Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column - December 30, 2022

Dear Reader,

This New Year's Eve column has become a tradition at the book clubs. Happy New Year!

My most memorable New Year's Eve was the year my dress fell apart. Well, actually it was shedding. We'd just moved to Florida and some new friends invited us to their New Year's Eve party. We didn't know anyone else at the party, but I made, without a doubt, a big first impression. I was wearing a brand new, black velvet dress--purchased just for the occasion (and it wasn't cheap)--but it started shedding. Everywhere I walked, I left a trail of huge, black fuzz clumps behind. The dress was literally falling apart from the inside out.

I wasn't aware of what was happening until I visited the bathroom. The floor had two huge, white rugs, so it instantly became apparent that I was leaving a trail. I was horrified. I picked up my

"droppings" and headed back to the party.

When I walked back into the kitchen, I looked down at the floor and sure enough, there was my dress, all over it. No one else seemed to notice the trail that I'd left around the house. But like a run in your stocking, I was sure they were aware and not saying anything just to be kind.

My first thought was to walk around the kitchen--shuffling my shoe along the floor--so I could sweep up my black fuzz balls. But then I realized that as fast as I was rounding up those little buggers in front of me, I was leaving a new crop behind. My backup plan was to find a dimly lit spot and stay put. And I did, until we left. 

I can only imagine what that couple must have thought the next day when they cleaned up from the party! Maybe they thought I'd brought a pet.

* My gift to you this holiday season is the Getting Ready for 2023 Year-End Giveaway. Enter today's drawing to win a 2023 Spiral bound weekly and monthly planner, solid black (6.3" x 8.4"), go to: http://www.dearreader.com/giveaway/

Thanks for reading with me (this past year). It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 29, 2022

Dear Reader,

My gift to you this holiday season is the Getting Ready for 2023 Year-End Giveaway. Although I'm on a staycation, I'm choosing multiple winners every day, so feel free to enter every single day.

Enter today's drawing to win a beautiful Flowers monthly, hanging calendar (12 x 12) go to: http://www.dearreader.com/giveaway/

Thanks for reading with me (this past year). It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 28, 2022

Dear Reader,

My gift to you this holiday season is the Getting Ready for 2023 Year-End Giveaway. Although I'm on a staycation, I'm choosing multiple winners every day, so feel free to enter every single day.

Enter today's drawing to win an adorable Puppy and Kitten, monthly, hanging calendar (12.13 x 9.37) go to: http://www.dearreader.com/giveaway/

Thanks for reading with me (this past year). It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 27, 2022

Dear Reader,

My gift to you this holiday season is the Getting Ready for 2023 Year-End Giveaway. Although I'm on a staycation, I'm choosing multiple winners every day, so feel free to enter every single day.

Enter today's drawing to win a 2023 Hanging Wall Calendar (15" x 11.5"), go to: http://www.dearreader.com/giveaway/

Thanks for reading with me (this past year). It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 26, 2022

Dear Reader,

Spilling coffee all over my Daytimer a few weeks ago, and realizing it was time to order my new 2023 Daytimer, inspired me to offer this year’s ‘Getting Ready for 2023’ Year-End Giveaway.

It's fun to receive gifts, it's even more fun for me to give them. So every day this week, I’ll be giving away a different 2023 calendar. I’ll be choosing multiple winners, so be sure to enter my Getting Ready for 2023 Year-End Giveaway every day.

Enter today's drawing to win a spiral bound weekly and monthly planner, with handy pockets (6" x 8.3"), go to: http://www.dearreader.com/giveaway/

Thanks for reading with me (this past year). It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 23, 2022

Dear Reader,

A few years ago, I tried my hand at writing some holiday poetry for readers--an amusing version of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," and now it's become a tradition at the book clubs.

Okay, I admit it's a bit hokey, but it's really kind of a catchy little number once you start reading it. There's a syncopated beat throughout, and if you throw in a little sing-song rhythm, you'll be smiling by the end.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas at the Book Clubs

'Twas the night before Christmas and in every house

All good book club readers were clicking their mouse.

