Life

Fri-Yay! A topsy-turvy emotional day for certain.

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Hey all,

We all know what day it is, and this morning was definitely a rough one. My emotions were out of wack as I remembered September 11, 2001. I had sudden bursts of tears, other moments where I tried to pretend that it was ‘just another day,’ and yet, knowing that it is an impossible feat to think of anything else. There was one person who put it best in the news today, as it reminded me of how it felt when my sister was suddenly killed in a vehicular accident. They said something to the effect of, you learn bad things can and do happen, and it changes you. It changes how you live. It changes your outlook on life. Today was felt deep in my heart. I heard some stories I have not heard before, heartbreaking tales of courage, bravery, and of course deep grief.

By the time the night came on, I knew I needed a little healing art therapy. I worked hard on a couple of projects tonight, staying up late – at least late for me. It’s coming up on midnight here. I find the stabbing motion soothing when needle felting, so it seemed like a good outlet for my emotions.

We did try to watch a movie, together, as a family, my parents and I. But we ended up tearing the movie apart as we watched. We were super disappointed in the story line, and the ending was lackluster. In the end it seemed more like a comedy, than the suspenseful film we picked to watch.

I was grateful for the family time. Grateful for spending it with my loved ones. I spend far too much time focused on mortality at 47 years old. I worry about it. I fear it. I live each day terrified of getting closer to it. I am fearful of my parents aging. I am fearful of what comes next. These aren’t normal everyday thoughts, they go much deeper than that.

But I am working on it. I am working on being excited about living, instead of terrified of death. It’s not easy to do, but I am trying.

Anyway, here is what I made today:

Tree w/ a woman underneath.
A little mouse sculpture.

I spent a lot of time on the tree image. I thought it was really successful, until I started showing people, and no one could see the woman like I could. It was comical really. I also spent a lot of time on the mouse sculpture. I followed a free online tutorial, and well, my mouse looks nothing like their mouse of perfection. Mine is haphazard, got weird eyes, lopsided ears, and feet and hands as big as the stomach! But – I love it anyway. It was my first character sculpture I really tried hard to create (next to the ghost from yesterday), so I am pleased with it.

We ended this rocky, emotional day with laughter tonight. My nephew came by to visit and we had a great time chatting with him, and he shared some funny sayings with us that had us all in tears of laughter.

Tonight I go to sleep with thoughts of many on my mind, and the belief that we are still a united country, even if it is in our grief.

On the cusp of another year! A birth year!

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That’s right, this holiday weekend will mark my 48th birthday! I can’t believe I am that old, and I am eternally grateful to still be around at this age, and knowing there could still potentially be another 40 years ahead of me.

Here I am, walking in the woods, by my home.

I decided I will mark the occasion by spending it with my parents. Tomorrow, we will ‘hit the town,’ and by that I mean we will go out to dinner, and maybe enjoy a little cake in the evening. I am not married, and do not have children of my own, so this is a common way for me to celebrate.

Tonight we had BLTs, one of our favorites for an early dinner, and I took an early, long walk on our property, enjoying the quiet of the outdoors. I was a little less than excited by the bugs bothering me on the walk, but overall it was a great time.

I was feeling a little restless today.

I had plans to spend the whole weekend catching up on my book, but I haven’t yet picked it up. I have been both excited, and sad that I am turning 48. But only because mortality is often on my mind, and every birthday brings the Grim Reaper closer.

I tried to think back to see if there might be a time in my life that I would rather return to then now, and I realized, even if I was back to most healthiest self, while still in the Army, I would not want to go back in time. I am content with life the way it is – in the PRESENT. I mean, I miss my sister, I wish she was still alive, but otherwise, my life is comfortable.

And really, isn’t that all we can ask for? Being comfortable? Although, I do wonder if I play life a little safe. Holding all my cards, close to my chest. I take fewer risks, my fears of mortality are real, and therefore quite consuming at times. I suppose where I take the most risks now, is in my writing. It’s the only place I know I still put my full heart on display for others – even though it is often just as terrifying.

