Placing Flags on Memorial Day

Saturday morning, sweetie and I visited the Tennessee Veterans' Cemetery to take part in placing American flags in front of the headstones. Since this was our first time, we weren't sure what to expect, so we arrived early. In fact, there was only one other family there, which turned out to be a good thing, because we enjoyed talking with them. Plus, it gave us time to wander around the cemetery while it was still quiet and deserted and morning mist rose from the acres of rolling lawn.

Those red roses you see in this photo were fresh, obviously placed within a few hours of our arrival, with dew still on the petals. Part of me wished that whoever had left them there had come a little later, after the flags had been placed.


There are many monuments. Here are just a few:






After a while, a crowd had gathered. There were many families, including several men and women currently serving, who'd brought their children along. A stirring speech was given based on a General Douglas MacAuthor quote: Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.

Flags were handed out and everyone set to work. When you watch the soldiers placing flags at Arlington National Cemetery, everything appears very precise and orderly. Although this work was precise -- flags are required to be placed twelve inches in front of the center of the stone -- while enthusiasm was high, orderly wasn't precisely the word I'd use. But the respect and appreciation for our veterans' service was obvious among all.


Among those taking part were many former veterans who belong to various motorcycle groups who ride to military funerals and other events to honor their fallen brothers and sisters. This was one of them.


I've never seen so many Scouts in one place since the long-ago days when sweetie was Pack Master and I served as Pack Secretary and we took part in the Arizona Scout-o-rama Jamboree. (Only for our son would I wear a bowling shirt covered with patches out in public!)


I watched a cheerful Vietnam vet, with artificial legs below both knees, laughingly showing off the cleats on the bottom of his running shoes that kept him from slipping on the hilly, damp grass. One teenage Scout waited politely for him to finish his conversation with a group of people, then thanked him for his service. The vet in turn, thanked the teen for his service there that day. You won't see a photo of their exchange because I found it too personal a moment to share publicly. But it was very moving to witness and I'm glad I can at least tell you about it.

Finally, all the stones had flags. Many of us did one last check, row by row, to make sure no one had been missed. Because the idea of a family visiting a loved one's final resting place and finding it the only one without a flag was unthinkable.




We were only there for a little more than two hours. And although by the time the last flag had been placed, that lovely early mist had turned southern steamy, it was one of the most special experiences of our lives. One of the things we learned was that you don't have to be part of any official group. All you have to do is show up. And it helps if you bring a screwdriver to punch the hole for the flag and a ruler to measure those twelve inches, if your foot isn't actually a foot long. (Watching on the news, the soldiers at Arlington all use their boots to measure.) Flags are provided.

If you'd like to take part -- on Veterans' Day or next Memorial Day -- simply call your local Veterans' Cemetery before the weekend and ask when to show up. I know they'll be glad to have you participate and you'll not only make yourself feel great and bring pleasure to those who visit their loved one's final resting place over the holiday, it's a super way to honor those men and women who've put themselves in harms way so the rest of us don't have to.

Finally, for those who didn't see Friday's blog, here's a Memorial Day video I found on YouTube. (Warning. . . keep the Kleenex handy!)

Memorial Day Video -- If You're Reading This

A few years ago, sweetie and I were waiting for a flight to Ireland. Since our gate was crowded, we were sitting alone on the other side of the terminal when we saw a flag-draped casket being taken off a plane and loaded into a hearse. The military escort passed us as he entered the terminal and his expression was so heartbreakingly sober I wanted to cry. At the time I thought his duty must be both the best (in terms of honor) and most difficult jobs in the military. After seeing the amazing Kevin Bacon movie Taking Chance, I believe it even more.

The following spring we were in Washington D.C. for Memorial Day weekend and because I wanted our grandkidlets to understand that Memorial Day was about more than backyard barbecues and swim parties, we took them to Arlington National Cemetery, where we toured the museum, which just happened to be having an art exhibit of faces of troops killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars -- which proved more than a little unsettling when the first face I saw was a Navy SEAL who'd been killed in a battle in Afghanistan on which I based my High Risk books. My bond with this man I'd never have the opportunity to thank became even stronger, and I did my best, during the writing of the books, to honor his and his teammates' memory.

We watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and wandered the grounds, reading the stones. There was a new grave with a wreath welcoming a hero finally back from Vietnam, which made me ache for the friends I lost in that war. I suspect our grandson was more impressed with all the Harleys from the Rolling Thunder riders staying at our hotel across from the Pentagon, but our granddaughter was old enough to understand that she was in a place of honor. A place of heroes.

This Memorial Day weekend, sweetie and I will be getting up early to place flags on the graves at our local veterans' cemetery. I feel so honored to have been invited to take part and I'll be thinking of all the military men and women who've given their lives for our country. And their families. And I'll be thinking of all our troops currently serving in dangerous places around the world so the rest of us don't have to. And their families, who also serve, and wait for their safe return home.

And, as I do every day, I'll especially be keeping our nephew, Kyle, who's currently serving as a helicopter medevac in Afghanistan, in my thoughts and prayers.

Although Friday is usually for fun videos, because we treasure the letters we've received from both our solider nephews, as well as from the troops we've adopted through Soldiers' Angels, I'm taking a more serious tone this Memorial Day weekend with this video I found on YouTube about last letters home. I hope you'll find it as moving as I did. And if you feel like passing it on, all the better.

The Homecoming review & Tara and Bella

The first review for The Homecoming, the first in my new Shelter Bay series, which comes out July 6th, is in and it's lovely. From Annette Elton, at RT Book Reviews:

It isn't often readers find characters they're willing to spend a weekend with. However that's exactly what Ross accomplishes in The Homecoming, enveloping the reader in the lives of two endearing, albeit flawed characters. The result is an entertaining stay in Shelter Bay with two captivating people involved in a compelling mystery on their path to love.

When I conceived the series to return to my family-centric romance roots, I told my publisher that as much as I'd enjoyed writing Romantic Suspense, I missed writing feel-good stories about good things happening to good, but flawed people. So, needless to say, that review made my day.

Although I usually save videos for Friday, I didn't want to wait to share this one. A Facebook friend -- one I've actually met in person, which is unusual for Facebook, lol -- passed on this video, which made me cry. (But in a good way!) I've always loved elephants, but this just may be the most heartwarming elephant story ever. Enjoy:

Friday Fun Video -- Sesame Street Mad Men

Again, I want to thank everyone who contributed and helped spread the word about the Do The Write Thing For Nashville flood funraiser. I was honored to take part in it and so pleased so many of you bid for my books and chocolate. Here's a word from the three amazing women who organized the auction. You can't see their magic bracelets, but I've no doubt they have some! (And by the way, could they be more adorable?)



And now this week's Friday Fun Video for Mad Men fans. Having worked in advertising, but in the 80s, not the 60s, I LOVE the show! They did, however, leave out the ubiquitous Scotch in this Sesame Street version.

Enjoy:

More photos from a spring garden

Because of the Nashville flood, I put off the flower photos I intended to share because obviously raising money to help the people of Nashville was more important. The final numbers aren't in yet, but it looks as if the Do The Write Thing for Nashville auction is going to bring in $75,000 for flood relief! Which is above all expectations and I'm honored to have taken part. Thanks to all who bid on the items (especially those who helped bid my chocolate and books up to $200!) and helped spread the word.

So, now here's the latest in the ongoing Mulch Is My Life saga. The above photo is the redbud tree in our back yard. After it stops blooming, the leaves stay a gorgeous purplish/red until late in the summer, when they finally go to a deep green. I LOVE this tree!

There was a snarky article in the Washington Post about how horrible and common azaleas were and how they were ruining the Washington D.C. spring landscape. Well, I can't remember the name of the person who wrote it, but it doesn't matter because I'm sure it was The Grinch, writing under a pseudonym. Personally, I don't think the world can ever have enough azaleas!

Pink ones


White ones


Red ones


Here are some azaleas by our front steps, taken from one of my office windows. My early spring pansy flag was still up when I took this. It's now a magnolia.



Our house was built in an area that was once woods. When we first moved in, before we built the wrought iron fence for the dogs, deer would wander into our back yard in the early morning. The guy who unloaded our furniture from the moving van told us his family used to drive out here to picnic when he was growing up. I'm really glad I wasn't the original owner, because I'd feel hugely guilty about cutting down trees for a subdivision. Every year we lose one or two of the original old pine trees, which is sad, but this photo represents about 1/8 of the wooded area.

