Library Wishlists

I received the Friends of the East Longmeadow newsletter via email a few days ago. In it was a link to their Library Wishlist. This new site allows libraries to create "wish lists" and solicit donations for improvements they would like to make to their library. Check out http://www.librarywishlist.com to search for your favorite library and ways that you can help!

More Adventures in Cemetery Exploration

Last week my explorations took me to the Springfield (MA) Cemetery where I came across this stone. I'm pretty sure that this is the oldest one I've ever found - it dates from 1664.

Another stone truly caught my interest however. It was almost as old - unfortunately the sun was very bright and the deep shadows wouldn't allow me to capture a good photo, but in front of it was a very modern statue with some flowers. Someone remembered that person - after all these years. I wonder what that story is.

How (Not) to Record an Audio Book

If you'd like to read all the mistakes I made while trying to record an audio version of The Rose Ring, please read my post for the Catholic Writer's Guild: How (Not) to Record an Audio Book

An Audio Version of The Rose Ring

The saga of how this audio book got made is quite the comedy of errors, which I am sharing on the Catholic Writer's Guild blog this weekend. The best laid plans as they say . . .

But, here it is, The Rose Ring, read by yours truly. It's a huge file, but it works!



The Rose Ring Audio Version

Through the Open Window is at the Library!

Back when Through the Open Window came out, I sent copies to both the East Longmeadow and Springfield (MA) Main Library. The East Longmeadow library plays a prominent role in the story and the main characters also take a visit to the Springfield Quadrangle (of which the Springfield Library is a part). I had checked a while later and the book wasn't listed in the on-line catalog so I figured both libraries had simply given the book away. I hoped they found a good home.


Fast-forward three years. Just for fun, I plugged my name into the Cwmars catalog and lo and behold, there it was at the Springfield Library. Of course, I needed to go take a trip to visit my book. I may never see one of my books in a bookstore, but I got to see one at a library! I even checked it out! (I plan to bring it back tomorrow.)

The Rose Ring, Chapter Six

Julia entered the nursing home, signed in on the volunteer form, and then, as was her custom, made her way to the chapel on the first floor. Ever since she had started volunteering there several years earlier, she had made a habit of stopping by to pay a short visit before embarking on her visits. Part of it was upbringing. Her mother took her to visits to Church all the time when she was little. They would go, spend a few minutes, light a candle and pray. She had always loved the quiet and peace she had found in those moments.

Part of it was fear. She loved to come and visit the residents, read to them, and listen to their stories. It gave her life a small sense of purpose and she was happy to help, but it took all of her courage to walk into those rooms. As she herself aged, she found it even harder. No longer was she an indestructible young woman. Well into her thirties, she knew that the years passed by like a speeding train and that this was what life might hold for you as you headed for your final destination. In the resident’s faces, she saw her own future. Time passed quickly and it scared her to death.

And so, she sat in the quiet and prayed for the strength to help bring some comfort to those who were lonely and suffering. She then picked up her stack of books and climbed the stairs to the third floor.

At the top of the stairs, she punched in the security code, unlocking the door, and entered the dementia ward. This was the hardest floor to visit, but Sr. Elaine, the volunteer coordinator, had assigned her one resident up here to visit with.

Julia rushed through the entry room. A few residents sat near the nurse’s station. Some stared into space. Others cried out to her, thinking her some long-lost friend or relative coming to visit. She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact. She never knew how to respond.

“Good evening, Julia.” Charlie, the nurse on duty, greeted her in his polite southern drawl. “How nice of you to join us this evening.”

“How are you doing tonight?”

“Can’t complain,” he smiled. “It’s a beautiful day and praise the Lord, I’m here to see it.”

“I don’t know how you do it. Every time I see you, you’re always so happy.” She looked around at the residents. “I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

“God’s in his heaven. What do I have to be sad about? My being sad isn’t going to help these people any.” Charlie radiated joy. Julia couldn’t help but smile.

“Going to see Miss Jennie?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“She’ll be happy to see you. It’s the highlight of her day when you come.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Jennie, short for Eugenie, had been a stage actress when she was young. She had a  special love of English literature. It was for this reason that Sr. Elaine felt that Julia would be the perfect volunteer to visit with her.  Jennie never said much, nor did she remember Julia from visit to visit, but twice a week she would come and introduce herself and read to her from Jane Austen or Shakespeare and Jennie would close her eyes and smile and sometimes say the lines she had long ago memorized out loud, accompanying Julia while she read.

They were currently making their way through Sense and Sensibility. Julia was more than happy to spend some time reading about the plight of the Dashwood sisters. After reading for almost an hour, Julia wrapped up chapter eight and closed the book.