My dog, Junie Bee.

Tonight, I will work on my writing, maybe write that short story for the Write Michigan Short Story contest. Maybe I’ll finally pick up my book tonight and dive into another story. Maybe I’ll spend a little time focusing on my poetic side. Maybe I’ll just watch a little television. One thing is for sure, I will do it all, with my dog by my side. She is currently sleeping at the end of my bed.

Yes, tomorrow, I will celebrate my last day of my 47th year on this earth, and Monday, I will be 48.

I say it again, and yet, I still don’t feel it. Maybe that is the point though. The point, of emotional maturity. Being able to calmly move from day to day, without the wildness of our younger selves choices getting in the way. Thinking things through before you react. While I have definitely matured over time, I consider myself a constant work in progress.

As I go through the growing pains of rolling into another year of life, I hope you all enjoy your Labor Day weekend with gusto, or maybe your like me and play it a little safe – whatever you do, put your heart into it!

Take care for now,

~Melissa, AKA Aunt Author

The Write Michigan Short Story Contest and other happenings!

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Currently Watching: Harrow on Disney+

Currently Reading: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand, pg 168

Currently Listening to: The Haunted Windchimes

Tonight’s Dinner: Chicken Parmigiana Frozen Meal

Tonight’s Dessert: Nothing tonight.

Today’s Favorite Moment: I have two: (1) Listening to our dog snoring at my feet & (2) Hearing that my niece say that my writing inspired her a bit, into her own writing journey.

Mood: Thoughtful.

I have been entering in the Write Michigan Short Story Contest for the last two years. I don’t fancy myself winning, but I do love that you sometimes get pretty amazing feedback to your story. I wasn’t sure about entering this year, but then again, why not? I have until November 15, 2026 to get my story entered before they begin reviewing. (That includes writing/editing my story, since I don’t have one started right now.)

I’ve also been a volunteer reviewer/rater of the stories in the past. It is a super fun thing to do, and I do not review or rate stories in the same category that I participate in, sheesh, that would be unethical. I read either the teen/youth categories and I was super pleased with all the great work out there that people submit. It is beyond amazing to see our Michiganders pull together as writers each year and participate. Also, just a mini disclaimer, I am not in any way affiliated with the contest. I just like to try for it every year – I am a huge fan of receiving feedback, which is hard to get from the people closest to you, as they might be a bit biased. It is the only writing contest I have ever entered, although I hope it is not my last.

Once the contest ends, provided I don’t win, I will share the story I wrote with you, but I it needs to stay unpublished until the contest is over.

If you’re a Michigander who likes to write, I highly encourage you to submit your own story – please read the rules. After all, you never know, maybe you’re the next Jane Austin, or Ernest Hemingway?

I think I’ll do some serious brainstorming over the long holiday weekend, and work hard on my short story submission.

Website Updates and Today’s Happenings

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Currently Watching: The Glades on Disney+

Currently Reading: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

Dinner: French Lentil Salad

Late Night Snack: Hudsonville’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Drink of Choice: Unsweetened Iced Tea – brewed from Lipton’s Black Tea bags.

Today’s Song of Choice: The Haunted Windchimes, Darling Love

Current Mood: Content

You may have noticed I updated my website a bit. I changed the theme around, and decided to share not just reviews from my insatiable reading habit, but also my own poems and short stories. I opted to open up my bookish site to a little more personal reflections from me, as I do my best growing as a person when I am writing.

And if you noticed that I am watching The Glades, as mentioned above, don’t worry I know they canceled this show on a terrible cliffhanger. I am extremely disappointed by that, but I still love the show. “Jim” and “Cassie” were cast perfectly in their roles and I am saddened that I haven’t seen more of either of them in other major roles. Meanwhile though, I am on my second run-through of this show, and getting closer to the cliffhanger ending by the moment. I’m going to be pretty sad when I finally hit that last episode. Anyone else disappointed in the ending of The Glades?

