You never really die... You just linger in someone's database.

My Mother received an invitation to someone's memorial.  My Father is getting applications for credit cards. They both get advertisements on great sales on new vehicles.  Debt collectors and mortgage companies are threatening to file a complaint against their credit scores.  

My Mother died six years ago.  My Father a year on April 15.  Yet, they live on.   In some company's database somewhere out there.  A database that no one ever checks.

Between me and the lawyer, we've sent copies of death certificates and copies of legal forms, but still, you aren't really dead in the bytes of a database with your name in it.

So, what is this?  Does no one ever clean these things up?  Where do the returned letters go with "deceased" written on them?   I can just image some room somewhere in these companies with dead letters.   The returned mail of the deceased.

I'm not sure what's sadder -- the fact that someone died or the fact that someone never gets the chance to move on from their death because some well-organized database has got your address.   I'm sad for the living and the burden that these faceless databases send out to the left behind.   We're the ones that are trying to move on with our lives, to heal from the deaths of those who were dear to us. 

I shouldn't take these mailings personally, but it wears on my mental health.  I don't seem to get any relief from being reminded that my parents are dead.

CSM

"Once you learn to be happy..."

"Once you learn to be happy, you won't tolerate being around people who make you feel any thing less."

Not sure who said it, didn't bother to do an Internet search to see, but...  I really love this quote and I send my thanks to whoever originally said it.

I've decided not to settle for anything less than being happy.  Some days, I wake up and feel slow and just can't get it moving, but somehow I always end up being in a good mood.    Personally, I think it's because I've seen death and know that it's coming sometime in my life.  Sad, scary, but true.  I figure what's the point of worrying about stuff that's beyond my control and turn my attention to the things that I can.

Writing has become my passion.  I don't feel that I am good at it, but that's what drives me.  To become good at it.   I'm not out to writing "the great American novel" as I read on some unknown writer's blog or website.  I don't remember who it was.  Guess he hasn't got the great American novel after all.

What I really want to do is entertain you, dear reader.  I'm standing at a fork in the road and, as Yogi Berra once said, I think I'll take it.

Short but sweet and to the point.

CSM

Another Interview with Sam Henry

When I was first approached by a member of The Time Savers Club, I had no idea how big of a project this would become. It grew beyond my wildest imagination. Much of my writing time has been spent writing their first story and not much on my own story.

But, like I mentioned, I have lots of posts to work on, including this one. Another great interview with Sam Henry.

He stopped by a few weeks ago to talk about book two, From Cleo to Edgar. Here's how it went...

CSM: So Sam, it's been a few weeks since I saw you last. The last time we meet, you filled me in on the details of your first adventure with The Time Savers Club.

SH: Yep. We had a lot to talk about.

CSM: Yes, we did. I was amazed about what had happened to you guys. You know, I think it's important for us to tell our readers about the time frame of these stories.

SH: I think that's a good idea cause as they know my Mom and I moved into the apartment only last year.

CSM: Basically, the story isn't that old.

SH: Nope. Book two just happened last year in November.

CSM: So what I am about to write for book three actually happened last December.

SH: Yep.

CSM: So, I know you had a rough situation. How are you handling it?

SH: Well, I doing much better since...

CSM: Hey wait, don't give anything away.

SH: (Laughing) I almost did! I doing OK. I've really come to accept the whole story. The Club has been a great help. Rose has become my counselor. She's helped me a lot.

CSM: Good to hear. Well, as you can see, I've fallen behind on this blog. I'm glad we had time to chat and I can get this posted. I'm spending a lot of time working on the books as well as my own writing.

SH: Great. I'm out of here.

CSM: Thanks for stopping by.

From Cleo to Edgar: A Time Savers Club Adventure Book 2 is available on Amazon.

Excerpt from book two, From Cleo to Edgar: A Time Savers Club Adventure

And now, an excerpt from my second book, From Cleo to Edgar: A Time Savers Club Adventure.  You can buy the entire e-book on Amazon.

Sam opened his eyes. Sam and Mrs. Steers stood high on a plateau overlooking the construction site of the oldest of the Pyramids. Beyond the construction site, the gold sands of the Egyptian desert stretched like a massive sea. The sand blew across the barren land.

To their left was a great white wall that had been carved in the side of a plateau. It was the quarry where lime stones were being cut. To the right, a massive ramp went up to the Pyramid. It worked around the sides of the structure. The pictures Sam had seen showed them worn down and weathered from time. Here they were being built and the whole area was alive with activity.

Thousands of workers moved stone blocks up the well-designed ramp system until they reached the upper level. The Pyramid was just above the half-way point. They could see more workers there, moving stones to the edge and placing them.

"Whoa! Look at that. I didn't imagine this." Sam was awed. Mrs. Steers was quiet.

Mrs. Steers wasn't looking at the Pyramids. She was staring at Sam. Her mouth opened. Her eyes fixed on him in disbelief.