“That’s all we have time for this evening. I’ll see you on Thursday.”

“Oh, yes, dear, that would be nice.”

As Julia exited the room, she looked back and saw Jennie staring out the window at the evening sky. Julia walked with a purposeful stride toward the exit.

“See you next time,” Charlie beamed at her.

“Not if I see you first,” Julia said. Charlie laughed.

She was almost to the door when a hand reached out and grabbed her right arm.

“Where did you get my ring?”

Julia tried to release her arm to no avail. She looked up into the dark eyes of the white-haired woman who had latched onto her with a force completely incompatible with her frail appearance.

“I asked you, where did you get that ring?”

“It was my grandmother’s,” Julia stammered.

“No, it most certainly was not. It is mine. Joe gave me that ring.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you are talking about.” She still couldn’t loosen the woman’s grip on her arm.

“Miss Elizabeth, you need to calm down.” Julia was so relieved to hear Charlie’s voice. “Let go of her arm.”

“But, she stole my ring.”

“No, she didn’t. It’s her ring. Please let her go.”

Julia relaxed as Elizabeth released her powerful grip.

“My Joe gave me that ring. He’s going to come back for me,” she insisted.

“I’m sorry,” Julia said as she started slowly backing up.

When she felt she was at a safe distance, she spoke to Charlie.

“Thank you. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Is your arm alright? It looked like she was squeezing mighty tight.”

Julia rubbed it. “Yeah, it will be fine.” She looked over at Elizabeth, who was sobbing with her head in her hands. “Will she be okay?”

“She’ll be fine. Her anger has passed. She’s just sad now.”

“I feel so bad. I didn’t mean to upset her.” She fingered her ring. “She must have had a ring that looked like this.”

“Don’t worry about it. Tomorrow, she won’t even remember.”

“Somehow, that doesn’t really make it better, does it?”

“No,” Charlie shook his head, “I suppose it doesn’t.”

“Do you know who Joe is?” Julia asked. “Was he her husband?”

“No, I’ve never heard her mention him before. She never married. No family ever comes to see her.” He paused. “No one ever comes to see her.”

“That is so sad.”

“That’s just the way it is – even with the ones who do have families. This floor doesn’t get a whole lot of visitors.”

Julia took a last look at Elizabeth, who was slumped over in her chair, and glanced at her watch. “I need to be going. I’m late for my next visit on the second floor.”

“Let me walk you to the door,” Charlie offered.

Julia nodded and they made their way to the exit. As they walked by Elizabeth, Julia heard her whisper through her tears. “That ring is mine. I don’t know who you are or how you got it, but when the war is over, Joe will come home to me.”

From The Rose Ring

 
 

The Rose Ring, Chapter Five

Elizabeth’s Journal

Saturday, May 17, 1941

Today was the day I’ve waited for and worked for so long – my college graduation. As I waited in line with my classmates, donned in my cap and gown, I reflected on the last four years. In some ways, it feels like we were just Freshmen, all nervously getting to know each other at orientation, being subject to the Senior’s pranks, and now, here we were, getting ready to say goodbye and face whatever waits for us outside these walls. I couldn’t help it – the tears started to fall. I was very thankful I had thought to tuck my handkerchief into the sleeve of my dress!

We marched into the auditorium to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” as light filtering through the large stained glass windows danced through the room. I searched the faces for my family. There were so many people packed in the rows, I feared I would never find them, but Daddy’s height was a great blessing and I was able to locate his head in the crowd. He was smiling so proudly when I caught his eye. Mama, too, was smiling, but like me, her cheeks were glistening with tears. I think that this day may have actually meant as much, if not more, to them as it did to me. Even though I came on a scholarship, I know how much they sacrificed to allow me to come here, how much they dreamt of having a child with a college education. I can only hope that someday I can repay them for all that they have done for me.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Maggie stood next to them, looking as if she would rather have been anywhere else. Couldn’t she at least have pretended to have been happy for me? Ah, the pain of being a twelve-year-old girl. I can only hope she recovers from it soon.

I was stewing a bit about Maggie’s attitude, but then I saw him – Joseph was there! He had a big bouquet of yellow roses and mouthed the words “For you” as I walked past. I felt like my legs were going to give out right then and there. He was the last person I expected to see. In fact, I hadn’t seen or talked to him since we had met two weeks ago – a fact that I assure you, had resulted in a completely out-of-proportion amount of emotional turmoil. If only men knew what they did to our hearts, perhaps then they wouldn’t trifle with them so. But in that moment, when I saw him, all was suddenly right with the world, and a day that I didn’t think could become any more perfect suddenly did.

