Aunt Eunice visits Lady Traveler

When someone knocks on your door,

make sure you look through the peep hole before opening.

Don't get me wrong.
I love my Aunt Eunice.
But did she have to visit me
unannounced?
right when the Coronavirus hit?
"I took the wrong turn" was her excuse.
Then there was the 'shutdown'
So she couldn't GO home.
Aunt Eunice just smiled.
"That's okay, I'll just hang out here."
What?  How am I going to entertain my crazy aunt?
"Oh, don't worry about me, darlin'
We'll manage somehow.
Let's go fishin'!"

Aunt Eunice
Miss South Carolina 1946

I actually enjoyed our quarantined time together.
She reminded me of all her natural beauty secrets.
"Vaseline every night on that purtee face of yours."

Now, days later ... riots are everywhere!
Has our 'nation under God' gone mad?
Has our world gone crazy?

I'm avoiding most news.
Instead I continue to turn my eyes upon Jesus.


I would like to travel light on this journey of life,
to get rid of the encumbrances I acquire each day ...
I come to be only as I lose myself.
Madeline Engle


In the midst of all this madness,
I finished my book!!!
Lady on the Run 
has a beautiful book cover (thank you Sharla Wailes!)
Lady on the Run
is being formatted as I write.
It's a prequel to Lady and the Sea.
So the next few days will be a little crazy for me,
but I shall take it one step at a time.

In the meantime, you can order my book
Lady and the Sea
A Novel Based on a True Story
on Amazon.com


I zoomed my local Word Weavers meeting last night.
Most writers experience the same highs and lows,
so we encourage each other to stay faithful to their writing.

Some writers are new in the field and I can relate to them.
I was a novice writer many years ago.
Today at 74, I'm just a cesspool of knowledge,
but I'm still learning from
writers and authors who are much more
dedicated than I.
Ok, I admit that I get side-cracked in my daily life
so the words stay in my head longer than than those
who are dedicated to write every day. To you,
I salute you!

Hopefully by my next blog I will introduce my novel,
Lady on the Run
A Novel Based on a True Story
I love this book because I experienced the journey of
Rosie firsthand.
But that's all I'll say for now.
I must go vote, then go to Walmart!

I encourage you to continue on your path that
God has prepared for you.
I wish you oceans of peaceful and serene moments!

I'll stride through wide open spaces as I look for Your truth and Your wisdom.
Psalm 119:45

Sharon Myrtle Beach SC Summer of 2014

www.sharonleaf.com

Aunt Eunice the Traveler

Sharon's Aunt Eunice

Hi Y'all!  If your wonderin' where my niece, Shaaren is, 

I'd be happy to tell you, but I don't know myself.  

It's summer, so she takes this time to wander around here and there.  

That's why I decided to post this short blog for her.  I'm sure she won't mind.  I hope.

I'm thrilled beyond recognition that Shaaren and that husband of hers ... 

... whats his name ... 

Jesse, Robinski ... oh yeah!  Robin, er Rob.  

Anyway, I'm thrilled that they finally broke down and purchased one of those 

homes on wheels ... 

... what do they call em?  Engine houses?  

Oh yeah, motor homes.

I thought since they weren't going to use it for the next few weeks that

 I would borrow it and 

take my longtime friend, Betty White, on a trip across America, 

like Oprah and her best friend Gail did a few years ago.  

Well, when I mentioned it to them, they looked at each other 

with a look of fear that I hadn't seen since 

that skunk ran across their backyard last year.

Resti2 in background; 'Rent-A-Ride-Across-America' in foreground

"Honey, I don't think you can drive that big thing," Sharon said gently.  

Rob added loudly, "You will not drive that big thing!"  

And that was that.  

I learned a long time ago that you can't argue with these youngins, 

so I quietly made my exit,

 took a taxi down the road to "Rent a Ride Across America" and rented one!

  

Me and Betty will be headin' out next week.  

If I have time I'll write you a post card, or a letter, or what do they call that new technology?  