"Sam, you must tell me honestly. Have you been to other places without me?" She tightened her grip on his arm and looked mad.

"No, Mrs. Steers. I promised and I didn't go anywhere." Sam expressed a high level of sincerity. Mrs. Steers studied his face.

"Sam, that's remarkable. I believe you, but... How?" Mrs. Steers released his arm and took a few steps in the sand. Sam watched the ground below her feet, noting that she didn't leave any footprints. Once again, he marveled at the strangeness of time-travel.

Mrs. Steers took about ten steps in front of him, then turned. "You... Sam... You are..." She blinked a few times. She was speechless.

"Mrs. Steers, you're kinda freaking me out. What's wrong?"

Mrs. Steers stopped, shook her head and rubbed her temples. "It's nothing, Sam. You just got us here quicker than anyone else I know or have ever know. You spoke the incantation perfectly and on the third round, we are here. That's extraordinary, Sam. Extraordinary."

Another old post: Travel Guides

I had the great fortune of taking a picture of a couple of Mrs. Steers' travel guides.

Mrs. Steers has numerous travel guides.   Sam told me about the two that they took with them to 1880s London.  I was able to take a picture of them.

She had marked several pages about London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Whitechapel, and Madam Tussaud's Exhibition.

Great stuff!

An Old Post from The Time Savers Club

I have retired The Time Savers Blog.   Too much to juggle.   Write the books...  Post on the blog...  I chose to write the books.   However, as I clear away the blog, I just have to re-post some of the posts here.   So here's one...

A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of having lunch with Xavier Graff to talk about the completion of book one.  He had some interesting comments.

CSM:  What do you think?  You've read it.  Did I get it right?

XG:  From my point of view, you did, dear.  I have always thought our club's adventures and stories should be recorded, although I never thought they would be novelized.

CSM: Great.  I'm happy to hear I got the story right.   I need to write on my other blog about what I learned.  I can't believe I wrote a book.  Be it good or not, I did it.   I am grateful to the club for their support and choosing me to write it.

XG:  You're welcome, love.  You just needed some confidence.  Your writing will improve over time.   You have started on book two, yes?

CSM:  Yep. I think I have everything. I need to clarify some stuff, so I need to talk to Sam and Mrs. Steers. Otherwise, I have started.  My goal is 6 months to the first draft.

XG: I think that is a reasonable goal. I find it interesting to look back at the club's first introduction to Sam. I remember the first time I laid eyes on him.  He was talking to Lottie on her front porch.  I only saw him a moment.  He looked so young.  Of course, now the events in your trilogy are over and we've had other adventures since then.  He is a wonderful addition to the club.  Hopefully, he will learn his true life's goal.

CSM:  Interesting.  Yes, my readers aren't aware that the books are based on recent past events.  Mainly from last year.  You have a long history with club, don't you? I've seen the name Graff in early records of the club's archives. Weren't you younger than Sam when you got involved?

XG:  Yes, I was seven.  Was I ever so young?  My family has been involved with the club for several generations.  They have fabulous stories to tell.   My Uncle Griff likes to tell about my first initiation.   We traveled back to the French Revolution.   I saw Marie Antoinette beheaded.  Dear lord, it was awful to watch.  I cried and cried.  Oh lord, did I cry.  She was very beautiful.  People cheered.  I was so upset.

CSM:  You must have been terrorized at such a young age.

XG:  I was.  I had a several dreadful nights afterwards.  I didn't sleep.   Now, I have an infatuation with her.

CSM:  Cool.  Well, I'm glad we got together for lunch and chat.   I think I will schedule another interview with you.   It sounds like you could have lots of stories.

XG:  Sounds good to me, sweets.

I had an Epiphany this week.

So, I have to ask myself this question. Am I ready for a relationship? What am I looking for? What do I want to do right now? I've turned away from my career, now I just have a job. I've poured a lot of time into my books. And now, I'm back out in the world, trying to find... what? What is that I want?   My needs are filled, but what do I want?

 

I think this week I had my Epiphany.

 

I'm scared. Why start a relationship when all I will do is mess it up and send the person packing? I'll fall in love and they'll leave... just like everyone else that I loved. I've had a few dates since I headed back out into the dating scene. Merrily skipping along, not really believing that I would meet someone.  All the dates went no where.  One kind of interesting, one drunk, and one "woe is me."

 

But, I think I really need to revisit the above-mentioned statement:   "...just like everyone else that I loved."   Meaning my parents.  It's almost been a year since my Father died.   I miss my parents.   I actually had the very strong desire of driving to their house to see them... Only to realize that they were gone.  It took several moments to calm myself down to remember this.  I no longer had the luxury of seeing them.  For a few brief moments, I lost it.  I mean mentally lost it.  I had never experienced anything like it.

 

I just paid my Father's last taxes.  That was it.  It's really over.  My parents are really gone.

 

I think this week I had my Epiphany.

 

CSM