Lin and I are in Germany on our square dance trip, so. . .no post today because we are going to Oktoberfest in Munich. Here’s more information about this amazing event:
Three years ago, Oktoberfest in Munich was one of the highlights of the trip for me. We saw parades with many traditional outfits and wonderful bands. We visited several beer tents and listened to German music. All in all, it was like a state fair on steroids!
Afterwards tomorrow, we are going to a barbecue with one of the square dance clubs in Munich and then dance with them. So it’s going to be a late night.
Be sure to know, I will be sharing lots of pictures and stories about our experience there this year!
Award winner—I have won several awards for my ten books, but Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? won two New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards that thrilled me. For some reason, those two awards outweighed the other multiple awards.
But I wanted to share the others with you!
This Tumbleweed Landed – First Finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards
In 2016, This Tumbleweed Landed was a finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards in the Biography (Other) category.
I had submitted it the year before in the poetry category and got sage advice from someone in the know about the awards. The poetry category was highly competitive.
So, the next year (2016) I submitted it the Biography (Other) category. It didn’t win, but I felt so excited to be a finalist. Lin and I dressed up and went to the banquet with the other writers. It felt other-worldly.
When Will Papa Get Home? – Two Finalist Awards
In 2016 and 2017, When Will Papa Get Home? was a finalist in the Historical Fiction category. But once, again it didn’t win the category.
A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir – Five Book Awards
In 2017 & 2018 A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir received five book awards:
2018 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards “Finalist” in 2 categories: E-book Nonfiction and E-book Cover
2018 Book Excellence Awards “Finalist” in the Memoir category
2018 Independent Press Awards “Distinguished Favorites” in the Memoir category
2017 New Apple Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing ”Official Selection” in the Biography|Autobiography|Memoir category
2017 New Mexico-Arizona book awards “Finalist” in 2 categories: Biography (Other) and E-book Nonfiction
But once again, A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir didn’t win either category in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo – Received 3 Awards
In 2021 Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo was a Finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards in two categories: Biography and Nonfiction E-book. It did not win either category.
Also, it received the eLit Silver Award and Book Excellence Award Finalist.
Finally, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? a winner twice for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards
Finally, in 2022 & 2023 Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? won the Award for the Body, Mind & Spirit category in 2022. In 2023 it won in the Self-Help category.
Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir Wins Global Book Awards
In 2024, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir won a Silver Medallion in the Christmas Books category of the Global Book Awards.
It won 1st Place in the Nonfiction Book Cover Contest on AllAuthors.com.
In the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards, it was a Finalist in two categories: Parenting & Family and Philosophy/Religion. It didn’t win either category.
Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry – Wins two Global Book Awards
In 2024, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry became a Gold Medalist for the Poetry – Verse category. It received an Honorable Mention in the Reader’s Choice Contest. Then in 2025, it received a Bronze medal in the Global Book Awards in the Poetry – Verse category.
I didn’t enter it in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
A Banner Year for Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry
This year has been a banner year for my new poetry book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry. It was Third Place Winner at BooksShelf.com. Then the cover won 2nd place in the AllAuthor.com nonfiction book cover contest. Recently, I got word this second book in my five-book poetry series won a Gold Medal in the Global Book Poetry – Verse category.
And this year isn’t over, so watch out!
In focusing this month on Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, winning the local writing contest of the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards felt so wonderful. I had submitted my books for six years. During those years, I attended each banquet, full of excitement and anticipation. I had the pleasure of being a finalist, but never the winner at a banquet.
At the banquets I went to and lost, the winner received a beautiful glass trophy and was recognized by all in attendance. Everyone received a certificate too in the mail. I won during the aftermath of the pandemic, so there was no banquet, no trophy and no certificate for each win. I felt cheated!
A Sample from Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?
Let me share another poem from Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? from Chapter 13.
The Wait for What?
May 13, 2020
Since March 9, I self-quarantined For two weeks I stayed put!
Then it stretched To May 15!
March April Half of May.
Drastic Maybe Wise and cautious For sure.