The builder had planted grass around the pines, which, to us, looked really strange. So sweetie got the idea to separate them out, then we planted five dogwoods, a Japanese maple, three holly trees, twenty azaleas, and fifteen rhododendron as undergrowth. Also, thousands of bulbs. Those spiky green things in front of the azaleas are daffodils which have flowered, but I haven't cut off the green parts yet because that's how the bulbs get their food to bloom next year.


Also in the woods is one of my favorites flowers I planted eleven years ago that's multiplied and comes back every spring -- bluebells.



Our mailbox is in a brick column; I can't remember what this vine is (even though I chose it), but here's the view from another office window that looks out onto the street. The color's a little strange because it was raining really hard when I took the photo and the sky was the odd yellow hue we sometimes get during tornado season.



That's it for now. Fortunately, our gardens keep gifting us. Next up are roses and iris.

FRIDAY FUN VIDEO -- Brontë Sister Action Figures!

I fell in love with the Brontë sisters when I was a lit major in college. So much so, that my Honors College thesis theme was The Brontës as Feminists. This video echoes my admiration of their awesomeness.

Enjoy:

Win books & chocolate while helping Nashville!

As part of the Nashville flood relief effort, the publishing community has come together to put on an auction titled Do the Write Thing For Nashville. As of last week it had already raised $5,000.




I'll be the special luncheon auction guest tomorrow and will be offering an autographed Advance Reading Copy of The Homecoming (publication date July 6th), chocolates from Moonstruck Chocolates, Oregon's premiere chocolatier, and signed copies of all four High Risk books (Freefall, Crossfire, Shattered, and Breakpoint.) This auction will go up around lunch time on Thursday, May 13th, and bidding will go on for three days. Read more about the auction, how it works, then bid early and often!

Friday video -- Nashville flood & Johnny Cash

Tuesday I told a story about sweetie's and my love of the Opryland Hotel. Although Friday's video has always been something fun, things are just too serious here in Tennessee. So, I thought I'd share a video of Nashville's 1,000 year flood. And who better to accompany the video about Music City than Johnny Cash.



If you'd like to help the people of Nashville, here are some ways: the publishing community has put together an auction -- Do the Write Thing for Nashville -- with funds going to flood relief. I've donated an autographed Advance Reading Copy of The Homecoming, first in my Shelter Bay series (pub date July 6th), chocolates from Moonstruck Chocolate, Oregon's premiere chocolatier, and autographed copies of all High Risk books -- Freefall, Crossfire, Shattered, and Breakpoint.

Also, for those who'd like to donate directly, Middle Tennessee Red Cross is in desperate need of funds. You can donate from their website or text RED CROSS to 90999 to make a $10 contribution.

Cinco de Mayo guacamole recipe

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!

There are probably as many recipes for guacamole as there are people who love to eat it. One of the things I miss about Arizona is the plethora of already ripe avocados available. Here, even when they're hard as rocks, they have a bright yellow "ripe" sticker on them, which makes me wonder if local folks actually try to eat them that way. Several years ago I learned a tip from a chef at one of those restaurants where they make guacamole at your table -- put them in a small brown bag (the kind you buy at the grocery store for lunch or what stores often bag wine bottles in) then cover with white flour and seal. This should work overnight, but depending on how hard your avocados are, it may take a couple days.

As with all recipes, this can be adjusted for taste and is easily multiplied. Mine's never exactly the same.

Ingredients:

2 medium ripe avocados
1 Tablespoon lime juice (You can use lemon, but I prefer lime.)
1 Tablespoon finely chopped green (or red) onion
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, which gives it a kick.
1 T olive oil
1/4 cup green salsa from a jar ( I got this addition from my son, Patrick, who's fairly famous in D.C. journalism circles for his St. Patrick's Day fiestas, and it really makes it stand out from your usual guacamole.)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 small, finely chopped garlic clove (or garlic power to taste.)
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes

To prepare:

Cut the avocados in half. Take out the seed pits by hitting them with the blade of a kitchen knife, then simply lift up.
Scoop out the avocado, thickly chop and put in a medium size bowl.
Slightly mash -- do not finely blend! -- the avocado with either a fork or a potato masher.
Mix in other ingredients to preferred taste and texture.

