Next Step, 2012. Looking Back on 2011

2012 is just a step away. I look back on the year 2011 and take time to reflect on everything that has happened. Each memory passes with varying degrees of feelings. What I want to take with me into the new year is the lessons that I have learned that have made me stronger and in all a better person. I see no reason to keep the other baggage that will just ultimately drag me down. What the years have taught me is that we have choices to learn from our experiences and to grow or allow it to beat us down.

I wish for everyone who reads this message to take with them into the new year the lessons they have learned and to let them make you a better person than what you were. It is a new day, a new year. Everyone gets a fresh start to begin again.

I look back on 2011 and am thankful. No matter what I had going on,family and friends were there to help support me in what ever it was. For that I am thankful and I don't take anyone for granted.

My five cats and two dogs give unconditionally to us the love and acceptance that we humans forget to give at times. It is a definite lesson in humility. I'm so glad to have them here to remind us about what is important, even though I sometimes feel that I'm a slave to them and the messes that they make. lol But when they look up at me with excitement in their eyes telling me how happy they are each and every time I come home from work it makes it all worth it. They are family and they are loved.

Some of the harder times were watching my daughter who had her tonsils out and my husband who had his broken nose fixed have to suffer the painful recovery time they had to endure. It isn't easy watching the people you love have to go through things you don't have control over. Dealing with my own health issues made me see what I needed to do and to realize that I do have control over those, so that is an ongoing struggle I will overcome with time and effort.

Some of the highlights included: My husband arranging the trip that took us both on a helicopter ride from Vegas to the Grand Canyon Sky walk. We had never been in a helicopter before and it was a great experience for both of us. We met a nice couple who were visiting from London England. After that ride we drove to the north rim of the Grand Canyon on a day trip which started us going many places together during the year that allowed us to spend time together. Something every couple should do to stay in tune with each other, because we all live such busy lives and it is easy to drift apart. My daughter was able to go on some of the trips with us between classes and college life. In some ways we grew apart and in others we got closer. It sounds strange I know, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

My husband and I have been very fortunate to have our jobs. We look at so many other people who have lost their source of income and the trouble it causes. So far even thought the economy has been horrible to say the least we have been able to make it work. We take each day and do the best we can and try to remember that it can always be worse when we think things are at their worst for us.

There is so much I could could say, but I think I'll end it here for now.

Just know that I am thankful for my family and friends and for everyone who gave their prayers to us throughout the year. Your laughter, your tears and your time has made life good. Without you, life would be lonely and sad, for no one can do it alone. I love ya and pray for everyone of you to have a great prosperous new year.

Merry Christmas Sale on Kindle Stories

I have reduced the price of my stories to .99 cents on Kindle for Christmas and New Year's. I wish for everyone to have a great Holiday season.

Reviews missing very frustrating. Can you help?

I don't check Amazon very often, but I did last week and much to my disappointment I found that most all of my reviews have disappeared. I contacted Amazon to find out why this has happened and no one there could tell me anything. I am very frustrated over this.

I wanted to ask if anyone has read my stories and are willing to give me new reviews I'd really appreciate it a lot. The one story The Road to Discovery, A Christmas Story, has been rewritten or might I say, fixed. I had uploaded a version that should never have been uploaded and it did receive a few reviews it certainly deserved. I am embarrassed over that one, but it is a lot better and I'd appreciate reviews on that one as well giving it a truer sense of what it is now.

This is a list of the stories I have on Kindle that have lost all of it's reviews.

The Road to Discovery, A Christmas Story
Sensual Delights
Coming Home
Troublesome Pugsley Caitlyn's Best Friend
The Magic Christmas Bear
Passionate Encounter
Page Traverson's Hero in the Night
Message Board Romance
The Mountain

If you are willing and able to help with this, I'd really appreciate it.

Tory Lynn

Reflection of Christmas

There was a time in my life that Christmas was not my favorite time of year, in fact any holiday was difficult to get through. I look back on it now and am thankful that I have found the strength to grow and learn from the past.

Without the love of compassionate people, some family, some friends, some acquaintances and even strangers who have crossed my path, I don't think I would have the outlook I do now. I am thankful for their unconditional love, thoughtfulness and willingness to put themselves out for me in my greatest time of need. To me they were all angels and I'll never forget them.

