52-week blog challenge | Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Category: 52-week blog challenge
- #MFRWauthor Warm and Cozy #WritersLife
  
  Posted at 12:15 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on January 22, 2021
  
  Marketing for Romance Writers
  
  Monthly Blog Challenge: January
  
  What inventive ways have you found to keep warm?
  
  Well, other than summoning a hot flash on demand, I can’t call my ways of keeping warm inventive. I’m not an outside-in-the-winter-for-fun person, so I’ll write about keeping warm indoors.
  
  Wearing fingerless gloves while writing in any season is nothing new or inventive (nowadays), but they keep our hands toasty.
  
  In my last apartment with no basement, drafts made the floors nippy. The heating system never kept the place comfortable when the temperatures plummeted. I used to use a heated throw until it quit heating. On some evenings when the temps dropped to the teens or below zero-degrees, I’d bundle up with a heavy blanket, extra thick socks, and an electric heater to supplement. My old doggie, Kasha, curled up on the blanket at my feet.
  
  However, to keep my dog warm, especially at bedtime, I’d roll out two throw rugs, then fold and drop a thick quilt on the floor to keep her warm. I’d toss a light blanket over her, but before daybreak, she’d be on top of them. Her age and illness kept her from jumping on the bed or sofa, and with a back injury at the time, I couldn’t lift my sixty-five pound fur-baby. In the mornings, after taking her for a quick trip outside, we’d come back in, and while she ate, I’d take my coffee back to bed to cuddle up under blankets. Before long, she’d mosey in for a pat to her head. Satisfied with a little lovin’ from Mama, she’d curl up on her blankets. I’ll forever remember the last winter with her.
  
  A year or two ago, my new apartment, with a basement and warmer floors, had an issue with the boiler, so we had no heat for over twenty-four hours. Once again, I dragged out an extra blanket to cuddle up for the night. Since I had power, I plugged in my electric heater and stayed warm and cozy until a repairman fixed the boiler.
  
  What about you? Do you have any inventive suggestions for keeping warm?
  
  Drop by the Marketing for Romance Writers Blog Hop to see how PARTICIPATING AUTHORS have used inventive ways to stay warm.
  
  Nice job , folks, on the new 2021 graphic!
  
  Thanks for reading.
  
  Socks and dog Featured Image Courtesy: Pixabay 3025332. Kasha image poorly edited and manipulated by yours truly.
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge | 14 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, inventive ways to stay warm, mary j mccoy dressel, MFRW monthly blog challenge
- #MFRWauthor Week 18: Bright Lights or Peaceful Nights?
  
  Posted at 2:37 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 1, 2020
  
  Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. Goodness, we’re at Week 18.
  
  Sometimes it feels like the time is flying by, doesn’t it? Other times it drags. Drags because we don’t know what we’re waiting for, to be honest.
  
  One thing for sure though—people around the entire world are waiting for better days—normal days to return. Will it ever be the “normal” we once knew? I think it will be a long time from now before we’ll see normalcy. Any-who, since we aren’t going anywhere, let’s get to the topic for Week 18.
  
  City Living or Country?
  
  Can I say both? I could answer this with those four words, but you know me…
  
  I’d like my primary home to be in the country. I’m not where I live now, but it feels like it when I look out and see the woodlands around me or when I stroll through my small-town. Today, I glanced outside in time to see a pair of ducks waddling past my window. My first thought was for them to take cover before a hawk spotted them.
  
  Turkeys a couple of years ago.
  
  Later, a FedEx truck slowing down on the road into this complex got my attention. Since I had been walking through the apartment getting in my daily steps, I glanced out the window to see the biggest live turkey I’ve ever seen—tail feathers and all—strutting down the road ahead of FedEx. I smiled.
  
  Last year a coyote died beneath my bedroom window! Sad. They stroll through the parking lot at night. My cousin, who lives behind me in the same building, sees deer each evening at dusk, and the ducks because the river is down the hill. Sounds like country, huh?
  
  In the past, I had property in the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania in the Allegheny National Forest where bear came through in the wee morning hour to examine our fire pit. I’ve mentioned before how I came upon a black bear while strolling down the road
  
  Allegheny Mountains.
  
  alone, with the bear between me and home!
  