We have been discussing the new regulations of what I’ll call ‘mixed beef,’ on top of the many food-borne illnesses that have popped out lately. It’s enough to make you not trust what you’re getting anymore. The conversation has been ongoing, and I’ll admit, I opted for a plant-based meal for dinner because I couldn’t stomach it any longer. On a side note, the French Lentil Salad was pretty good. Enough that I would actually eat it again – and well, dessert was definitely on point tonight as well.

I was introduced to the sounds of The Haunted Windchimes by my nephew when he shared the song by them called, Out with the crow. I’ll admit I was hooked. I instantly looked up the rest of the album and I am madly in love with their voices. I truly don’t know why they aren’t more well known. They have such a unique vibe.

Reading Update: “The Hotel Nantucket” by Elin Hilderbrand

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Pet Peeve: Price tags on books 🙁

First of all, welcome to the month of September! This is my favorite month and season all rolled into one.

A couple of days ago, I began reading The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand. I am now at the halfway point, and must tell you that I found an uncanny resemblance to reading a Stephen King novel, specifically, Needful Things. The stories are completely different, but I’m still getting that vibe, and even waiting for the bad things to start happening, as the story unravels in more and more detail.

It could just be the way we jump from character to character in the story, with a narrator that just kind of sneaks up on us right from the beginning. Or the way we dive into their sneaky lives with a glimpse of each character as we go along. I have favorites already, I adore Lizbet and Edie, and the jury is still out on Chad, while I am affronted by Alessandra and Xavier, sneaky and a bit appalling. I find Magda to be a complete mystery, and well, I definitely find fascination in our haunted hotel’s famous mystery, Grace.

I am however, unequivocally enraptured by this tale. I have quite the diverse background in employment of my own, and one of those jobs was working front desk at a hotel for a short while, and boy, the author REALLY knows what she is talking about when discusses guests, and their reviews, which of course, leave themselves in a favorable light, even if they are not so savory characters.

I have just met the new night auditor in the story, and well, I trust Grace’s instincts. I am instantly on guard waiting for the terrible story behind his veil of perfection.

Yes, this summer drama is definitely worth a second look. Surprisingly I found this book through a bargain store, and got an amazing deal on it. I’m not sure how it ended up there, but so far, I am definitely liking the vibe of it. Certainly worth putting on your reading list.

Full review to come later!

“Something About September” by Julia McKay – A book review.

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This was a gem of a romance novel.

I was immediately engulfed into my favorite season when I began reading this story. Fall perfection was found in every word, from the many mentioned ciders, pumpkins, and the scent of burning leaves in the air. I felt like I was already embracing September. I kid you not, I even made a special trip to my local Biggby coffee to pick up a “white pumpkin” coffee to enjoy this morning as I embarked through the fictional town of Bramley Hollow. It just felt right.

This story evoked every nostalgic feeling I carry about the autumn season. The breeze in the air, the scent of wind, corn mazes, apple trees, coffee, and books. Oh boy, did they love books in this story! I honestly felt this story was a match made in heaven for me.

The romance was on point, gentle yet intense at just the right moments. It was almost too perfect – and I did find myself reminded of the Hallmark romance movies I love so much.

That said, I could easily see myself picking this story up again, yearly, every time the Fall season is hinted at. It is a pleasure to sink into a mindlessly delicious romance that embraces everything I love about Fall.

A joy for the senses, with a happy-ending, although a bit predictable, and not exactly realistic about the world we live in today, but a true break from reality to absorb the best part about fiction, which is we can do or be anything in a story. We can fall in love and keep it. We can have second chances in life without worry about the sticky things, like the costs to our plans, the ex-wives of our husbands. We are rolled into a world where things go right, just as we wish them to.

If you are looking for a beautiful escape from reality this fall, this romantic interlude might be just what you’re looking for. If you love fall, and want the season to last, this book might be just what you’re looking for. If small town romance, high school crushes, and second chances are your thing – this might be the book you are looking for.

I highly recommend coming to the story prepared with your own seasonal drink of choice, and maybe a little something to nibble on, as you embark on small town life in Bramley Hollow.

Happy reading!