As we all know, life is not perfect, we are not perfect, so sometimes our decisions are not the best. We all get frustrated when life hands us things that we'd rather not have to deal with, but ultimately God works through all of us whether we know it or not. We must all have faith that eventually things will turn out right even if the outcome is not what we thought it would be.

For those who are struggling during this Christmas season, my prayers go out to you. I pray that you can find the strength and the courage you need to move forward. I pray for God's angels to cross your path and give you a helping hand.

Tory Lynn

Kindle Stories Marked down for Christmas

Christmas is on it's way and I have marked down the price on all of my Novellas on Kindle. Below is the link on Amazon where you can find them. Merry Christmas to everyone.

Tory Lynn's Novellas on Kindle

Tory Lynn

Reviews missing very frustrated

I don't check Amazon very often, but I did last week and much to my disappointment I found that most all of my reviews have disappeared. I contacted Amazon to find out why this has happened and no one there could tell me anything. I am very frustrated over this.

I wanted to ask if anyone has read my stories and are willing to give me new reviews I'd really appreciate it a lot. The one story The Road to Discovery, A Christmas Story, has been rewritten or might I say, fixed. I had uploaded a version that should never have been uploaded and it did receive a few reviews it certainly deserved. I am embarrassed over that one, but it is a lot better and I'd appreciate reviews on that one as well giving it a truer sense of what it is now.

This is a list of the stories I have on Kindle that have lost all of it's reviews.

The Road to Discovery, A Christmas Story
Sensual Delights
Coming Home
Troublesome Pugsley Caitlyn's Best Friend
The Magic Christmas Bear
Passionate Encounter
Page Traverson's Hero in the Night
Message Board Romance
The Mountain

If you are willing and able to help with this, I'd really appreciate it.

Tory Lynn

In Memory of Dan Wheldon

Photos by Vickie Treadway


I would normally just keep this blog for writing, but when something happens, sometimes we just have to break our own rules.

My husband Russ and I were at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Truck races and for the Indy race with our friends Diane and Lynn. We planned this trip for months and really looked forward to being there. We had no idea of the tragedy that would take place on Sunday when the Indy race would take place and Dan Wheldon's life would end.

As a spectator and not being around the racing community in person too many times in our lives, we were glad to get passes for the garage and the pit area. Russ and Lynn of course recognized, some of the television personalities in the racing community and pointed them out to me and Diane. We were all excited about being able to go where we wanted with our passes. We were able to get up close to see the awesome race trucks and Indy cars we had only seen on television as they practiced and got their vehicles ready for qualifying. Seeing the pit crews in action as they worked on the trucks and Indy cars was cool to say the least. We were lucky enough to see many drivers from a distance, but never close enough to talk too. Which I personally don't mind, because they have enough to deal without people like us getting in the way. They come out at different times anyway just to sign autographs for their fans. You just have to be at the right place at the right time.

There was a driver walking to the media center from the pits and he was surrounded by what looked like security and a bunch of fans were trying to get close enough to get autographs from him as he stopped and talked to a few people along the way. He looked happy, and came across like he was enjoying the day and never once looked irritated as people gave him shirts, hats and other things for him to sign. I just stood back and watched the crowd and shot a bunch of photos of him and and the people. I have to admit, at the time I had no idea it was Dan Wheldon. It was later as I went through my photo's that I realized who he was.

We had reserved seating in the grandstands and the place was crowded with people. Again, I was taking photo's and felt the exhilarating feeling one gets as the national anthem was sung and the Military planes shot passed us in the sky in all of their glory signifying it was time to start the race. That part always gives me the chills, in a good way.

The Indy race started and was going very well for twelve laps. It was the thirteenth lap and I was taking photos once again and suddenly saw a wreck begin in the middle of turn one. For a split second I lowered my camera seeing flames and debris flying everywhere. I quickly focused my camera and started shooting everything I could as flames shot skyward. Twisted metal and broken cars flew in the air and skidded out of control on fire. I learned a little later that fourteen cars had been taken out. Everyone jumped up out of their seats with sounds of horror as they witnessed the worst wreck to date at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

All I could do is stand there, I felt helpless knowing there was nothing I could do, as the professionals were already racing to the horrific carnage that was all over the track on turns one and two. I looked at the people around me and all of them had the same look of concern as I knew I had. A hush fell over the crowd. It was eerie. We watched as a few drivers had exited their cars and were trying to help other drivers get out of the burning cars and then rushed to help someone who had flipped upside down. The ambulance made it down to there to where he was needed and we saw the life flight helicopter starting up it's engines as the propellers rotated in wait for the arrival of who ever they were going to take.

