FLY THAT FLAG!

Here in the United States of America, Monday May 30th will be celebrated as Memorial Day. A federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May, it is more than a day off from school or work. It was once known as Decoration Day and commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in military service to their country, whether here or abroad. History says it was first enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the devastating Civil War. After World War II, it was voted to honor all Americans who die in all wars.


Unfortunately, some people see the long holiday weekend as an excuse to party, drink, and take a few extra days off from work. Until you have someone in the service. I was one of ‘those people’ and, if I had the time off from work, devoted my free time to shopping, family gatherings, fireworks, trips to the beach, and...drinking.

Not so, anymore. Once my husband and I started researching our family genealogy and I discovered my mom was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and dad was in the SAR, I was enthralled with how many of our ancestors served. My dad had a stint in the Navy, and my father-in-law was a career officer in the Air Force. We visited the graves of our ancestors, men who died in wars spanning the time since this country was new, starting with the French and Indian wars.

One spring, when we still lived in New Hampshire, my husband and I took a trip south to track down certain family members. My great-great-great grandfather was shot in the chest at the battle of Malvern Hill in Virginia and captured by the Confederates. His brother fought at Gettysburg and died in another battle near the end of the war. We found his name carved inside the New York Monument on Little Round top, then knelt by his small gravestone that we finally tracked down.


We visited the memorial of Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia where my husband’s great-great-great grandfather died near the end of the Civil War. The research, the family stories, and the graves opened our eyes, which made it hard to allow our youngest son to join the army back in 2002. After boot camp, being stationed in Germany, and a year serving in Iraq, he is home and continuing to serve in the Army Reserve. Happily, he lives nearby and is continuing his college education. He even helped me with my writing by coaching me on the correct military terminology when I wrote my contemporary military romance, UNWRAPPING CHRIS.

So, to my fellow Americans, enjoy your weekend but remember to make sure your flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. The morning position remembers the one million+ men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon, the raised flag commemorates the living. Enjoy a family Barbeque, visit the beach, and honor your favorite soldier. Give them a big ‘Thank You.’



BOOK BLURB
Sometimes the best memories are worth unwrapping once more.

Army widow Jayne Rockwell searches for a secure future for her and her two daughters. Staff Sergeant Christopher Hawkins regrets leaving young Jayne eight years ago to go off to war. A crash encounter a week before Christmas thrusts these two lonely people back into each other’s lives once more.

Jayne must learn to trust a man who disappeared with her heart. Chris must overcome the guilt of taking her innocence, and then leaving her heartbroken and alone.

A Christmas wedding brings them closer when Jayne spies him as a groomsman in Highland dress, complete with kilt. He cannot keep his eyes off the woman in green velvet wearing a wedding ring. Accusations, explanations, and remorse leads to a love that erupts among candlelight, Christmas carols, and a dark room. Who needs mistletoe?

Nancy grew up on New York’s Long Island then attended school in the beautiful mountains of New Hampshire. She earned a degree in art education. After meeting her husband there, they raised a family in a small, nearby town. She was am EMT/firefighter on their small fire department then worked for the State of New Hampshire as a 9-1-1 Emergency Medical Dispatcher. Nancy now writes full time, lives in North Carolina, and is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Celtic Heart Romance Writers, and Sisters-in-Crime. She also writes as Nancy Lennea.

Please check out her WEBSITE, BLOG, and her free excerpt at WHISPERS PUBLISHING.

This story may also be downloaded at AMAZON.

MY CABLE WENT OUT!!!

O-M-G.  Today my cable went out.  Totally out.  All day.  All day long!  It isn't right; it isn't fair.  I paid!  On time, even.  But it was....OUT!  No internet.  No cable TV.  Is this what drug withdrawal is like?  I've had flu that hurt less!
 

Really, it was terrible.  It was out when I left for work and then it was out when I came home for lunch.  I toyed with the idea of driving my laptop 19 miles to the nearest place I could plug it in but...I had to go back to work.  I passed two cable service trucks on my road on the way back to work.  Yes, I did stop and rolled down my window and asked them how soon I could have my cable back.  THEY DIDN'T KNOW!!!

It was torture.  All afternoon at work I worried whether I would have internet access when I got home.  I just knew it had to be fixed.  After all, at $88 a month, how could the cable company let me down like that???  ARGH.  Then I got home, clicked and entered and it said MY CONNECTIVITY HAD BEEN LOST!!!   I freaking knew my connectivity had been lost, all I wanted to know was when it was coming back.  I had a meltdown.  I screamed.  Really, really loud.  My dogs ran to the basement and I still haven't found the cats.  Oh, it was brutal.  You wouldn't have known me (well, maybe a couple of you would have. )

Obviously I got it back.  I punched and clicked, beat up the mouse, unplugged and re-plugged every plug, DUSTED the plugs on my hands and knees, threatened, implored, kicked, screamed and whined and eventually it came back.  My-connectivity-had-been-lost.  HOW DARE THEY?

MY ODE TO A TREE

Trees are great. They provide shade in the summer, and homes for birds and squirrels all year long. Some are 'evergreen' like white pine and spruce while others grow leaves that change color in the fall before dropping and obliterating my yard. Yes, I love trees.


Some trees hold secrets or take on faerie-like qualities, such as trees I have captured on film adorned with Spanish Moss. Can't you just see the plantation beyond? What history these trees have seen. Yes, I love trees.

Many cultures adore certain trees and even worship them. The Celts, in ancient times around the first of May, actually worshiped nine sacred woods by burning them in two seperate bonfires. While these trees such as Rowan, Apple, Dogwood, Poplar, Juniper, Cedar, Pine, Holly and Oak burst into flames, these early May Day celebrators would herd their livestock between them for good luck. Not very good luck for the burning trees, I imagine, but trees are a renewable fuel. Yes, I love trees.


Some trees grow hundreds of feet tall and sway in the wind, like eerie sentinels, protecting my home from the damaging rays of the sun. Their leaves remind me of the green of the mountains and their dance during storms are an eerie testament to the power of the weather. And, when one unlucky maple tree decided it had had too much of a good thing--standing tall and proud beside my driveway--down it came. On top of my car. No, no...I really LOVE trees.


Nancy Lee Badger also writes as NANCY LENNEA and lives in North Carolina which recently suffered damage in an outbreak of tornadoes, but she continues to write full-time. DESTINY'S MOUNTAIN is a recent release from Red Rose Publishing and it contains TREES. Well, the contemporary romantic suspense set in the White Mountains of New Hampshire also has stalkers, mountain rescues, ghostly voices, spicy love, and a happy ending.

Buy Link: http://bit.ly/a4NOHE