I obey the restrictions. I wear a mask. I adhere to six feet In social distance. I apply hand sanitizer After each necessary outing.
Yet the battle rages. Some say it’s a hoax Protest Violate the restrictions.
In the name of the first amendment Free exercise of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of the Press Right to assemble peaceably The right to petition the government For the redress of grievances.
Important freedoms I love.
In the name of the second amendment A well-regulated militia, being necessary To the security of a free State, The right of the people to keep And bear arms shall not be Infringed.
The right to bear arms because of the coronavirus restrictions? Really?
Can you shoot this enemy? A minuscule virus particle Why guns? Why assault weapons? An AT4 rocket launcher?
Why Confederate flags? Swastikas? The militant attitude, Army fatigues, and camouflage gear?
As this continues, Confusion mounts. As the unrest continues, My confusion soars. Why?
A virus Killing thousands Demands naysayer’s denial and protests?
Why do you deny the serious nature of the coronavirus? Ill-advised? Ignorant? Stupidity?
Why do you clamor About socialism And your rights? Selfish Self-centered Me, me, ME!
What about compassion? Caring for others? It’s not about you, you, you!
The wait for normalcy logic and compassion to surface may be a long time in coming!
For some!
For others, it never left!
YOUR REFLECTIONS
Did you ever confront someone else for their careless behavior? If so, what happened?
In my past I have wrestled with God over many things. I wanted a baby. After divorcing the first time, I wanted a husband who didn’t drink. During the coronavirus pandemic, I wrestled with God about the whole horrible thing.
Here’s Chapter Eight from my book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, that featured a poem and then prose about this very subject—how I wrestled with God.
CHAPTER 8
I WRESTLED WITH GOD, FAITH, AND THE CORONAVIRUS
The door of the human heart, can only be opened from the inside…
William Holman Hunt
May 17, 2020
As March 2020 ended, I pondered God and faith issues in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and sheltering in place. Even though we had only been dealing with this for a month, I continued to worry about Lin and my safety in the midst of this craziness. After each day’s case tally, I felt more inclined to hibernate. I seldom ventured out—only for groceries and prescriptions, but I ventured inward.
As I see the coronavirus cases increase, I wonder, “Where is God? Who will protect me from this insidious enemy? My husband tries his best, but what if?” So many people have died. Screams of despair reverberate across the world, all the way to my home in New Mexico. So many mourn the loss of a son, a daughter, a mother, a father, or a grandparent. And not just mourn the loss, but that he or she died alone with no one familiar to hold a hand, wipe a tear, and whisper, “I love you.”
Dear God, in your infinite mercy, where are you?
As I reflected on my bewilderment over my God and the coronavirus, a favorite quote of Mother Teresa’s came to me again, feeling like a balm, “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.” I choose to see that disguise in an overworked doctor, a nurse, an LPN, a caring neighbor, a stranger’s smiling eyes in the grocery store, or a phone call or text message to check-in with loved ones.
Even as I question what’s happening, I believe God is in the midst of this. I feel as though His heart breaks as He watches the loss and the horror. But it’s Mother Teresa’s words that fully bring me understanding, that help re-cement my faith in Him and his servants.
As this pandemic has struck, many people seeking a spiritual answer wonder about their personal faith as I did. Often, I hear people say either faith or fear, but I came up with a different answer.
Faith and Fear, Not Faith or Fear
March 31, 2020
It’s not either or. I’m human— Fear lurks Faith falters. But I can open my hands, Have faith in one And fear in the other.
I can raise them up To my God, Overflowing with both!
Then I can release Both To do what needs done.
Fear reminds me I’m vulnerable. Faith reminds me God is in control. I need both.
Fear chokes my throat, Strangling the life out of me. Faith hugs me close, Saturating my heart with love. I need both.
In the midst of this spiritual battle, God extends his hand Offering solace For my questions, My concerns, This dilemma.
Fear drives me to despair Faith draws me to the Comforter. Yes, I need both In balance.
Too much fear Paralyzes me. Too much fear Focuses me On the problem. Then my faith comes And refocuses me On the solution.
