Freedom is not free. It is paid for with the lives, blood, and sacrifices of our military men, women, and their families. Thank you for your service. God Bless You and keep you safe. God Bless America.
#WednesdayWisdom The Freedom of Books
When I was a kid, we didn’t have much. Things were tough in some ways. I was a stranger in a strange land and there was sadness about a lot of things. There wasn’t a lot of money, but there was family and support. Those things do make a big difference in a child’s life. Unfortunately, too many children today lack that family structure.
There were also books. My mom and grandmother were both avid readers and they instilled that love of books in me.
With books, I could go anywhere. I could escape into worlds that were new and different and exciting. I learned new words. In fact, when my parents sacrificed to buy us an encyclopedia set, I read through the entire set and I would do the vocabulary tests in the back and challenge myself to expand my vocabulary.
My mother delighted in that because she knew all that knowledge from those books would help me in life. That it would set me free to do whatever I wanted.
I still read. Not as much as I would like due to time constraints, but any moment that I can, I read the news, magazines, papers, and of course, books.
I know I’m preaching to the choir here since I know so many of you are avid readers. I just hope I can reach someone else to let them know that the power to succeed is something they can hold in their hands.
The power to succeed can be found in a book.
Guilty Pleasures Monday – Lights Out!
What can I say? I love ruggedly handsome men and stories about underdog boxers. Entering the ring this morning is Holt McCallany who I first saw ages ago on a short-lived science fiction show titled FREEDOM. Holt played a soldier in that show, another of my favorites – military men.
Now Holt is playing the role of an ex-boxer trying to make a comeback in the new FX series LIGHTS OUT. It has tried and true hooks that many people love a la Rocky Balboa – an underdog trying to right a wrong (a controversial split decision) and support his family.
I know I’ll be recording the premiere tomorrow when it airs on FX. If you watch the show live, let me know how you liked it!
Here’s a little trailer for the show with the very manly and rugged Holt.
Things for Which I am Thankful
I know it’s Wicked Wednesday, which usually means an excerpt, but I wanted to get a headstart on the Thanksgiving holiday and share those things for which I am thankful. I hope you’ll forgive me this indulgence. Here are those things for which I am thankful:
- My Family: To my hubby who always makes me laugh and my beautiful daughter who is the light of my heart, I am thankful. I am also thankful for my sister, brother, in-laws and all my nieces, nephews and cousins who bring such joy into my life.
- Our Military and their families: Thank you for the sacrifices you make so that we can continue to be safe and enjoy the many freedoms which we enjoy.
- My Friends: Where would you be without friends? I want to thank all of them for always being supportive and I want to thank all of you, my cyber friends, for always visiting and writing.
- The Liberty States Fiction Writers: After a year of darkness, a bright light emerged. You are that bright light, filled with optimism, good will, diversity and innovation. I thank you for our first wonderful year together and give a big WOO HOO that we’ve reached 150 members in our inaugural year.
Last, but never ever least . . .
- The United States of America: You opened your doors to me and provided me the opportunity to live the American Dream. You gave me Liberty and allowed me to pursue through hard work those things that have made me happy and which I hope have contributed to the overall good of this Nation. I am forever indebted and thankful.
What about you? What are the things for which you are thankful this Thanksgiving season?
Thoughtful Thursday – On taxes and tea parties . . .
First of all, my apologies for missing Wicked Wednesday only it was a crazy day at work and of course, even worse, it was Tax Day!
The lines at the Post Office were awful, I’m told. There were dozens in line to buy stamps to mail their tax returns and even more people dropping by to place their returns in the bins labelled for the respective tax centers in the area.
Tax day and tea parties! Now, whether you’re for or against the current tax and stimulus plans, here’s the thing . . .
You have the freedom to speak out about it. If you follow all the rules and behave responsibly, you have the right to stand up and let your voice be heard. Whether or not the politicians and media listen is a whole different thing, but it doesn’t lessen the fact that you have that freedom.
Freedom and responsibility. They go hand in hand.
My daughter and I were talking about this the other day. She’s taking a sociology course in college where they are discussing all kinds of interesting things. Political democracy. Economic democracy.
Democracy period. A fascinating concept to be sure. Wikipedia defines it as “a form of government in which power is held indirectly by citizens in a free electoral system” and goes on to offer various examples of different kinds of democracies.
The bottom line is . . .
Democracy only works if you do as well. Vote. Voice your opinions. Demand honesty from your politicians and the media. You have the freedom to do so, but more importantly, it’s your responsibility to do so.