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You are here: Home / Archives for Change of Plans

Change of Plans

Friday Fiction: The Foreign Language of Friends, Ch. 3

September 30, 2011 by admin

Book Baby has The Foreign Language of Friends! In a few days I should have some cover proofs to look over. In the meantime, here’s chapter three where the four main characters meet for the first time.

 

CHAPTER 3 – JUNE 20

Rita Martin stood at the front of her classroom, a broad smile on her face, waiting for her new students to arrive. Despite having taught for twenty years, she always felt butterflies of excitement whenever a new session started. The material in Spanish I was always the same, but each new group of students gave the lessons a fresh perspective. Short and plump, with porcelain skin and warm brown eyes that misted easily, she dressed simply in tan slacks and a black sweater that would keep her comfortable in the air conditioning, which tended to be excessive. A hundred degrees outside, she thought, but in here they could hang meat. She rubbed her chilled hands together and hoped for a good turnout to warm the room. Plenty of students had enrolled, but she never knew who would actually show up. Learning a new language scared people, although their usual excuse for quitting was something like a more polished version of “my dog ate my homework.”

Students started to filter in at the last minute. Continuing education classes attracted a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and reasons for taking the course. She greeted each student with a hearty, “¡Hola!” which brought nods and nervous giggles in response.

She had just opened her book to begin when Julia rushed in, her face flushed from hurrying. “I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said. Glancing around at the group, she smiled brightly and said, “Hi, everyone! I’m Julia Lafferty. Won’t this be fun?”

The class chuckled collectively as Julia took a seat in the front row.

“We were just getting started,” Rita said. “Let’s get to know each other a little bit first. We’ll spend the first bit of class speaking in English, so everyone can relax.” She saw bodies unclenching and smiles that were more genuine. If she had learned nothing over the past few decades, she had at least learned how to put students at ease. “Julia, would you like to tell us a little something about yourself?”

“Great, sure,” Julia said. Swiveling around to face the class, she said, “My husband and I travel a lot, and I thought learning a language would help me communicate with the locals. Plus, I just like to meet new people.” She opened her mouth to say more, and then seemed to think better of it. “That’s all. I’m glad to be here.”

Rita laughed with the rest of the class at Julia’s infectious warmth. “Perfect,” Rita said. “Whenever you’re visiting Central or South America, people will appreciate your efforts. Some pronunciation and grammar varies if you go to Spain, but we will cover that as we go. Who’s next?”

A woman to Julia’s right cleared her throat with a “let’s get on with this” tone. “I’m Claire Malone, and I’m a corporate attorney,” she said. “My company plans to do more work in Central America, so I need to learn the language for business. I’m ready to get done with these introductions and actually learn something.” She flashed a smile that looked more like bared teeth. Rita had watched Claire enter the room like a Category 3 hurricane, commanding the attention of everyone present. Each move deliberate and forceful, she had brought out multiple notebooks, pens, and highlighters, and had already marked several pages of text with sticky notes.

“Don’t worry,” Rita said. “By the end of this class you will be surprised at what you have learned. We have many professionals who do well by taking this class. Who else?”

“I’m Ellen Foster,” said a soft, timid voice from the back of the room. She came across as a mass of brown: mousy brown hair, brown eyes, brown clothes, an ordinary-looking woman who people would pass on the street. “I’m a freelance technical writer. I’m just curious about whether I can learn a language. I think it would be good for me. You know, I’m not getting any younger, and I hear that studying a language prevents Alzheimer’s.”

The group laughed, with the exception of Claire, who had her eye on her BlackBerry, and Julia, who studied Ellen thoughtfully.

Noticing Ellen’s blush, Rita responded gently. “This may be true. Although some doctors say we can’t do anything to prevent dementia, exercise for the brain is just as important as exercising the body. And, as we get older, learning a language, while certainly possible, becomes more difficult. As we exercise the parts of our brains that we haven’t used since childhood, we may notice a sharpening of our minds in other areas. It’s a great reason to be here. Welcome.”

Ellen’s skin returned to its natural, bland color, and she smiled, though she still seemed uncertain.