I confess I don’t recall much of anything the speakers said. I should have been paying better attention – after all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, but I am afraid that while my body was firmly planted in row C, seat 14, my mind was most definitely several rows back.

I do remember Msgr. O’Neill announcing my name – Elizabeth Mary Phelps, and the feel of the diploma as Fr. Murphy handed it to me. It was mine. At long last, it was mine. All those hours of study had finally come to fruition.

After the ceremony, I rushed to find Joseph. I know – I should have looked for my parents first, but at that moment, I needed to find him. At first I couldn’t, and for a brief, terrifying minute, I feared that maybe the flowers weren’t for me at all, but rather for some other Lourdes graduate who had caught his fancy. But then, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see him smiling and handing me the flowers.

I thanked him and then pulled him to come meet my family who I could see approaching from the other direction. Mama enveloped me in a big hug and said how proud she was. Daddy kissed my cheek. Maggie sulked but I refused to allow her to ruin my day.

I introduced Joseph and was so pleased to see how warmly my father greeted him. Daddy invited him to the party they were having for me. Joseph looked at me, searching for what his response should be, and I whispered “Please.” I hadn’t known if I would ever see him again. Now that he was there, I wasn’t going to give him the opportunity to slip away.

I asked my parents if it would be alright if Joseph gave me a ride home – I didn’t want him to get lost, after all, or at least that was the reason I offered.

As we made our way out of the hall, I said goodbye to Kathleen and Mary Katherine. They have been like sisters to me, and I shall miss them so. We promised to write. How is it possible that we may never see each other again? I can’t even think of that right now, because if I do, I will start crying again, and I will never finish this journal entry. And I do want to preserve this day for always so that fifty years from now, I can look back and read these pages and smile.

In any event, after we left the auditorium and were making our way to Joseph’s car, I asked him when his graduation was scheduled. Do you know what he said? He looked down at his watch and said, “It should be finishing up right about now.”I couldn’t believe it! He skipped his own graduation ceremony – his doctoral graduation ceremony – to come and see me. He said that he had wanted to see me and he knew that this was the only place he was sure that I would be. He also said that since his parents were dead and his siblings were busy with their own families, he had no one to come and that, having already attended his graduation when he finished his A.B., he truly didn’t mind missing this one. He then told me that if I was upset that he had come, he could certainly leave, but that I would have a rather long walk home because my parents had already departed. I did my best to assure him that I was indeed quite happy that he was there.

The party was small, but great fun. The Smiths and the Rosemonds were there and Jane stopped by with baby Tommy. It’s strange to think of my childhood friends already having families of their own, but adorable little Tommy is living proof of that. I suppose, by comparison, I’m practically an old maid.

I think Maggie was attempting to flirt with Joseph. I suppose, in retrospect, it was an improvement over her sulking – at least now, she was smiling, and if possible, I believe she was actually attempting to bat her eyelashes. Can you imagine? I felt embarrassed for her, and for me. Truthfully, more for me than for her. What would Joseph think of me, of my family? To his credit, he seemed to take it all in stride.

When he had said his goodbyes to my family and I was walking him back to his car, I commented that I thought my sister had a crush on him. He told me that Maggie would be a heartbreaker some day, but that she was a bit too young for him at the moment, and that, in any case, he had his eye on someone else.

At that point, he took my hands in his and I started to tremble. Why do I do that when he is around? It is a completely involuntary reaction – I have absolutely no control over it. And then, he pulled me closer, kissed my cheek and then kissed me ever so gently on my lips. It was pure magic, and do you know what my reaction was? I pushed away from him and ran in the other direction. Even as I write this, I still don’t know why. I suppose I was scared, but of what? He called after me and I stopped, and he apologized and said that he thought I wanted him to kiss me, which I most definitely did, and asked me if he could see me again.

I stumbled over my response in a manner completely unbefitting a new college graduate and told him that I was the one who should apologize, that I didn’t know what had come over me, and attempted to do my best to assure him that I did indeed wish to see him again. And then, do you know what I did? I still can’t completely believe it myself – I have never done anything like this in my life, but I threw my arms around him and kissed him, completely losing myself in his embrace. I am rather pleased to report that he did not run at all.

We made plans for next weekend and I watched his car drive away. When I turned around, I cringed when I saw both Mama and Maggie looking out the window before they quickly closed the curtain. No doubt, they had seen the whole thing, although when I entered the house they both made a valiant attempt to look busy. Ah well, I suppose we all can use a little excitement, especially me. I’m already counting the days until next Saturday.

From The Rose Ring