I want more faith Less fear But I need both! A balance To stabilize me To force me To look outside Myself to Him Who waits for me!
Faith is power, So is fear. I yearn to be faith-powered! Not fear driven!
Do you question God and his presence in this world? I do because we talk regularly, and we have that kind of relationship. I don’t need to blame God about the pandemic because my God is good, but I challenged Him—where are you? What about faith and fear? Can I have both at the same time?
I labored over God’s apparent absence in my worldly concerns, the possibility still of Lin or me getting the coronavirus. I battled with the need to go out into the world for necessities and the fear that overcame me. The uncertainty of what we faced now and ahead loomed over me like a shroud. Would it get worse? Then add to those concerns my spiritual battle with faith and fear. As always, poetry helped me wrestle with deep emotions about this controversial time and face some spiritual reservations.
After much introspection through said poetry, I do believe God is in control of this mess, my mess, any mess that comes along. I put my trust in God and know He’s in every person fighting this battle we’re in and every gorgeous flower blooming in Lin’s garden. I wind my way through the caverns of questioning always to arrive back at that same place—my faith restored and strengthened in my quest.
After this wrestling match, I saw my God’s hand in places I hadn’t noticed before: the healing hands of the ER doctor and nurses, Lin’s preparatory endeavors in his garden, and the early signs of spring. Yes, God is in control.
YOUR REFLECTIONS
What issues have you wrestled with during this crisis?
I have ended you with my busy schedule right now. Started packing today because we leave Tuesday, August 11 for the states for several weeks, then we fly on to Germany for two weeks and back to Panama. Also, my new book, Eyewitness to Healing, has taken over my time. I’m currently revising Chapter 13. There are eighteen chapters in the book, and my deadline to my editor looms over me.
So, yes, I have wrestled with God. Always I have come out on the other side a wiser person with a deeper faith. How about you? Do you wrestle with God_ What have you wrestled with God about in the past? Recently?
The coronavirus pandemic has been all over my Threads app this last week. Even though it has been six years, bringing it up again caused many of us to relive the horror.
In my award-winning book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, I shared how I handled this life-changing event and made a choice. Here’s a sample chapter, chapter eighteen, that I named the book after. As I do so often, I mix a combination of prose and poetry. In this book I started each chapter with a pertinent quote and a relative picture, then I added pictures throughout (I’m a visual person) and ended with a question to ponder.
Chapter Eighteen
CORONAVIRUS REFLECTIONS: BITTER OR BETTER?
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
Confucius
September 6, 2020
Bitter or better, that’s the question! Life often hands us problems to deal with, and we choose how to tackle them. For me, either I get bitter or better as a result. But never in my life have I had to handle what 2020 handed the world. Like everyone else, that was one issue that I had no idea how to deal with. I assumed 2020 would be a repeat performance of 2019, so I couldn’t foresee what a test we would face.
Nevertheless, the coronavirus’s impact continues to affect our lives six months later. Normal life activities came to a screeching standstill. 193,000+ people have lost their lives. Families have lost loved ones. People have lost jobs, and businesses have suffered extreme losses. For many, it’s been a psychological affront causing depression and anxiety. I have been one of the fortunate ones, not experiencing the extremes of the pandemic.
But even though I haven’t experienced the dire side of this catastrophe, I have been affected, as have so many other people, each in our own ways.
Some have become bitter over mandated requirements, like social distancing and/or masks. People dubbed as “Karens” or “Kens” have violently erupted at various store clerks asking compliance to safety measures.
Many worldwide bitter rebels have actively protested against these measures, like one organized event on September 15, “World Anti-Mask Protest.” Others continue to believe this is a hoax and vehemently denounce the virus and any of the safety requests. Some have become better, deciding to look at this respite as a time to stop the crazy pace of a busy 21st century life, slow down, help a neighbor, and go deeper on a spiritual quest. That’s what I decided to do early on. The pandemic made me fearful and anxious, and being able to stop and process what I was feeling helped me to feel more grounded and centered.