Every-time the announcer spoke, everyone in the crowd got extra quiet as they tried to catch every word that was being spoken. We were all concerned about the safety of the drivers and as we heard that a driver had walked away, or was being checked out, there was applause from the crowd and a prayer of thanks. When we heard that Dan Wheldon had been hurt and was the one they were going to life flight to the hospital, everyone made sounds of concern that he'd be alright.

From the stands we could see the emergency vehicle hurry to the medical building on the infield where the helicopter was we could see him being brought into the building. A few minutes later he was being wheeled out to the helicopter and was then flown away after being secured.

I heard people in the stands saying prayers for Dan and for the other drivers who had gotten injured, the mood was very somber. No one seemed to talk except in whispers as they waited for word on the condition of Dan Wheldon.

I observed people on their phones looking up information from news sights, texting madly to people on the outside and as soon as something new was seen or read, they quickly shared the information with those around them.

For me, time just stood still as we waited and I didn't even know what time it was when a driver meeting was called in the media center. People around us shook their heads and said, "That doesn't look good." I think at that point we all knew what was wrong, but no one wanted to say anything. About forty-five minutes later the announcer came on and said that Dan Wheldon had passed away. I saw everyone's face fall in sadness who was around me. I laid my head on my husbands shoulder thinking that someone lost a husband, a father, a friend and everyone lost a great driver. The feeling was heavy as we stood there and watched the screen for more news about what had happened. As a spectator with many others, I can say we all shared in the loss of one of Indy's greats.

The drivers all agreed that the race would stop at that point and in the place of the race the Indy drivers would drive three by three around the track in honor of Dan Wheldon. Every person in the pits lined up along pit row as the drivers drove the laps as the announcer gave a good account of Dan Wheldon's life and success as one of the great Indy Drivers.

I was moved by the whole ceremony and felt honored to be there. I think we all were feeling that way.

I continue to pray for Dan's wife, his two children, his friends and the whole racing community. I think we all can agree that Dan died doing what he loved, but his loss has been felt by everyone he crossed paths with.


By Vickie Treadway

Editing

"A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?"~
George Orwell (1903 - 1950), "Politics and the English Language", 1946


I write a lot of short stories, so in general the short stories get a lot of attention while editing, because they are easier to get through from start to finish in a shorter block of time.

What about the novellas, or the novels? I am currently editing a manuscript with approximately 70,000 words. I'm breaking the chapters down to scenes, (Advice given to me by Rebecca Buckley, an author and a publisher) to make each chapter a little shorter and hopefully more interesting and leaving enough of a hook to keep the reader continuing on to the finish. Her advise really helped me take the confusion out of how long a chapter should be. (A whole new subject)

It is a no brainer that the first chapter is the most important, you want to hook your reader and make it so they don't want to put the book down. In short we spend a great amount of time on the first chapter.

Think about this though. Do you ever find as a writer that when you start editing you start from the beginning almost each time? Tweaking, rephrasing, fixing, fine-tuning, etc. We do so much editing and rewriting on the first chapter than we do on any other part of the book. Now, think about this. When you read a book, do you ever find that some of them fall flat as you continue reading each continuing chapter? That could be because the author didn't spend as much time perfecting the rest of the book as they did the first few chapters.

Editing is a very tiring job, but it is a necessary evil if you want to keep your readers coming back for more. Each chapter must be given the same attention as the first. If you have someone to help you, that is great. You will get another persons perspective on what you write. It is easier to break up too. Use the people in your writer's groups. Give out chapters to those who are willing to help and of course if you do this you must be willing to reciprocate. You can then be given appropriate objective feedback that can give you valuable information that can help you through your weakness's you may have in your writing. I know I never try to take any feedback personal. As writers we all have room to grow.

An Interview With Vickie Treadway AKA Tory Lynn Romance Writer

What kinds of books did you read while growing up?
When I discovered books a whole new world opened up to me. The stories brought me to places I had never been before and my imagination began to soar. I started reading Dr. Sues, and then jumped into fairy tales. I remember my teachers reading books to us in class as a group. The Hobbit, Land of the Lost, and other adventure stories that brought us back in time with the dinosaurs. I loved Cinderella, The Princess and the Pea, Rose Red and Hans Christian Anderson. The first novel I read was Little Women then Ann of Green Gables. There were so many books that influenced me it is difficult to remember them all. I also had a secret love of comic books.