They'd hung all their stockings, decorated their trees

And now it was time to sit down and see

What their email had brought them on this Christmas Eve.

A five-minute break to read a good book

Was just what they needed, but oh my--look...

When they opened their email, no read could be found.

"Oh no, we're afraid Suzanne went out of town.

Could she have forgotten to send us our read?

How could she do this in our time of need?"

The readers all panicked, they shivered in fright,

They pined for their emails and settled in for the night.

"Could we have misplaced them? Did we hit the wrong key?

Did it go in our deleted files?" Oh such misery.

And then in a flash, with a stroke of a key,

One by one, they discovered their Christmas Eve reads.

Their eyes how they twinkled, they laughed and they smiled

And they settled into their chairs to read for awhile.

Their hearts were delighted, they felt just like kids,

But it's still such a mystery where that email had hid.

Was it there all the time and they just didn't see?

Or did Santa step in and do a good deed?

Good boys and girls are on Santa's list

And good book club readers he vows never to miss.

It's been a long night, time to climb into bed,

So they shut down their computers and laid down their heads.

But in the quiet of night, before things came to an end,

They heard, "Thanks for reading with me,

It's so good to read with friends."

 

Happy Holidays. I wish you peace and joy.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 22, 2022

Dear Reader,

Today I’m sharing a column that I wrote a few years ago. I like to read it every year myself, because it helps me remember that the holidays aren’t the same for everyone. 

I had a good cry yesterday. The holidays are a fun and magical time, but they're also filled with memories. Family and friends who aren't with me any longer and friends who are fighting cancer right now, these thoughts are all mixed in with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head.

I guess I'm mentioning this because yesterday when I interacted with an obviously very angry man in the aisle of the supermarket, at first I was feeling pretty upset with the guy, even caught myself thinking, 'What's his problem? Why is he being such a nasty person, especially around the holidays?'

But then I reminded myself that life is complicated, especially this time of year. Life goes on like any other day, people lose their jobs, families are split apart, folks are feeling lonely because this is the first Christmas since their spouse passed away, and others are worried their parents might not be around to celebrate next year.

I had a good cry yesterday--and now I feel much better. I sure hope the man I met in the supermarket gives himself that gift, too.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 21, 2022

Dear Reader,

This year I received so many outstanding entries in the Write a DearReader Contest, it seemed a shame to only publish the winning ones. So I've chosen some Honorable Mention entries that I'm be publishing in my column. Today’s piece was written by Robin Ball. Thanks for your entry, Robin. I agree, libraries are a blessing. 

Growing up I was blessed to live in a home where everyone had a book within reach or on a desk; we talked about books at the dinner table, and had a dictionary at the ready so we would be included in conversations with vocabulary that may have been above our level. Don’t know a word? Look it up. And, what a better introduction to books than that found in a library. We were often brought to the library but the magic day came when we reached the age of five and  were allowed to fill out our first application. When I was young, you had to be able to fill out the card with mom’s help but you were asked to sign the card all by yourself. That card opened up a world of independence. Our town had a main library, three branch libraries, and a bus mobile library that visited just a mile up the street from where we lived. The bus mobile visited once a week, and my brothers and sisters would take charge of getting me there and back with my prized possessions. It was my responsibility to get those books back in time, and in good order the following week.

Jump ahead years later, after college and a career in advertising, marriage and kids. We moved from town to town; wherever we lived, I found the library and was never without a book. My children were by my side as we got our books, and when it was their turn to get a library card they too found a whole new world in which to belong. It wasn’t easy for me going from a life of hectic traveling, presenting ideas to major corporate leaders, and never having a dull minute to transitioning to a stay-at-home mom. That is when I rediscovered the library; I was always there–volunteering, teaching classes, browsing shelves, and recommending books. One day, the director of this small library branch asked me if I would like a job. After all, I practically lived in the library and my recommendations had certainly improved the circulation. Well, it took me almost a month to accept, and here I am sixteen years later still working at the library.