Oh yes ... or a tweeter!

Bye for now y'all and Happy Summertime!

www.sharonleaf.com

Traveling to the Clubhouse Pool in Gracie-the-Golfcart

Clubhouse pool where sunshine abounds

I'm having too much fun at the pool this summer, meeting new neighbors, splashing with the kids, but most of the time I mind my own business...swim my laps, then quietly drive away in Gracie the Golf Cart.  But the day my Aunt Eunice joined me poolside was a day to be reckoned with.  I didn't have any choice; she just showed up at my front door.

   "Hey, Sha-ren!  I just got back from Florida and thought I'd stop by before I drive home to Sumter," she announced as she dropped her large satchel on my freshly swiffered floor.

   "Wow, Auntie, you look so--tan!" I said.

   "Thanks, darlin'.  I went on a long cruise with Betty White," she said, then looked me up and down.  "What are ya doin' in that bathing suit?"

 "Oh, I'm a swimmer now!  Every day.  An hour of laps," I bragged.
 
   Eunice picked up her satchel that looked at least fifty years old.  "I'll go change in the bedroom; I want to swim too!"

   What could I say?  She zumba-ed with me, once.  So why couldn't she swim with me, once?

   I think I looked quite matronly in my pink flowered one-piece, but I've become fearless in my sixties, not allowing a slight overgrown belly keep me from splashing my summer away.  But Aunt Eunice was downright challenging. I didn't know they made swim suits that...well...flowing.

   We arrived at the pool at eleven o'clock, early enough to pick my favorite spot in the corner next to the ladder where I can easily slide in the pool unnoticed and begin my routine.  But that wasn't good enough for Eunice.  "Let's sit right in the middle of the action.  I love making new friends," she said as she threw her towel over the lounge, then strutted her stuff over to the deep end.

   I started to warn Eunice that she was going in the deep end, but it was too late.  She jumped in, curling her plumpy body into a cannon ball.  The kids didn't see her coming, but their mothers did.  As she hit the water with the largest splash the clubhouse pool has ever witnessed, the mother of three yelled as Eunice came up for air, "Lady!  What do you think you are doing?  No diving allowed!  And you got my new summer reading book wet!"

   "Darlin', that's no dive...that's a cannon-ball!" Eunice corrected as she dog-paddled to the other end of the pool where the kids were splashing.

   "Don't worry," I apologized to the mother whom I had just met a few days before, "she'll be out of the pool in no time; she's too old to last more than ten minutes."  The mother turned and gave me a dirty look after Aunt Eunice's third cannon-ball.  In the meantime, her kids were laughing and carrying on while Eunice taught them how to cannon-ball.

   An hour later, still waiting for Aunt Eunice to slow down,  I learned a few things about getting older.  One, you can still swim, dog-paddle, and cannon ball non-stop for an hour or more.  Two, after you teach the mother's children how to maneuver a mean cannon-ball, she will be your friend forever.  Why?  Because perfectly coiffed mom didn't have to get in the pool and get her hair wet.

   Too soon, Aunt Eunice was on her way home to Sumter, but promised to return for another day of cannon-balling with her new friends.  Guess there will be a second time after all. *smile*

Aunt Eunice
Miss South Carolina 1946
(notice the resemblance)

Aunt Eunice has a blog at:  www.sharonleaf.com

Traveling Across Town for a what??

Aunt Eunice heading for McCoy's Furniture Mart

I was watching TV with Aunt Eunice the other day and after the commercial was over, she suddenly jumped up, grabbed her purse and headed for the front door.

"Aunt Eunice, where are you going?" I asked.

"That announcer said they are having a sale on their sexual sofas, so I'm heading across town to McCoy's Furniture Mart and buy me one!" she announced.

"Aunt Eunice, you must get your hearing aids adjusted.  He said they are having a sale on their sectional sofas!"

This encounter with Aunt Eunice reminded me that we must be careful of what we think we hear.  Otherwise, we can get ourselves in a whole lot of trouble.  

