Our greatest gift is the thunder of Silence. ~Joel Goldsmith
It’s the end of the week, and the wisdom of the wordsmith in me says “that’s enough!”
Do return on Monday to All Things Fulfilling. You’ll be Looking at Lucky and I will tell you how that relates to my life. Some details of my journey weren’t included in the memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, so I’ll share more on this site. Sue’s memoir
“If you are yearning for the good ole days, just turn off the air conditioning.” ~ Griff Niblack Nostalgia Quotes & Sayings (Being Nostalgic, Good Old Days, etc)
Where is your tech support person when you need him? Weeks ago my husband and I moved,and getting digital equipment reconnected is time consuming.
We are not so technologically challenged that we’d confuse an Etch-a- Sketch with an i-pad. But sometimes I think I’d rather return to the days of the Etch-A-Sketch since there are only two knobs and no wires or portal interfacing. Trying to connect some digital devices are challenging even though they are reportedly “user friendly.”
I remember when the Etch a Sketch came on the market in the early 1960s – it immediately went to the top of my Christmas list, and Santa fulfilled my wishes. The Etch-a- Sketch was our traveling companion. It kept us kids entertained and from fighting on road trips.
The other toy that was a saving grace in the car were these number puzzles. Remember them? We also had a larger one with a U.S. Map on it that you had to unscramble- that was very challenging.
It’s fun to look back on old toys from my childhood. Some of them make me wonder if kids today would even know what they are or take interest in them. If you are from the baby boomer generation, what was your favorite plaything that you wish you could still locate today? Search, you might find it here http://www.vermontcountrystore.com.
See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.
This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of “Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.”Sue’s memoir
We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. ~ Nicholas Sparks
How many of you baby boomers remember wearing “pettipants?” I remember them well. They were popular in the 1960s.
In our house, the mention of “pettipants” got a little confusing. Because the stellar character in my memoir, Fanny, called Scott, my little brother, “Petty.” So the mention of “pettipants” could have meant my little brothers breeches! Fanny had a different kind of way of communicating but as she became enfolded deeper and deeper into our family, our lives were enriched many times over as we learned about each others cultures.
I liked wearing “pettipants” to school better than a slip underneath my pleated skirts. They were perfect when cuolottes came in vogue. We used to shop for our “pettipants” in the lingerie department at Hutzler’s, Hochschild Kohns, Stewarts or Hecht Company – Baltimore’s iconic 20th century department stores – many of which are now defunct.
These historic retail establishments were the places people went to shop
before the suburban malls began to blossom and spread in the 1970’s. Many of the historic department stores met their demise when that happened.
Michael J Lisicky, author of “Hutzler’s: Where Baltimore Shops” chronicles the rise and fall of some of Marylander’s favorite shopping meccas. For more information on this book, please follow this link. http://www.amazon.com/Hutzlers-MD-Where-Baltimore-Landmarks/dp/1596298286.
Baltimore’s historic department stores hold many memories from my days of growing up and going shopping with my sister and our girl friends. If you are a baby boomer, no doubt you have fond memories of the places you frequented when you went clothes shopping, and the fashions that were popular during different eras of your lifetime.
This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, a story of multi-cultural love, faith, healing and life lessons.Sue’s memoir
The universe is but one great city, full of beloved ones, divine and human, by nature endeared to each other. ~ Epictetus
Mark your calendars, right now! The 2014 Bawlmer Hon Fest is coming up in less than a month. This year it is June 14th and June 15th. It’s a whole weekend dedicated to the culture that I grew up on the outskirts of, in the mid-Atlantic city of Baltimore. People like to poke fun over it’s regional subculture in self-deprecating humor.
Don’t know what I am talking about? The movie Hairspray with John Travolta will give you insight into what I am talking about. It’s hard to explain but once you are immersed in the jest, you’d quickly get it. It’s all about fun and fortune of being among friends or close family, hon, and speaking the same language.
That’s all I’m sayin’ except that the influences are there, in my memoir. I’ll say no more. I don’t want to get myself in trouble. Here are some pictures that might explain a little to outsiders.
This blog brought to you by Sue BattonLeonard, the author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.Sue’s memoir
Come on back tomorrow, hon, I’ll be sharing some more childhood memories from living in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Have you realized that today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday? ― Jaachynma N.E. Agu, The Prince and the Pauper
Indeed, I have come to understand that! For many a year I had visions of writing and publishing our family’s story, and it has become a reality. Memoirs are important because they are not just about our immediate family. They often reflect and record a time in history, a culture or religion, a way of being raised, and the values we pass on to the next generation.
Oh, there were times when I doubted, got discouraged or couldn’t find the right words, but I never let it stop me. Action led to fulfillment of those dreams. I made it happen!
Each time the task seemed daunting or I couldn’t find the right words or hit a road block I’d press on remembering the words of Bill Cosby “Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.”
We published authors overcame our fears and live to tell the story of it!
This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.