You can serve immediately, but I've found that it tastes way better if you allow it to sit for at least an hour in the refrigerator for the flavors to blend. One day, while sweetie was out showing his visiting sister and brother-in-law around the Smoky Mountains, I let it blend for six hours. Since I wanted them to enjoy it, it was important to keep tasting to make sure it was still okay. They were lucky there was any left when they got home!

Enjoy.

My Opryland Hotel -- Before and After the Flood.

Several years ago, sweetie and I were sipping margaritas on the patio of a local restaurant when I pondered what we might do to celebrate in the event I ever landed on the New York Times bestseller list. I mused that a trip to Italy might be fun. He paused. Took a long drink of margarita, then said, "Oh. I was sort of thinking along the lines of a weekend at the Opryland Hotel."

The woman at the table next to us burst out laughing. Then said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be eavesdropping, but I have to vote with your wife."

As luck would have it, shortly after that dinner I did have my first book -- after several close calls -- hit the list and we ended up making both trips, squeezing in a fabulous dinner with our son, who lives in D.C., at the Inn at Little Washington. All three events were grand ways to celebrate. But the Opryland Hotel is the place we return to several times a year. Whenever anyone visits from out of state, we take them to Nashville for a night there, because, although we've traveled all over the world, we've never experienced anything quite like this jungle/rain forest/bayou beneath the world's largest glass dome.

We discovered it on our first of seven back and forth trips from Arizona to the southeast, looking for a new state/town/house. The search took several months, during which time I wrote Far Harbor, my second Coldwater Cove book, in the front seat of the Tahoe that towed the trailer we'd bought to take our ancient dog and insane Siamese cat on the journey with us. The minute I sat down with a glass of crisp chilled Chardonnay and a crab salad beneath that glorious glass ceiling, I began to feel the stress of miles of travel slip away. Every time we passed through Tennessee, we'd treat ourselves to lunch there. It became my haven. And continued to be once we finally settled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.

Here are some photos of the hotel in all its glory:
Just driving up to this entrance, I can feel myself beginning to relax.



And what a lobby! Nothing subtle about this hotel!



This is the Cascade atrium, adjoining the registration desk -- where everyone is always unfailingly friendly and has their hometown and country on their name tag. The Opryland Hotel is like a mini United Nations and it's always fun to chat with people about where they're from and how they ended up in Tennessee.



One of my favorite bars in the world is the one on the Cascades level, that slowly revolves past these waterfalls. (And yes, all the plants and trees in the hotel are real.)


We always spring for a balcony room because the views are so terrific. I prefer the Cascades level, because of the waterfalls, but the Delta level is lovely, too. These are photos taken from our Delta balcony on a trip there last summer with my dear friend Elen Grey and her husband.



The Delta level features a river filled with floating flowers and catfish. One, which is kept in the boathouse, is 80 pounds! When they built the river -- which you can ride around in a flatboat -- they sent out empty Jack Daniels bottles (that whiskey, if you didn't know, is made in Tennessee) to the governors of all the states and several foreign countries. There are bronze plaques where you can see where the water from your home state came from.



Here's sweetie's and my home state's plaque:



A Christmas at Opryland is not to be missed:





Tragically, over this past weekend Nashville received an unprecedented amount of rainfall, causing the Cumberland River -- which is right next to the hotel -- to overflow. It crested last night at 12 feet above flood stage, the highest since 1937. So far twenty-eight deaths have been attributed to storms in Nashville and neighboring areas and more are expected.

This was the outside of our beloved Opryland Hotel Monday morning:



And this is the Cascade's level yesterday afternoon. The bar and waterfalls are just to the left of the frame:



This final photo is of downtown Nashville, yesterday afternoon, before the river crested:



Our hearts and prayers go out to all the wonderful people of this friendly, generous city who've been so cruelly affected by the storm and the continuing aftermath. We know you'll survive and come back even bigger and better. Meanwhile, for those who'd like to help, click here to donate to the Middle Tennessee Red Cross.