  Deer were aplenty. We had nearly twenty acres and some of that acreage had apple trees right down the hill and to the right of this garage at the family section of the property. We had a place down the road. I spotted a wild cat through my camera lens one evening while waiting for a sunset. Yes, I’ve had experience with country living, and I LIKE IT!
  
  However, I’d like an apartment or a time-share in the city for a change of pace. Cities are beautiful at Christmastime with all the decorations. I’d hate to miss that part of city living, but I’d want to be back in my country home for Christmas Eve.
  
  I wonder how many days it would take to become accustomed to city noise and traffic.
  
  If you had a choice, which would you prefer? Or are you a rebel like me and choose both?
  
  Since this is a blog hop, here’s the LINK to participating authors who are answering the same question.
  
  Take care everyone. Stay safe. Stay home.
  
  Featured Image Credit: Pixabay – Free-photos
  
  This big guy rambled out of the woods this morning. I heard a gobble, gobble and ran to the window. I bet my jaw dropped! I took a quick shot. Forgive the bad picture through the window with the sun glare. I think he’s looking for a cute little turkey to have his babies.
  
  Early morning stroll.
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 10 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, blog hop, Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge, mary j mccoy dressel, Week 18: Bright Lights or Peaceful Nights?
- #MFRWauthor Week 16: Shopping? Pick Up the Phone or Walk Inside
  
  Posted at 2:37 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 17, 2020
  
  Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. The question for Week 16 is:
  
  Online shopping or go to stores?
  
  Shopping in Person:
  
  I choose both, or I did before a pandemic took over the world. The reason I like going to clothing stores or shoe stores to shop is because I need to try on clothes, shoes, lingerie, the whatnot that goes on my body. I like to go shopping shortly after they open so it isn’t too busy, which allows me to lollygag and just look and touch, and to notice what mannequins are showing off.
  
  If I’m looking for a new television, laptop, printer, electronic device, or even a TV table or desk, I like to see the item in person.
  
  It’s no surprise I love bookstores, but I rarely purchase print books because they are too difficult for me to read with my eye issues. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t look, touch, and smell books, and browse whatever else bookstores have for sale.
  
  My last recent purchases from inside an electronics store was a TV stand and Bluetooth headphones, earbud style. I had intended on purchasing headphones, but when I looked in person, most over-the-head headphones didn’t fit comfortably. If I had ordered online, I would not have known this.
  
  Another new thing though… I never thought I’d order groceries online until I went into self-isolation and then lived with Stay Home Stay Safe orders. Going into the store helped me go above my daily step quota and actually see another human being in person and hear my voice. I am a Michigangander and ALL FOR the Michigan Stay Home Stay Safe order to continue.
  
  Online Shopping:
  
  Sometimes online shopping has better discounts.
  
  I’ve grown to like online grocery shopping. All I have to do is order and pick it up. However, I look forward to in-store shopping for food for as long as I’m able to drive and walk.
  
  Once I’ve purchased clothing or shoes, I’ll order that brand online with confidence.
  
  Once, I ordered a Kindle Fire and iPad online from the same electronics store mentioned above. All I had to do was see the specifications. I also purchased my fitness wrist tracker online without knowing one thing about buying one. It’s a great purchase though for spur-of-the-minute.
  
  My computer is not staying connected to the internet these days, so a new computer might be in my future…by shopping online. Hmm.
  
  These days, you can purchase anything online from flowering plants to hardware items to vehicles. It’s still fun to go to the store, but I like the choice.
  
  Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful weekend.
  
  About Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop. “Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We’ll be posting every Friday… join us as often as possible.” Please click HERE to visit participating authors.
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 18 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge, blog hop, mary j mccoy dressel, Week 16: Shopping? Pick Up the Phone or Walk Inside
- #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge: Hobbies. Snap. Cut. Paste.
  
  Posted at 2:14 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 3, 2020
  
  Welcome to Week 14 in Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge.
  
  Week 14: Hobbies outside of reading.
  
  Photography:
  
  The number one hobby I miss a lot is photography. I’ve taken classes at a local college, but I’ve forgotten much of what I’ve learned. However, sometimes my oldest son will ask me a question and I remember the answer. Both of my boys love photography as well. Self-taught, they’re good at it too.
  
