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Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life
AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader
Dear Reader,
Even though I live in Florida, when the weather slips into the low 60s...BURR....Floridians are shivering--shameful, but true. But thank heavens I feel cold, because it gives me a chance to wear my hand knitted pink scarf and neck warmer, personally knitted by today's guest columnist, best selling author Barbara Bretton. Yes, out of the blue, every so often (but come to think of it, it's been a while--wink, wink) a package arrives from Barbara and I've never been disappointed.
I don't know how she finds the time, but I'm so blessed that she does. Barbara's published over 45 novels--series romance, mainstream romance, women's fiction, historicals--and an ebook cookbook called A SKILLET, A SPATULA, AND A DREAM which is available now. Send an email to Barbara and welcome her to the book club. I guarante you'll receive a delightful response, and she'll enter your name in a drawing for one of five books she's giving away. You can reach Barbara at: barbara@barbarabretton.com
Thank you so much for visiting the book club today Barbara...
When I was a kid, my mother told me that the secret to happiness was to love your everyday life. Everyone loves the special days, the big events, the vacations and celebrations. But to wake up every morning happy with who you are, where you are, whose face is on the other pillow -- well, it doesn't get much better than that.
It's been a difficult summer. We lost some dear friends, some to time, some to illness, and for a while there it seemed like we did nothing but say goodbye. Our everyday life was looking a little bleak.
August was almost gone when I remembered that we hadn't taken our annual Summer Roller Coaster Ride. To be honest, neither one of us felt much like it but family traditions can't be ignored so one sunny morning we jumped into the car and headed for Six Flags. I defy you to be unhappy in an amusement park. It can't be done! Blissfully anonymous in a sea of laughing strangers, we rode the wildest coasters they had, ate cotton candy and hot dogs, danced to a live band, and watched fireworks that lit up the sky. Basically, we acted like kids and had a ball doing it. (More than once I thought of Suzanne blowing bubbles just for the fun of it and laughed out loud. There's definitely a lesson to be learned there.) Since then we have gone out of our way to embrace everything that feels good, tastes good, sounds good, makes us laugh, makes us happy, makes the time on this planet worth living. We've made everyday happiness our number one priority. Not long before she died, my mother (who never gave advice) gave me some. "Life can change in an instant," she said. "I want you to enjoy every second while you can." At the time I didn't understand just how right she was. Life is short, no matter how few or how many years you're given. It goes by in the blink of an eye and you owe it to yourself and the ones you love to laugh long and hard and often and knit those memories together into something that will keep you warm years later.
A friend said this was either the start of a (late) mid-life crisis or the beginning of an autumn to remember.
I'm betting on the latter.
Barbara Bretton
To enter Barbara's drawing send her an email with your mailing address to: barbara@barbarabretton.com
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com
* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE TUNNEL by Ernesto Sabato. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/Sept12Classics
AUTHORBUZZ: WITH EVERY LETTER (Fiction) by Sarah Sundin
You've Got Mail was inspired by the Jimmy Stewart classic The Shop Around the Corner, and both movies inspired me. Who would be drawn to an anonymous correspondence? A shy World War II flight nurse in the pioneering days of air evacuation? An Army engineer shadowed by family infamy? If they met in North Africa, would they reveal their identities? In With Every Letter, join Mellie and Tom as they discover romance and adventure on the shores of the Mediterranean.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on WITH EVERY LETTER to read more and to email author Sarah Sundin, you'll get a reply.
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