Celebrate Good Times by Liz Flaherty

It's release week for me, although that's not until tomorrow. I'm looking forward to Reinventing Riley being available. I like Riley a lot--because she's different, I think. I like different. And I love Jake, because he's a gentle spirit with a rock and roll heart--who could ask for more?

Our wedding anniversary is Sunday, our actual 50+1 on the heels of the party our kids gave us over the past weekend. It was so much fun, having all of them in the same room, talking to friends and family, being reminded of the thoughtfulness and kindness that we forget about in the face of the dissension that peppers our lives.

Photos of mostly young people in caps and gowns are popping up everywhere.

There is so much glee! Our second-youngest favorite grandson will be packing up his trumpet and going to Ball State in the fall. How can that be? 

My father-in-law's birthday is Friday. He was a bootstraps kind of guy, a World War II veteran, an Irish Catholic with an impeccable work ethic. He had his demons, as do we all, but he had Jake's gentle spirit, too. He was a loving man. 

My brother Dan passed away four years ago today. I miss him. Whenever I see a vintage Mustang or 50s-era Thunderbird, I think of him. He was my protector when we were kids. He taught me to ride a bicycle and to drive (although when it came to learning to engage the clutch, it took a village to get me past the jerk, jerk, die, damn it point) and that sometimes quiet is better. 

This year has seen too many losses, hasn't it? Too much strife and heartbreak. War and cruelty and that dissension I mentioned up there. It's overwhelming. And yet, I've never seen so many beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Are they promises that things will indeed get better? I hope so.

This weekend will be Memorial Day weekend, when we commemorate those who gave all in remarkable service to the country they loved. Let us not forget.

The title of this comes from the lyrics of Three Dog Night's "Celebration." Another line is "it's time to come together." Yes, that. Just as celebration and mourning weave together to make a strong, whole cloth, so we need to weave together as human beings.

Apologies--I know this isn't a writing post, but it's what showed up on the page today. And that is about writing, isn't it?--working with what shows up on the page.