“I’m Mikhela, Mickey for short, Watson — er, no, Thomas, it’s Thomas now,” said Mickey, her dark eyes darting as she clicked her pen, nerves bouncing out of her skin. “I like to run. I work in a medical office, but I might be going to grad school soon. I just got back from a volunteer trip to Costa Rica, and it was awful. I mean, the trip was cool, but I didn’t know any Spanish, so I couldn’t talk to anyone. No one spoke English at my placement. No one! Oh, and I just got married.” She carelessly flashed a modest wedding band, showing a curious lack of enthusiasm. “I’m not really good with languages, but my mom thought it would be a good class for me to take.” She dropped her eyes, still fidgeting in her seat.

“Well, congratulations!” Rita said. “A newlywed in our midst. We would love to hear more about your trip as we go on. Volunteering is a great way to get to know a place more intimately, and the language lessons will certainly help.”

Others introduced themselves, all earnest, inquiring, and nervous in their own ways. Rita offered a comment in response to each, and then explained how the class would work. She held up the textbook. “This is the book you’ll be using. I know most of you have it already, but those who don’t, make friends with a neighbor who does. Oh, by the way, I find that class works better when we’re in a circle so we can see and speak to one another. So, if you don’t mind, please move your desks into a circle.” She could see doubt and fear arising again, especially from the students who had grabbed seats along the back wall. Inside, she chuckled that adults still managed to hold on to old grade-school behaviors. She clapped her hands lightly and, in a teasing voice, said, “Ahora, por favor. That means ‘now, please.’”

Julia jumped up and moved her chair first, then went back to Ellen. “Sit next to me,” she said. “Here, I’ll help.”

The rest of the class followed reluctantly after Julia led the way.

“Great,” Rita said. “Now, we’re going to learn how to introduce ourselves, only this time in Spanish.”

By the end of the evening, everyone had learned the basics, though some fumbled more than others. Rita had passed around a sign-up sheet and noticed that Julia had copied down several e-mail addresses as the sheet came her way. Every class had its organizers, and she suspected that Julia planned to form a study group.

As she drove home from class, reflecting, she thought about past classes she had taught. Each person came to class for a particular reason, but they often left gaining something unexpected. People’s lives changed in class if they stayed with the study long enough. Those who made it to the advanced classes often traveled together, or ate at local Tex-Mex restaurants where they could practice with one another. Romances blossomed, people found new and better jobs, the list was endless. She wondered what life had in store for this class.

Filed Under: blogs, fiction, writing Tagged With: books, Change of Plans, Foreign Language of Friends, free fiction, novels, women, writing

Plant a Garden, Keep the Faith

September 14, 2011 by admin

“What if it doesn’t rain?”

My husband, ever practical, has a valid question. We’ve had little rain since February, and the garden is empty save for a few hearty pepper plants that manage to eke out a few tiny sweet peppers despite the extraordinary heat. At mid-September, we’re still hitting highs of over 100. Even for Houston, the summer has been too long and too dry.

Still, we have a small blessing in the cooler morning temperatures, and I can get out before it hits 80 to start preparing the garden for fall. I’ve pulled weeds, trimmed some of the few native plants that are holding their own, and used some stored rainwater to keep the surviving herbs alive and to feed my poor senna tree with its few straggly blooms.

When we planned our travel schedule, I insisted on staying home from mid-September through October so I could work on the garden. I have a greater need to be home than he does. Home grounds me, and nowhere do I feel more grounded than when I am outside, digging in the dirt and watching plants grow…or, in this case, not grow. I don’t like seeing my little butterfly and bird plants turn brown and lose their leaves. I miss the blooms, the bees, the movement of the life within the garden. And yet I am outside each day, right after breakfast, doing what I can. Fall is coming, and I want to be ready for October planting.

“But what if it doesn’t rain?” he asks again.

In the past two weeks I have written about the discouragement and doubt that hit us when we’re manifesting our dreams. I offered a variety of action strategies to get through those difficult times. This week, I want to emphasize the element of faith. I can’t stop working on the garden because it might not rain. I have to assume that it will. I will mulch and fertilize and plant as if fall will bring better weather.

Too often we wait until conditions are right to begin…and of course, conditions are never right. We will always have obstacles to our dreams. We may have a strong vision but don’t see how we’re going to get there. When we have faith, we take action, day by day, showing up for our dreams and making ourselves available for them to come true.