When did you start writing?
I was around nine years old. I began writing a lot of my feelings down. Words were a way for me to get what was inside of me out in the open. I started half page stories that never amounted to much, then discovered I liked rhyming words and that turned into poetry. I had pages and pages of poetry and shared a lot of them with teachers and friends. When asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, I responded with I want to be an author.

How old were you when you were first published?
I was eighteen years old when I shared a poem with a police officer who was helping me at the time. He asked if he could have a copy to get published in their news letter. I said yes and gave it to him. I have since lost the copy of the newsletter that poem was printed in, but I'll never forget the feeling I had when I read it in there. I also wrote a poem that was published in my year book at school. I was so shy at the time, it felt good to have something of mine in a book that would last a life time. I think that is when I truly wanted to be a writer.

When did you start writing romance?
When I discovered boys. lol I remember my first crush, my first love and I discovered I loved to write about it. I read lots of books, but there were some books I would have loved to see a different ending or a different plot, so I began experimenting on my own and well, the rest is history. I love love and everything about it.

You have a novel called "My Charming Protector" that is published, how long did that book take you to write?
Oh, my goodness, it took me about fifteen to twenty years. I wrote it between having to work and take care of my family. It was mostly done in long hand and lots of loose pieces of paper. When I got my first PC, I typed it in and it went faster and when I got my lap top I was able to finish it. I'm not sure how many revisions there were during that time frame, but I know there were a lot.

What is it about?
It is a contemporary romance with suspense and intrigue. My Charming Protector is about a young woman who knows company secrets are being stolen. She doesn't have the proof she needs to stop it. The security program she wrote does more than anyone expected it to do, except for her. She then finds herself in a web of dangerous circumstances. She is the type of woman who is very confident in her job, but is shy and unsure of the man she loves, she finds herself facing her biggest fears professionally and personally.

What is the most common question you get when people find out you write?
Well, if it is people I know, they want to know if I've written about them. lol I don't use real people for my characters, I think that could get me into trouble. I watch people all the time. Those I know and those that are just walking by. I create my characters with bits and pieces everyone I know and see. I like knowing each person I create is original and unique. We all have our own finger prints, so I want my characters to have their own too.

What gives you inspiration?
It isn't any one thing, it is everything around me. It's what I feel, what I believe, what I see and smell. The things that I touch and what touches me. I get a lot out of being able to sit and watch people. There are so many characteristics that people have, and not just the obvious ones. You got to look between the lines, the subtleties of what makes a person who they are. I like to watch how people treat each other. It is very telling in how a person is when you observe them in different settings. Strong emotions can really inspire me. Whether it is my own, or someone else. Emotions can really set the stage for some great writing. I love taking joy from the beauty I see all around me and using that in what I write. As you can see, there is a whole kaleidoscope of emotions, scents, tastes and feelings that is all around us if we just take the time to appreciate it and as a writer use it to our advantage.

How do you find time to balance your writing and being a working mom and wife?
It is difficult, especially knowing I'd spend every waking moment on the computer if I could. I have ideas constantly in my mind swimming around just waiting to get out on a word document. It helps to have paper with me all the time to write the ideas down so I won't lose them. I try to get my family involved, by asking them their ideas and what they think of mine. I don't want my personal dreams to be lost, they forget I'm a woman, a person with dreams and desires too. Most of the time they are too busy doing their own thing, but they like it when I try to include them even though most of the time they don't have feedback for me. Being a wife and mom though, I'm expected to be supportive and be apart of their ideas and hobbies without question. It is a good thing I love being apart of their lives, or it wouldn't seem fair. I know that until I can make some serious money, my writing hobby won't be taken seriously by anyone but me, so I will continue to stand up for for what I love doing, because as a person I don't want to lose myself. I try to spend the majority of my writing times while the family is gone, early in the morning while they are asleep, or late at night when I don't have to work the next day. Now that my daughter is in college, it is easier to have more time doing what I love.

You have short stories published how did you get started writing them and what kinds of stories are they?
Some of my author friend had been posting on different forums about Amazon.com and the Shorts program they had for authors who had books already published. I looked into it and tried my hand at writing short stories. I had never really tried except when I was a lot younger and didn't really know what I was doing. My first short story was called "Message Board Romance". Yes, most of my stories are sweet romance reads. I have one short story that is true called "The Magic Christmas Bear". It is a true story about one Christmas after we adopted our daughter. It had been difficult for her, because she was six and had a lot of issues. Being adopted after being shuffled around can't be easy for any child and it wasn't easy for her. The one thing she wanted most was being loved and accepted for who she was. As new parents, it was difficult for us too, but loving and having our daughter in our lives was a life altering event we would never change.