  One of the fun parts of the class were the field trips and learning to take night shots. It’s so easy now to take out a cell phone to snap a shot. I use my point-and-shoot digital occasionally like last fall for the scarecrow, fairy, and skeleton displays at festivals. When I worked, I’d take student photos for the school of kids in various activities like the Halloween parade or Christmas parties. Now, all my fancy equipment sits in my camera bag waiting and calling me sometimes.
  
  My dad loved taking pictures so when he had a camera in his hand, look out! He gave me an old Brownie box camera when I was very young. I think it belonged to my step-grandfather. I loved looking down into the view finder in that old thing.
  
  Photo collage:
  
  Since photos are mostly in digital these days, it’s been years since I’ve made a collage. The last one I made was for a boyfriend with pictures of him, us, all of our kids—his and mine not ours—and photos of all the places we had traveled to over a five-year span. He was a photographer, too, and a darn good one with a natural talent.
  
  To construct, I’d use a large frame and situate the photos on poster board, because of the thickness, and glue the images on with a glue stick. I’d cut the photos with random fancy edges and set them in different angles so they weren’t all straight. They turned out nice. I always received compliments on them.
  
  I have a couple more, but these are at the top of the list.
  
  Here is the Link to visit the participating authors.
  
  I’m slow to getting around to visit other blogs because I’m writing one book while getting another ready to publish, and to be honest, I’m distracted with the state of the world and my state. It’s bad here right now in so many ways, and saying “bad” is putting it mildly.
  
  To all of you and your families– Stay Safe and well.
  
  Thank you for coming by today.
  
  All images are from Pixabay.
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge | 12 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge, Brownie camera, collages, mary j mccoy dressel, photography, photos
- #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge Week: 13: Wanderlust!
  
  Posted at 2:15 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on March 27, 2020
  
  Here we are meeting again for Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. I admit my blog is getting boring by not adding fresh content other than Wednesday and Friday lately. I guess that’s why I posted Wordless Wednesday on Thursday. So sorry. Maybe better days will come for my blog too.
  
  Moving along. Time isn’t moving along so quickly when you’re in lock down mode though. I’m thankful we are. In my state, cases of COVID-19 are increasing as we speak. My governor has done so much to help prevent the spread. People aren’t listening even when we are ordered to HELP EVERYONE BY DOING THIS. Rant over.
  
  Week 13:
  
  Your destination is within 1500 miles and time is okay.
  
  Fly or drive?
  
  Many people want to get to their destination as quickly as they can and then have fun when they arrive. I’m not that person. These days, I’d rather not fly. I can’t say I never will because of where my grown children live.
  
  The first time I flew at nineteen years old, it was Friday the 13^th. I hadn’t realized it until sitting on the plane at six a.m., sipping a cup of coffee while the plane waited at the gate. No wonder my dad demanded on the way to the airport I take out life insurance. They had delayed the flight back home because of a tornado. The trip home had been awful and scary with terrible turbulence, and I wished I had done what my dad asked.
  
  The last time I flew, the plane landed in a blizzard in Chicago with my eyes squeezed closed and fingernails digging into my palms. I had to do it all over again in Detroit.
  
  I’ve had good flights and landings, too, like flying to California for my oldest son’s wedding and a fun trip to Las Vegas to play in the desert.
  
  If it’s my choice, I’d invite someone to drive me to a destination within 1500 miles because I don’t like to drive on highways.
  
  In my life, I’ve had magnificent road trips. I look forward to more. One day.
  
  One day.
  
  One day when life is normal again.
  
  The things I’ve discovered—like hidden lighthouses. The time we accidentally came across the Two-Hearted River, the inspiration for Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River.” What a moment. See, I am easy to please. Another road trip took us somewhere around the Ohio and Kentucky boarder and stumbling across an out-of-the-way cave on private property. This was my first cave tour and a good experience.
  
  I could go on.
  
  So, yes, to answer this question, when I have a choice, I’ll take a car trip over flying. I can stop to stretch my legs when I want. Take pictures of things other than clouds. Yes, I’m that person. Buy food. I could have written this whole post with just those few sentences. Oh, well, I am a writer.
  