I became proficient at Zoom and participated in and hosted a multitude of Zoom meetings, which helped ease the isolation, especially with my recovery groups. I made a conscious choice.
Coronavirus Reflection: Bitter or Better?
September 5, 2020
For six months The coronavirus rages Then ebbs and flows. Never have I faced Anything like this!
I remember The polio scare As a child, A far-away bogeyman That didn’t touch me. But nothing like this.
Today, quarantined Deaths Shelter-in-place Fear Confusion, Who do you believe?
My lifestyle drastically altered NO dancing NO traveling NO interaction With people.
I have flirted with bitterness The vile taste of resentments Discourages My lingering there long. I can’t afford to hang around long.
But the good news: I’ve stayed healthy My family has, too!
So, I choose to reflect. Has this focused time Made me Bitter Or better?
Stripped Of normal life And activity, I sat quietly Listened Breathed deeply.
I watched my husband Gather his strength In his garden Working with his hands His mind His soul.
I celebrate this man I quarantined with.
I gathered my own strength In words Working with my hands My mind My soul.
I focused on The Flippo biography — my latest book project Which helped alter the horrible state Of our world, A true escape for me.
In this forced respite, I reconnected with My God, In a time of needed solace Myself, Exploring reactions and feelings To this fearful situation:
My husband, A good person to Be quarantined with.
I cleaned out age-old belongings. I connected with people on Zoom. I wrote poetry, Diving deep Into the abyss of Doubt and despair and Faith and feelings! I had weekly phone dates With hurting friends.
To be honest, I had moments of bitterness Hot August Nights weekend canceled So, I scheduled a Zoom party With long-time friends.
Yes, I missed Weekly face-to-face recovery meetings Monthly visits to our ranch And my brother Family gatherings Square and round dances Travel Friends
But I didn’t waste time long in bitterness.
Today, I relish all of those much more, Hungry for their return. I savor what they Brought into my life, How they enriched me.
When this time of trial is over, I will step up and say, It made me better And that feels good!
I bask in this capsule of time That I used to benefit My growth.
Bitter or better The choice is yours!
There was a moment when I lay in the sun where I had a flash of absolute connectedness and saw both the bitter and the better demonstrated in Lin’s rose garden, so I played with a poem.
I Sunbathed in the Roses
September 5, 2020
A petal floated on the breeze Slowly Settling on my forehead. Another landed on my stomach Bright red in color Matching my sunburned skin.
A plush cushion of white rose petals Gathered as my supple pillow. Ivory-colored roses climbed The trellis Near my feet And tickled my toes.
Salmon-colored roses Guarded my heart And created a Vibrant crown for my brow!
A bright golden bouquet kissed The sun As their next-of-kin And brushed my cheek With their satiny lips.
Peach roses danced In the gentle wind, A soft waltz In a lavish gown.
To sunbathe In the midst of roses Soothes Every ache Every pain A galaxy of color.
These flower friends lift me To the heavens, A multi-colored celebration Of life and love, Surround me in our deep connection.
Hummingbirds dive bomb my head, Enchanted with the color And the nectar. I’ve invaded their sanctuary.
Lay still! I can’t! I feel the prick of . . . Yes, thorns, Slightly. Careful where I lay, But one foot strays A little, And I jerk it back.
A reminder, Sometimes pain hides in beauty, But mostly A restful soul A quiet spirit Surrounded by A circle of roses, My friends!
Yes, I have a choice anytime life deals me a blow—will the experience make me bitter, resentful, and angry? Or will I take advantage of the opportunity present and plunge into a deeper relationship
with myself and my God and become better?
I choose better.
I choose finding new passions, rediscovering old ones. Also, I choose laughing with my loved ones, even if it’s over Zoom. I choose to slow down and sunbathe in the roses.
YOUR REFLECTIONS:
Has the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 left you bitter or better? Why?
So, here we are again, and once again I choose to be better, not bitter about the pandemic. This chapter noted how I felt in September 2020. If you have any residual pain leftover from the pandemic, I hope this book helps you heal. That’s its whole purpose! And I will be featuring it this month