The library, although changed in many ways, is still a safe place and a place to find comfort and friends. I have taught children all about books, writing their own books, and have fun dancing, laughing and singing. The senior patrons of the library often come to me to recommend books, I am often asked to locate books with only the description of the cover of the book. I often surprise patrons with my quick method of finding just the book. The library is a good place with no judgment. People come here when they are out of work to use our computers, and our research materials to get them back into the job market. Many will spend the entire day here often asking for our input. Kids come when they are toddlers and we watch them grow into young adults. We have had our share of people who have moved on yet still keep in touch, and we have had our share of people who we must say our final goodbyes. The library is a revolving door of family, friends, and strangers who don’t remain strangers for too long. The library will be here regardless of how the world changes, we will change with it while remaining steadfast and true.

– Robin Ball , Honorable Mention, 2022 Write a DearReader Contest

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 20, 2022

Dear Reader,

Instead of exchanging gifts this Christmas, my husband and I, and our 25-year-old granddaughter, Bailey, are exchanging Christmas letters. And we’ll all be reading our letters on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas always makes me remember the times I spent with my Grandma and Grandpa Hale.” I wrote to Bailey. “They were special people in my life. They felt like characters out of a novel that described the perfect, loving grandparents. I felt safe and secure and that if I ever needed help, they would be there for me. I hope you always feel the love Grandpa and I have for you. 

I have some Christmas traditions that are dear to my heart, and so I want to share them with you.

It just wouldn’t feel like Christmas if I didn’t…

…watch the movie, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (black and white version) I always tear up and start crying at the beginning, because it brings back the very vivid memory of the one Christmas Eve, when my parents and I were driving on a country road, on the way to my grandparent’s house, and I saw, very clearly, Santa and his reindeer flying through the sky…

…read the children's book, ‘The Night Before Christmas’ (I sent along a copy of the book). I don't think I’ll ever get too old to read it on Christmas Eve, and the artwork always makes me think of my granddaughter, the artist!

 …read the editorial, ‘Is There a Santa Claus?’. It was first printed in ‘The Sun’ newspaper (New York edition) in 1897. (I sent a copy of that, too.) 

I’ve also enclosed some photos of Grandma and Grandpa Hale, the two people who loved me, and showed me their love when I was growing up. Don't know what I would have done without them.

Have a very Merry Christmas, Bailey. You are a gift to Grandpa and me all year long. We love you.

--Grandma

My husband penned a letter to Bailey, too.

Dear Bailey,

What better gift for Christmas than some good advice from your Grandpa...

Take care of your back. That 40 lb. bag of kitty litter can be 10 lbs. too much.

Make memories. Money comes and goes.

Moisturize, use sunscreen, exercise, travel, and eat your vegetables.

Don't go comparing yourself to everyone else. We all walk our own path, at our own pace.

Put a blanket on your lap while you work. It's life changing. Cats will love it too.

Treat yourself.

Be your own advocate.

Lift weights. (Grandma’s lifting every day now.)

Keep making friends.

Start therapy sooner. Therapy is about maintenance.

Stop watching the news.

But the best advice I can give you, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing. I am so proud of you.’

I Love You, Grandpa

Thanks for reading with me. It’s so good to read with friends.

Make some new memories this holiday season.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column - December 19, 2022

Dear Reader,

Everyone at your holiday table will be happy if you serve this Green Beans Jazzed with Tomato side dish. It's a wonderful dish, especially at Christmas, since adding tomatoes to the green beans makes the dish red and green. It's easy to make and tastes divine and you can easily reheat leftovers (but you probably won't have any!) Enjoy! 

Green Beans Jazzed with Tomato

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 small clove garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon light brown sugar

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 medium tomatoes, cut up 

Steam the green beans until crisp-tender, or boil in salted water for about 15 to 18 minutes.

While beans are cooking, melt butter in skillet, add onion and garlic; cook and stir over medium heat for about 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in brown sugar, lemon juice, salt, oregano and pepper. Add tomatoes. Heat thoroughly. Drain the green beans, then add the tomato mixture to them and gently toss.

Enjoy with friends and tell them about the book club!

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]