  If you have a choice, which do you prefer?
  
  Join the participating authors at Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge.
  
  Thanks for visiting.
  
  #StayInStaySafe
  
  Image Credits Pixabay: Utah highway – derwiki. Road Map: ErikaWittlieb
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 9 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, Marketing for Romance Writers Blog Hop, Mary J McCoy-Dresel
- #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge: Saving Daylight
  
  Posted at 12:27 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on March 13, 2020
  
  I made it this week after all. However, I wrote this post on Wednesday. You won’t find my name on the Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge page though because I’m late posting and missed the sign up time. This week’s topic is:
  
  Week 11: Keep Daylight Saving Time?
  
  I guess it comes down to liking more daylight in the morning or evening. Since the question asks, my answer is “I’d rather do away with Daylight Saving Time.” I can’t give a specific reason as to why. Sure, like most others, I like long summer evenings, but we’ve had this change for so long, I don’t remember what a winter evening is like without a time change. My oldest son mentioned to me the other day that he now has time to mountain bike ride after work because it’s still daylight in the mountains. Those who work all day get to see sunsets.
  
  How about a history lesson? Apparently, Daylight Saving Time isn’t as new as we might think:
  
  Daylight Saving Time has been used in the U.S. and in many European countries since World War I. At that time, in an effort to conserve fuel needed to produce electric power, Germany and Austria took time by the forelock, and began saving daylight at 11:00 p.m. on April 30, 1916, by advancing the hands of the clock one hour until the following October. Other countries immediately adopted this 1916 action…
  
  From WebExhibits website: http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/e.html
  
  The 1960s:
  
  According to the WebExhibits website, in the early 1960s in the US, time changes were quite inconsistent until a dedicated time-frame had been figured out. One survey by the Committee of Time Uniformity found:
  
  …on the 35-mile stretch of highway (Route 2) between Moundsville, W.V., and Steubenville, Ohio, every bus driver and his passengers had to endure seven time changes!
  
  Also from WebExhibits website: http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/e.html
  
  By 1966, some 100 million Americans were observing Daylight Saving Time based on their local laws and customs. Congress decided to step in and end the confusion, and to establish one pattern across the country. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S. Code Section 260a) [see law], signed into Public Law 89-387 on April 12, 1966, by President Lyndon Johnson, created Daylight Saving Time to begin on the last Sunday of April and to end on the last Sunday of October. Any State that wanted to be exempt from Daylight Saving Time could do so by passing a state law.
  
  http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/e.html
  
  Here’s a good tidbit of information at this History Channel link. https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-daylight-saving-time
  
  This is a blog hop that happens on Friday from Marketing for Romance Writers. Click HERE to visit participating authors.
  
  Stay safe and well everyone. Four days ago when I wrote, Worldwide Alarm and Anxiety: Coronavirus, Covid-19 had not reached my state. So much has changed since then, and it has reached us, my county, and many surrounding counties. After confirming two cases the first day, overnight, we had a dozen cases with over one hundred more being tested. Last night, our governor ordered all schools be closed for three weeks so far beginning Monday the 16th. Other states are doing the same thing.
  
  Please be as safe as you can. Think of those whose health is in jeopardy and keep healthy for them. We all have to do our part in helping to stop this Pandemic. How many of us have never heard that word used in our lifetime? After this, I hope we never hear it again. Remember, the percentage of those who survive this is much higher than those who do not.
  
  Featured Image Credit: Pixabay by Syaibatulhamdi
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 14 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, blog hop, Daylight Saving Time, History Channel, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, WebExhibits
- #MFRWauthor Week 10: Love or Hate ~ Editing!
  
  Posted at 12:03 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on March 6, 2020
  
  Week 10: Editing – love it or hate it?
  
  52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop
  
  If I had to answer this question after having the first round of my first book edited, it would be a toss-up between dread and hate. I’ve come a long way from not knowing how to use Track Changes.
  
  Editor’s Edits:
  
  This comes as I am working on EDITS just back from my fantastic editor. Do I love it or hate it? Now that I know what I’m doing, I love editing when it comes back from her. I love to see the suggestions she offers to make the book better. So, this part I do love.
  
