Seven Things

Compiled By Jeff Baker

My friend J. Scott Coatsworth has posted in a column, a list of seven things, as he put it “Seven good things in my life that make life worth living.” He was commenting that this year has already seen the death of several of their friends and it isn’t even April yet.

The last few years being the total wrench that they have been for me, losing my Husband, my Mom & Dad (in their 90s, but still) I’ve also found good things. Reasons to be optimistic. Yes, I get down but I don’t stay there very long.

MY FAMILY:

I was luckier than I had any right to be with my Mom & Dad. Loving, supportive, way over-protective but always there for me. They were proud of me and largely in good health for 90 years each. Likewise I got to know most of my older relatives and my Aunt and Uncle who are now also gone but their memory is a good one that fills the summers and holidays of my younger years.

MY EXTENDED FAMILY:

My Honorary Brother Rick and I unofficially adopted each other 36 years ago and we have been together ever since. He and Amy have welcomed me into their home, let me be the Uncle to their kids and grandkids (!!!) and the wonder of a new birth all of which made a year that could have been very bad very sweet.

THE READING AND WRITING:

I’ve wanted to do something creative since I was a little kid. The fact that I’ve worked at it, gotten better at it and seem to have a career at it is something that still amazes me. I have officially published forty stories in magazines, anthologies and e-zines as well as having posted almost 350 weekly flash fiction stories since 2016. I have a career and not only have I impressed some people I should be jealous of, I marvel at it.

And I have my books and the library and I have been not only reading more but blogging about it.

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD:

I live in Wichita, Kansas a city where you can get about any kind of food you want. And I know some of the basics of cooking and am learning how to do more. (Darryl showed me a little; he would be proud.)

MY FRIENDS:

When Darryl died almost a year ago I felt lost and I realized I didn’t have any friends I see in town regularly. So, I started going out more (not dating, hanging at the library) and I also realized that I have a lot of caring friends online. I also made a new friend or two at least one of which I shoot the breeze with online every day. Sometimes, the internet can be impersonal and hostile. Sometimes it can be warm and loving.

MEETING SOME OF MY INSPIRATIONS:

Before I wanted to be a fiction writer, I wanted to be a stand-up comic. I started appearing in local clubs toward the end of my College days with an act full of topical comedy songs influenced by Mark Russell and Tom Lehrer and not only did I meet Russell a couple of times I submitted some material to him a few years ago. He liked it, but he had retired by then. Still, a nice word from one of your heroes.

And I was thinking I wanted to write science-fiction when I started reading some of the anthologies edited by Mike Resnick (as well as his own stories.) I got to meet Resnick at a convention in 2017 and he signed one of his books surprised that anybody had it!

DARRYL:

Ever supportive, ever loving, I am blessed that most of the memories of my late husband are good and make me smile. I loved him and we were blissfully happy to have known each other for fifteen years, actually together for about twelve and a half, married for six (we felt married right after he moved in back in 2010.) While I get sad that he is not around I still laugh at some of the things we used to laugh at.

THE KITTIES WITHOUT PITY:

And an Eighth thing: I share my house and life with “The Kids,” my three nearly year-old cats. They are sweet, snuggle in my bed at night and have been ripping through the house in the last hour.

Never a dull moment!

—end—