The Amazon short program stopped after a few years and Kindle came to be. They said that if I wanted to publish my stories on their Kindle program to go a head and that is what I have done. I have several short stories there.
"Message Board Romance"
"Paige Traverson's Hero In the Night"
"The Magic Christmas Bear"
"Troublesome Pugsley, Caitlyn's Best Friend"
"Sensual Delights"
"Passionate Encounter"
"Road to Discovery, A Christmas Story"
"Coming Home"

Where did you get the covers for your Kindle short stories?
They are my own photos. I didn't know what to do about not having covers and didn't want to not have them. I had a lot of fun making them and it feels good to have something of my own for others to see. I love playing around with my camera, I guess you can say that is my other hobby. I've never taken a photography class, but I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Do you have other work in progress?
lol, well of course I do. I have an almost finished Manuscript called "Milestone Ridge Mountain Magic, I have another one I've been working on called "The Jacey McMillian Story. Well that title is a working title and I haven't decided yet. It is a Christmas story. I have a lot of short stories I have finished and have in a file. I know one day I'll get back to them to polish. I want to find a publisher for them.

What advice would you give to other writers?
If all you think about is writing, then you must write. Believe in yourself and don't let others stomp on your dreams, because most of it luck, being in the right place at the right time. Learn as much as you can about the writing profession and what it takes to get published. It isn't easy. The most important thing is to have fun. Carry paper with you all the time to make notes, doodle, and to write down that inspiration that could be the seed to a story that will knock the socks off of some publisher someday. Learn from other writers and authors and ask a lot of questions.

Is there anything else you want to say?
Haha, there is plenty I'd love to say, but I will leave it for now with a huge thank you to my husband Russ and my daughter Nicole for putting up with me. Without them, I'd be nothing. I want to thank my mother, Theda, for always believing in me and telling me that I have the world at my fingertips and I can do what I want to make my own splash in this world of ours. My two sisters and my two brother's have always encouraged me to do what is in my heart and to never give up. Thanks Kathy, Linda, Chuck and Alex. I love you all.

The Idiot Driver!

I was shopping at the store to get my weekly food supplies when I was turning a corner with my basket. I had to abruptly stop because a man shot out of the next isle as if he were in a race and almost hit me and an older woman who was standing near me.

The man looked at me and the older woman, but didn't say sorry, excuse me, or go to hell. He then hurried on and stopped in the main isle causing a traffic jam with other shoppers, to talk with a woman who looked a little embarrassed.

The man took off again as the older woman next to me said as loud as she could, "Just like a man driver! They drive like a bat out of hell for no good reason and then "they" have the nerve to talk about us women."

There were a lot of laughs from all of us shoppers who heard her and even now a couple of hours later I still can't stop laughing.

Vickie

Setting The Mood

Every time I look into your eyes I feel the heat of passion fill my soul. My breath catches in my throat with a soft groan as you take me into your arms and and lightly kiss my cheek and neck. I feel your hot breath against me as I lift my lips to yours as you slowly lower me to the soft damp leaves in the woods where we are as our bodies meet as one...

Hmmmm, description is important as you set the mood in a hot scene. I don't think that graphic step by step descriptions are always necessary, but they do have their place in the market, so when writing your love scenes know who you are going to be submitting your work too and what is expected.

My book, My Charming Protector, has a few love scenes in it, but there is more to the story than what goes on between the sheets. I've gotten feedback that the love scenes in my book aren't way out there and they fit with the story as a whole.

Writing love scenes for others to read takes a little getting used too. I mean when people look at me after reading my book they look at me in a whole new way. I mean how embarrassing is it when they ask, "Are you describing something personal?" Just wanted to set the record straight. When I write I am in my character and not describing a personal event. What a character does, feels and believes is not necessarily what the writer does, feels, believes. Are we clear? I hope so. lol

My comfort zone is writing sweet reads. Giving descriptions of romance where man meets woman, eyes connect and hormones go wild with attraction without all the graphic detail entwined in a story that is believable and sweet. I love good descriptions of how one is feeling when a new love enters one's life and fresh feelings of excitement makes your heart go pitter patter as the story pulls your emotions in a mixture of feelings that the characters go through as they find their way.

