ourselves be a friend; to reach out, to check on someone, to drop by with a “Nothingsday” gift. The old saying goes, “To have a friend, you must be one.” Do something in the name of friendship today.

RAE

Usually posters who do WWW Wednesday answer the questions, What have you finished? What are you reading now, and What will you read next. Instead, I’m only going to deal with the first W–What have you finished?

(Published 2020) I bought my signed copy online through Brazos Bookstore, an independent bookstore in Houston. Moving’s subtitle is “Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change.” A collection of pithy entries, Smith’s book is a collection of “poetry, proverbs, journaling, lyrical prose, belle lettres, psalms, meditations, and aphorisms.” (Richard Blanco) It is billed as “a book you’ll want to give someone you love.”

Changed by reading this book (in spurts and in pieces–I often had to put it down and think about it for a while, or a day), it helped me adjust my attitude toward my recovery and life in general. The three divisions of the book are “Revision,” “Resilience,” (I found this section extremely helpful.) and “Transformation.” Throughout the book, the author’s message is loud and clear and is repeated at the end of each “piece”… Whatever is going on in your life,”KEEP MOVING.”

I also finished the audiobook,

Eleanor is a woman who “lives a carefully time-tabled life,” and “avoids unnecessary human contact.” She lacks social skills altogether and usually says what she thinks. Her deadpan responses tend to make others laugh or gasp with shock. Eleanor meets Raymond, a “bumbling, unkempt” guy from her company, situated on another floor. By happenstance, it is Eleanor who assists Raymond when a stranger (Sammy) has a heart attack on the street in front of them. Later, they meet Sammy’s outgoing family, and begin a plus one relationship with each other at the many events they are invited to. They also begin to lunch together at a nearby cafe–a pair of “odd ducks.”

Through the changes Eleanor makes in her life because of her friendship with Raymond and her crush on a rock singer, she learns that she is “capable of friendship and [maybe even] love.” The story is as advertised, “smart, warm, and uplifting .

My author friend, Alda P. Dobbs, recently emailed me with pictures from her book release in San Antonio.

Here is Alda’s book, which I reviewed this past spring on PWR.

You can read my review by going to http://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress. com and using the search box, typing in Barefoot Dreams.

National Book Month was established to “focus on the importance of reading, writing, and literature.” October became a time to read. Dewey’s 24 hour Readathon has one of its sessions set in October.

Here are some ways to celebrate during October:

Start a new book. Begin a book that you have heard of, have read a review of, or have seen displayed at your local library.

Share an old book. Give a copy of a book you enjoyed to a friend or leave it in a public place for an unknown recipient to discover. Half Price Books or the online Thrift Books have reasonably priced copies.

Post on Social Media. Let friends, followers, and the general public know you are a reader. Find a meme on Pinterest or Google and post it on your Facebook or other page. Make up your own and post it.

October is the perfect month to join a book group. Ask at your local library.

DO SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE BOOKS AND READING THIS MONTH!

HAPPY READING THIS OCTOBER.