  If there are changes that will take thought or time, I don’t love it so much because I want my book finished, and then there’s the ego thing with an instant… “No, I’m not changing that” mindset. This is when patience and reality come into play. I usually always make the changes and accept her suggestions because she’s the expert.
  
  Even when it means tossing the complete first four or five paragraphs, and beginning the book in a different place, like with my current book. I loved my beginning as it was, but after giving it a couple of days to think about, I realize she’s right, and I can take some of the original and add it back in elsewhere, per her suggestion.
  
  Self-Editing: Love or Hate
  
  What about revising and editing a book after the final draft and before it goes to the editor? It’s frustrating when a story that looks and feels right in a draft, isn’t the same as when getting down to the nitty-gritty and looking at it with a self-editor’s eye. A time when you now know the complete story–where it’s been and where it’s going. It’s amazing to catch mistakes like: the time-frame is out of sync, or I spelled a character’s name incorrectly, or when I have to move something to a better place. Gasp! Or ditch my precious words. I love to see a book come together and watching characters develop more fully. Settings too become more real. This is what I love about revising and self-editing before anyone sees it.
  
  So there it is, plain and simple. Turns out, I love editing more than I love writing the first draft though I do enjoy writing a draft to see what surprises are revealed.
  
  What I don’t like is revising and editing blog posts.
  
  What about you?
  
  Do other authors love editing? Hate it? We can find out by visiting participating authors at the Marketing for Romance Writers Blog.
  
  Now it’s time to get back to editing.
  
  Image credit:
  
  Featured photo/ glasses & keyboard: Pixabay- Slightly_Different
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge | 6 Comments | Tagged #AuthorsLife, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge, editing, editor, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Revisions
- #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge~ Priorities Change
  
  Posted at 1:03 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 28, 2020
  
  This is a blog hop for Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. Find participating authors HERE.
  
  Week 9: Diet before Summer? How seriously?
  
  Due to low-self-confidence back in my younger days, I didn’t know I was thin, but I was serious about losing weight I didn’t need to lose.
  
  Ping-pong dieting became a lifelong habit.
  
  Today though, I know who I am. I live with the seriousness of shedding pounds for health reasons now instead of what I see in the mirror. Summer is a motivation, but no matter what season it is, I’m forced to keep in the back of my mind, what I should and shouldn’t be eating. I’m not perfect and do cheat ~~on occasion~~ more than I should. If not, I will fall off the plan.
  
  Warmer weather makes it easier to stick to whatever kind of plan someone chooses whether it be to lose weight or tone up the body. The cost of produce and fresh fruit is lower. In the winter, we can go broke buying the fruits you see in the image. Those of us who live in cold weather climates welcome spring so we can get outside more often. To blow off the dust of dry heat and breathe fresh air.
  
  I can’t speak for everyone, but to get serious about dieting and shaping up before summer is almost an annual ritual around here. More and more people are choosing to get toned up and healthy. On a rare sunny, fifty degree day, motorcycles and short sleeve shirts make appearances. We’ve had more than a few of these days this winter.
  
  When you have health issues, it changes priorities.
  
  My Fitbit Inspire™ wristband tracker has been a godsend all winter to remind me to stay motivated and get up and move. I’m excited to see how many steps and miles I can walk over months of nice weather.
  
  To sum it up for me, eating right is necessary for me (with cheating) but keeping in mind health is my main goal. But in the spring, I will once again fall into my ritual of becoming more serious (without cheating, cross my fingers) to shed extra pounds in addition to staying healthy.
  
  Recently, my cousin pointed me to *walking videos on You Tube to help add steps to my day. It’s harder than heck on my knees, so I have to limit what I can do. It’s great when you can’t get outside.
  
  *Please check with your doctor before trying any exercise or work-out plan.
  
  This is a blog hop for Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. Find participating authors HERE.
  
  Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with Fitbit Inspire™ wristband tracker, You Tube, or the creator of the video in any way, shape, or form.
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 6 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, #MFRWauthor 52-Week #BlogChallenge, Dieting, exercise, losing weight, Priorities Change, Summer dieting, walking
- #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge Week 8: What Are You Reading?!!
  
  Posted at 12:05 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 21, 2020
  
  Welcome to Week 8 in Friday’s Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge.
  