It’s no coincidence that as I observe the need for faith, I am about to put my first novel out into the world. My editor is finished, leaving me to read it through yet again and put the final touches on it. Any writer will tell you that a book is never done — I could tinker with it for the rest of my life and it would never be perfect. I have no idea whether or not anyone will read it or, if they do, like it.

All I know is that I am a writer. I am a gardener. I will write because I have faith that one day an audience, however small, will want to read my stories if I keep putting them out there. I will garden because one day it’s bound to rain, and I’ll be ready when it comes.

Filed Under: writing Tagged With: Change of Plans, dreams, gardening, novels, writing

Good Morning, Monday! Greetings from Sils-Maria, Switzerland!

August 29, 2011 by admin

What better way to ponder the upcoming week, and a new month, than to put on hiking shoes and wander the Swiss trails? Here in Sils, a small village west of St. Moritz in the Engadine Valley, I am far from the noise of my hometown, far from politics, far from all that concerns me. Instead, I focus on one footfall at a time, practicing mindfulness in order not to fall off a mountain!

Rosti
Rosti: A Hearty Hiker's Lunch

Yesterday we wandered to the Fex Valley, a place we wanted to visit in January but couldn’t because there was too much ice on the trail. We admired wildflowers, clear streams, and mountains covered with emerald green instead of snow. Part of the magic of Switzerland is finding a charming restaurant in the middle of nowhere, and we enjoyed some rosti with tomatoes and cheese for a hearty lunch. Rosti is basically a meal-sized portion of hash browns (only better), and these were done to crispy perfection. Rosti makes for a great hiking meal, and I find myself craving it when we come here.

After lunch we took a spontaneous trip up the side of a mountain so we could see the lake there. The sign suggested it would take two hours, and those signs are normally reliable. This time, though, it was about an hour short. We live, after all, at sea level, and we huffed and puffed our way up, stopping frequently to catch our breath. Once a herd of cows stopped us as they blocked our path, and one curious cow decided it wanted one of my hiking poles. We decided to find another way around them, circling through pasture and back to the path.

We finally made it to our summit, where we saw a glorious view of the valley below, including the opalescent Lake Sils. From a distance we could no longer see the windsurfers out playing on a Sunday afternoon, but the larger view of mountains, glaciers, and meadows was worth the effort. My feet didn’t agree as we finally landed back in Sils at 6:30 p.m. after 2,800 feet up (and back down), but we loved having a story to tell.

Lake Sils
The lake is where we began our day.

While in Sils, I feel myself in transition. Summer continues to rage back home in Houston, with highs reaching 109 degrees, but fall approaches. My novel is back with the editor for one more look before I put it out into the world. I prepare to send her another manuscript. I have begun others, but am not sure which story will call to me next. I am stepping back from some of my normal day-to-day routine to fill the inner well and find the Next Project.

When we are in transition, and our dreams are in process but not yet manifest, taking time to be in silence and stillness can ease the drama of our daily lives, freeing us to create. As we ease into September, A Woman’s Nest will focus on how to do that.

Many people tell me, for example, that they can’t meditate because “I can’t get my mind quiet.” I was thinking of that yesterday as we hiked in the mountains in one of the quietest places on earth. Even here, there is not absolute stillness. A breeze blows through the wildflowers. Water rushes over rocks down the mountainside. Birds call. Cow bells ring. Nature is never completely silent, and seldom will we be, either. But I would like to demystify meditation this month so that we stop worrying about stilling the mind and start accepting a river of peace that flows gently beneath the other noise that exists, allowing that noise to be there without judgment.

Swiss Flowers
Flowers Abound! Here are some to brighten your day.

Another reason to find stillness is that when we start to manifest our dreams, we will bump up against fear, doubt, and frustration. As we keep coming back to center, we can learn to deal with inevitable discouragement. Our Wednesday features will focus on the challenges and opportunities that come as we open ourselves up to deeper self-expression. Our Tuesday reviews will focus on DVDs and books that can inspire us when we need to be lifted up.

Have a great week! Thanks for visiting my blog, and come back tomorrow for the Discovery Tuesday!

Filed Under: Life Changes, travel, women Tagged With: Change of Plans, dreams, hiking, nadine feldman, nadine galinsky, rosti, Sils, Sils-Maria, switzerland, travel

Blog Discovery Thursday: Baby Boomer Cafe

August 25, 2011 by admin

I fell asleep to the sound of thunder, a rare sound these days in Houston. Our high temperatures have hit at least 100 degrees every day in August with no end in sight. I stepped outside this morning to find the ground somewhat moist–the thunder did not portend a storm for our area. Still, I’ll take whatever relief I can get.