In a romance the first kiss between the man and woman is very special. If described correctly you make your reader want to place themselves into the story where the heroine or the hero is as if they are too experiencing the same thing. Lets face it. If a first kiss is described as a sloppy uncomfortable experience, who wants to read further? You most definitely want to draw your reader into your story, so take extra care to set the mood.

I will continue on with my descriptive writing and setting the mood in hopes that I get better with time. As a writer I will always be trying to learn my craft better and I want to be very comfortable writing the thing that makes me the happiest.

It is extremely important to remember ... If the writer doesn't believe what they have written no matter how outlandish, the reader wont' believe it either.

Vickie Treadway

My Inspiration

I take a break from working on my present WIP to go outside and enjoy the morning as the sun comes up. I sit on a chair on my front porch and sip my coffee enjoying the warmth of the liquid as my skin is slightly chilled from the morning air. I breath deep and smell the colliding scents of clean fresh air and the recent rain from last nights storms mixed with horse and cow manure from the nearby pastures.

I can't say that the morning is quiet, because it is abuzz with sounds from the crickets and the birds as they wake up to go hunting for their morning meal. There is a slight breeze that causes the leaves on the nearby trees to rustle and mix with the far off noise of a car whose driver is off to start their day.

I look up into the morning sky and see the sun coming up and peaking through the low lying clouds on this side of the mountain. Vibrant colors of pink, yellow, purple and orange fill the eastern sky then turn darker as the sun rises hiding behind the heavier clouds.

As I sit here and witness this kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and smells I am thankful and overjoyed to be able to sit here and be apart of this wonderful morning. I have been able to put aside the stresses of the week to take part in the moment. Times like now I feel like I am a part of nature and it's beauty and not just an observer looking in.

I thank God for moments like this and give him all of the glory for all of the blessings in my life even for those I have not been able to see and experience yet.

I take inspiration from these moments and hold them close to my heart. It gives me hope that things will turn out as they should and it gives me an open mind to put words on paper as I continue writing the stories I have in my heart.

Vickie Treadway

To Change or Not To Change?

When do you know when enough is enough and it is time for a change? Do you just force the change because your too tired to go on, or do you try to keep going until an opportunity comes along to make the change a lot easier?

I keep plugging along hoping and praying that things will get better, but the only thing that is becoming clearer is the fact that I am having more bad days than good. I know that I have a choice to make.

I have a choice to either continue the way I am going, or I can make the decision to go into uncharted territories and try something new without a clear plan. The first way is comfortable and I at least know what is going to happen and it helps the family, because they all benefit from what is already tried and true.

The second choice will give me personal satisfaction and the possibility of finding something that is new and more meaningful, or I can fall flat on my face and those who depend on me can be hurt.

If I were alone and had no one to answer to but myself, I would most definitely take the chance to make a change to help myself, but with others to consider I feel as if I am stuck.

I guess the bottom line is that I'm not willing to take the chance to take a blind leap into the unknown because it could hurt those who depend on me if there is no clear plan. I need to put my faith in God to help me and to guide me into making the change when there are better opportunities at hand.

My Mother

Today is my mother's birthday and her name is Theda. She is a woman who undoubtedly loves her kids, all five of us. She wasn't perfect, nor did I expect her to be as we grew up. I sure as heck know that we weren't perfect and we all gave my mother the gray hair she sports today along with her life's experiences.

Today during our conversation she told me she didn't have any big plans to get get out to celebrate her special day. Though she see's better without the Cataract in her eyes since her eye surgery, I'm sad to say she has a degenerative eye condition which will leave her blind someday. It is this condition that stops her from going out and enjoying the beautiful sunshiny day that has blessed that region in the great northwest.

Mom also has diabetes, which has effected her whole nervous system which is literally causing her to fall apart with continual health problems. As her health fails I can't help but think about all that woman has gone through and the experiences she has had in her 73 years.

My mom has taught me more than I will ever know and she has been there for me with unconditional love no matter what has happened in the life we have lived. There are too many lessons in life I won't forget because of her.

I am only a phone call away, but I wish I could be there to hold my mom and to kiss her soft cheek and to tell her in person that I love her. I know that one day she will not be here so I try to never take for granted who that lovely woman is to me.

Happy Birthday MOM. I Love You!!