  Reading outside your comfort zone—what is it and why?
  
  As a rule, I stay within a handful of genres—my comfort zone. Reading rules are meant to be broken, though, and I have broken them because I like to believe I’m not small or close-minded or prudish. I believe in “never say never.”
  
  However, there are areas outside of my reading comfort zone. Like fiction with Injustice and cruelty to humankind or animals, or aliens, or dragons. Oh, I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Sorry! I get enough of it in the news.
  
  And SOME, I repeat, SOME taboos that publishers say we can’t submit if we want to publish with them–some are out of my comfort zone. Look it up if you don’t know what isn’t allowed in some or many publisher guidelines.
  
  What you write and like to read is your choice. I admire people who fight for what they want. Thank God, we still have a choice.
  
  Let’s turn this around. “Why” should we read out of our comfort zone? Can we stay in one little box and never experience what other authors have to offer, or experience different and new to us, stories and genres we might love? To experience emotions that words give us whether uncomfortable or not?
  
  Can we read and still be a “little” uncomfortable? I think some of us can.
  
  With so many genres to choose from, we have a choice.
  
  We’re blog hopping so that means other authors are responding to this topic too. I’m curious to see if I replied to the topic the way it was intended, or did I get it all wrong. So, I’ll be hopping over. You can find participants with a click of the mouse to this LINK.
  
  I’m glad you stopped by today.
  
  I’m still making my rounds visiting this and Book Hooks blog hop.
  
  Credit image: Pixabay – Pexels
  
  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmReading, #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge, mary j mccoy dressel
- #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge Week Seven: A True Love Story?
  
  Posted at 12:02 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 14, 2020
  
  Week 7: Whose memories in your family do you wish you could discuss?
  
  Happy Valentine’s Day! 💘
  
  Welcome to Week Seven in our 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop. This is an interesting topic to me.
  
  A family memory I’d like to discuss belongs to my mother. I’d like to talk to my maternal grandmother for the real answers.
  
  My mom had a memory of living in an orphanage until she was around five years old. However, rumors surfaced, thanks to my grandmother’s ~~nosy~~ neighbor and close friend, that my grandmother, who raised her, was my mom’s real mother and had taken her back from the orphanage or adopted her back, whatever they did back then.
  
  My mom had been sworn to secrecy and couldn’t tell my grandma she knew. I was a little girl when this news came out, but I still remember when she called my mom over to discuss this with her in private. Had they assumed I was too young to understand and had my mom kept the secret from Grandma? I wish I knew.
  
  From that moment on, my mom believed my grandmother to be her biological mother, but for some reason, she always thought her dad wasn’t her real dad. Grandma never admitted to Mom being her biological daughter or that her dad was her biological father. My mom loved the man who was a train engineer. She told stories of going on trains with him where he’d let her blow the whistle. All through my growing-up years and into adulthood, my mom didn’t like train whistles. She said they made her feel so forlorn because of happy memories with her dad.
  
  After my grandmother passed away, my mother found proof that yes, indeed, the man who raised her as his own until his death, was in fact, her real dad.
  
  I’d like to discuss with my grandmother the reason she put her in an orphanage and then went to get her, and why she lied to Mom about being her adoptive parents. My mom was an only child.
  
  I have a painting of my grandmother at eighteen years old who wore a stunning, pink silk or satin dress like this with her hair up. The painting comes with its own story too.
  
  I have my own theories.
  
  In that day and age, to be pregnant out of wedlock was shameful, so I think she handled it the best way she could. From what I remember as a child, via photographs and stories, my grandmother had been well-to-do growing up yet I know nothing about my great-grandparents. Likely, society then wouldn’t accept a young, single girl being pregnant.
  
  In my head, for them, somehow along the way, the tables had turned, and my grandparents married. I could be one-hundred percent wrong about the whys and hows. However, I’d love to hear the story because it sounds like a true love story that I’ll write about one of these days.
  
  Thanks for stopping by. Before leaving, check out how other authors in the blog hop responded to the topic. Here’s the LINK or click the image.
  
  Enjoy your weekend.
  
  Image Credit: Pixabay – OpenClipart-Vectors
  
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