Today I am rewriting the first scene of my upcoming novel, Change of Plans, and will then send it back to my editor for review. While I’m working on that, I’ll share with you a blog that looks really great. Thanks to my hubby for finding it for me!

The Boomer Cafe has been around for twelve years and features writings by Boomers and for Boomers who want to maintain an active lifestyle. From humor to finances, Boomers can find plenty to read about. Plus, you’ll enjoy the comments that readers share. It’s a lot of fun! Check it out when you get the chance.

Filed Under: blogs Tagged With: baby boomers, Boomer Cafe, Boomers, Change of Plans, nadine feldman

Good Morning, Monday!

August 15, 2011 by admin

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Since I am neck-deep revising two novels, I have kept busy. I’m trying to get the latest versions done before we embark on our next trip in a few weeks. These revisions include increasing detail, so I’ve been “shopping” for my characters, buying them clothes and cars that show their lifestyle. My character Julia absolutely needed a little Mercedes Cabriolet convertible–red, of course! In my real life, I’m not fond of shopping (unless I’m with my sisters!), but I confess that I am having fun feeling like I’m revisiting childhood dress-up play.

As we enter into mid-August, for many of you the nests are emptying out. It’s a good time to think about playing dress-up with our own lives, whether that means trying on new clothes or trying on new activities to discover or rediscover our interests and passions. Last year I learned that I loved gardening, even though I never tried it until age 51. Who knows what surprises are in store, if we just open ourselves to this new phase? What can we learn about ourselves and what holds meaning for us?

While we’re playing dress-up with our new lives, we may feel like young adolescents in other ways, too, as hormones create interesting situations and force mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual transitions. This week, for our Book Discovery Tuesday, I am going to write about Susun Weed. While she has a new book that I haven’t yet read, I have found one of her older ones, The New Menopausal Years, to provide supportive help and relief for menopausal symptoms. It’s tough to be excited about the midlife years when we’re battling exhaustion, depression, and hot flashes! With warm, encouraging words, Susun initiates us into menopause, acknowledging both the challenges and the invitation to shed old roles that no longer serve us.

On Wednesday, we’ll talk more about uncovering our identities now that our roles as mothers diminish. We’ll look at how to find and rekindle old dreams, as well as how to manifest them. We’ll look at ways to cut away those activities that drain us or otherwise take us away from those dreams so that we can take time each day to take care of what truly matters to us.

I’m excited that some of you are starting to contact me and share your experiences! Please keep the feedback coming. Also, if you have a favorite blog to recommend for our Thursday blog feature, please let me know. Have a great week!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Change of Plans, creativity, dreams, nadine feldman, nadine galinsky, novelist, novels, writing

Good Morning, Monday!

August 8, 2011 by admin

We have returned from a lovely vacation in Washington state, where we visited and hiked on Mt. Rainier, saw friends and family in Seattle, and then had a few quiet days on San Juan Island.

Seeds of Wisdom
Seeds of Wisdom by Terrea L. Bennett

While there, I ran across this lovely print by Terrea L. Bennett. Actually, I bought four pieces of her work because it really spoke to me, but this one, called Seeds of Wisdom, captures the spirit of what I want for this blog. Here is a woman who ages with joy and whimsy intact, and who shares her wisdom with generosity, the way a dandelion scatters its seeds. The dandelion, much like women at midlife and beyond, is often unappreciated but loaded with extraordinary gifts, shared freely if we only take the time to receive them.

Now that we’re back, I’m eager to embrace the week on this blog. I’ll be reviewing Ana Forrest’s Fierce Medicine, and we’ll delve more deeply into the topic of the empty nest. And, since my editor was busy while I was gone, I’ll be revising Change of Plans in hopes it will be ready as an e-book novel for the holiday gift-buying season!

Just for fun, here’s a view outside of our bed & breakfast on San Juan Island. Have a great week!

Deer
View Outside our Bed & Breakfast on San Juan Island

 

Filed Under: travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: Change of Plans, dandelions, empty nest, nadine feldman, nadine galinsky, Terrea L. Bennett, women

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