“Your supposed to be using your gifts and fulfilling your dreams at every age.” ~Victoria Moran
On May 23rd from 5-7 pm I will be one of three people who will be featured at an art reception at Kneading Hands Therapy. Kneading Hands has the distinction of being “Best of the Boat” as a leader in massage therapy. They also have a growing apothecary and retail gift shop. http://www.kneadinghandstherapy.com/ Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected can now be purchased at Kneading Hands Therapy, so stop in anytime during their business hours or come the evening of May 23rd. I will be there and will personalize a copy of my newly released memoir just for you, if buy it. Kali Waldman, a multi-media artist whose love of art began at a young age will be present. Some of her art is abstract with unintentional messages that appear in many of her pieces which helps her to name them. Kali also enjoys photography and handbuilding with clay. For more information on her art, here is a link https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaliart/263624433681489?ref=hl. Lori Aigner will be present to talk about the Tower Garden, an aeroponic growing system. Her information will be timely, as planting gardens here in mountain country is just around the corner. Kneading Hands Therapy will have sale items, giveaways and refreshments. Stop in! I’m excited to be included in this event because the reception involves gals who are growing their passions through business and life – so an evening of all things fulfilling! Thank you, Ali Boehm. I’m looking forward to the event. This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.Sue’s memoir
Grown don’t mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What’s that suppose to mean? In my heart it don’t mean a thing. ~Toni Morrison, Beloved, 1987
Now that Mother’s Day is over I can tell you what I got Mom since my present that I was planning came much earlier than expected, thanks to the efficiency of my publishers, The Bookcrafters.
You see, I had been planned on giving my Mom the first copy of my new publication Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected as a Mothers’ Day surprise.Sue’s memoir
So began my quandry. What to give Mom for Mother’s Day, instead of the book. It was solved when I stepped into Kneading Hands Therapy’s apothecary and gift shop to bring them copies of my memoir to sell. There it was, a little heart pillow, artfully decorated with a small banner that said “Write it on your heart that everyday is the best day of the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson. “Perfect,” I thought, ” mom will love it.”
My mom really needs no reminder of this adage because she already has a zest for living and a unfaltering positive attitude toward life. Thankfully she has tried hard to pass on her joie de vivre to me, my siblings and her grandchildren. But, I thought, “she might like to hang the heart pillow from her bookshelves in her library or from the bedpost as a reminder to have faith, hope and find love in being alive every day on this earth even if things get more difficult with aging. She and my Dad are in their mid-eighties.”
Hope you had a great Mother’s Day, Mom. I was thinking of you and how grateful I am that you have had a long,healthy life to enjoy your four children and the grandchildren, too.
See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.
“How beautiful on the mountains are on the feet of those who bring good news.” ~ The Bible
My sister Jan had just walked in the door from work the other day when her telephone rang.
“Meet me at the fence,” her neighbor said. With urgency Jan threw down her pocketbook and ran out the back door wondering what the issue was this time. For twenty-five plus years whenever a “meet me at the fence” call came through between Jan and her neighbor, something was up. One of them had some kind of news to share with the other.
Jan stood at the fence waiting for her neighbor for a few minutes. Then watched her walk from her house across the lawn with one hand behind her back and a huge smile on her face. Jan knew from her expression it was good news, this time. Jan’s friend and her husband are police officers and sometimes she encounters difficult days, and needs to talk.
“Oh, my gosh, Jan!” her neighbor said “I can’t stop laughing. I love this book I am reading.”
“What are you reading?” Jan inquired.
The neighbor took the book from behind her back, where she was hiding it. It was a copy of “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.”
“That’s my sisters book!” Jan said, with enthusiasm and surprise.
“I know it! That’s one of the reasons why I bought it!” said her neighbor. I’ve told everyone down at the police station they’ve got to buy it. It’s a balm for the heart and the soul when things in the world are too depressing and you want to uplift the spirit.
The author thanks you, Beth, from the mountains of Steamboat Springs, Colorado! I am happy to hear you like the book. Many publications are sold when news of a good read travels beyond fences!
This blog brought to you by author Sue Batton Leonard. Sue’s memoir
Since I left high school in Towson, Maryland in 1971, I rarely have looked back to those teen years. In fact I have never driven by the site of the school, not even to get a glimpse to see if anything has changed and I’ve never returned for a high school reunion.
A couple of summers ago when I was in the area of where I grew up, visiting family, I did drive by my three childhood homes, all within the same neighborhood. How I was feeling was hard to grasp. I suppose it could be described as a mixture of beautiful feelings and a very quick dash of sadness that life marched forward. The melancholy feelings lasted only a few brief minutes.
Funny, isn’t it, how some people live their entire lives in one place feeling completely fulfilled and others move on. For me, I can’t imagine having stayed for all these years in the same environment where I spent my childhood.
My husband feels the same way. He left his childhood surroundings on the northern shores of Massachusetts (north of Boston) and never looked back. I suppose we were meant for each other – Baltimore girl, Boston boy, parents to a son raised in Vermont – now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico – a transient three, aren’t we?
Its taken me a life time to learn there is truth in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quotation, “the only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” I’ve come to many more conclusions about how life takes unexpected turns as I have written my memoir.My reckonings will give me plenty more to write about.
Photo Above: My high school in Towson, Maryland.
Interesting fact: Swimmer Michael Phelps, holder of 22 Olympic medals, also graduated from this school about twenty-five years after me.
Photo below: Overhead view of where I grew up – moved to three different homes in the same neighborhood. My dad built all three. The first house was a small cape style house, then onto what might be described as a southern colonial farmhouse and then to a 1970’s modern-style home which is smack in the middle of this picture.
Tomorrow’s blog is about a hard learned lesson that happened in the 2nd of my childhood homes.Sue’s memoir
Do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow. This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.
Love grows from stable relationships, shared experience, loyalty, devotion, trust. ~ Unknown
You are cordially invited to Sue Batton Leonard’s book signing for Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected in Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Here are the details:
This event is open to the public and refreshments will be served.
The author will talk about her newly published memoir and about her experience of independent publishing.Sue’s memoir
See you on Monday, either in Steamboat or right here on the site of All Things Fulfilling!
All Things Fulfilling 