And that's all I'm going to say about that.
www.sharonleaf.com

Aunt Eunice travels back to town

Aunt Eunice...Miss South Carolina 1946

(BLOG IS WRITTEN IN LARGE BOLD PRINT TO PREVENT BLOODSHOT EYES)


Hello darlins!  I dropped by for a quick visit with my niece, Sharon.  I'm sitting in her office while she goes in the kitchen to pour us some un-sweet tea.  She's very serious about her health, weight, and her facial situation.  It's about time. 

I can't stay long ... I'm on my way to the airport to catch a plane for Hollywood.  My dear friends Betty White and Lily Tomlin have invited me to spend the week-end at a luxurious spa, all expenses paid.  They want to glean all my beauty secrets that I'm compiling into my novel (based on my true story), Luscious to Look At.  

I have thousands of beauty secrets but my beauty tip for the day is:

"If you don't want folks to look at your make-up ... go naked!"  

Ooops ... Sharon is returning to her office so I better get off her computer.  Have a wonderful day, and don't forget to keep slathering lots of Vaseline on your face!  You'll be looking twenty-one again in no time!

By the way, I have my very own blog on Sharon's website, so drop by anytime! www.sharonleaf.com

Hej da! Friends from abroad and at home

Okay, hello everyone!  I confess that I have been unfaithful to my blog.  Forgive me.  Thank you.  Our house full of Swedes departed Saturday, leaving a small hole in my heart.  We've known them for over twenty years, see them once a year if we're lucky.  They either fly this way, or we fly across the pond to spend time with them in Uppsala.  No matter how long or how short a time you've known someone, a friend is a friend is a friend.  And you know who you are.  I've always wanted to be a better friend, but somehow my friends, and there are many ... not bragging, just blessed and want to proclaim it ... accept me just as I am. And for that I am thankful.

I am in the process of writing a special blog for "The Grace Filled Christmas Blog Tour."  Once finished, I will sit down and write a longer and wittier blog.  Hmm, perhaps I'll call Aunt Eunice and have her write a blog for me.  Good idea, Sharon.  Yes, I sometimes talk to myself.

Latest news?  As of today, LADY and the SEA is available at The Lexington Public Library!  Somehow that excites me, mainly because I love libraries.  I checked out a book that I doubt if I'll even open for at least two weeks.  But no problem.  I can go online and re-check it out.  Oh, the joys of technology.  Reminds me, Rob got his iPhone 5G (is that what its called?)  And I, of course, inherited his 4S (?).  Whatever.

More news.  I receive lots of emails.  Well, not lots, but a lot for an 'almost-famous' author.  Today I received a Facebook email from someone who told me that she has been 'following me' and that I have inspired her to finish her manuscript that she started in 2007.  She will have it completed by Thanksgiving.  I inspired someone!  That makes me SO happy!  It's better than receiving a check in the mail!  So I shall celebrate this email by writing a few lines in the manuscript that I'm working on, LADY on the RUN.

Hey, we survived the election!  Now we shall survive the days ahead.  Not only survive, but we shall go out with joy and gladness.  It all begins inside of us, with our Jesus.  If you don't know Him personally, just tell Him that you would like to get to know Him.  And that, my friend, will make Him very happy!

Until next time, I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings,


Sharon

Listen, my son, and be wise, 

and keep your heart on the right path.  

Proverbs 23:19 NIV

Bone Appeteet! from Aunt Eunice

"Aunt Eunice's Beauty Secrets"

When I went to see the movie Julie & Julia today with my dear friends, Mabel and Bessie, I walked out of that movie house inspired from my head to my toes.

~ First, my passion for cooking returned, so I invited Mabel and Bessie home for dinner. I opened a can of tomato soup with new gusto, plopped it a plastic bowl--oops--landed on the floor--oh, well--then threw it in my microwave, and walla! Together we savored every delicious bite! I highly recommend Julie and Julia to all the chefs out there who need a fresh inspiration.

~Second, from this day forward, I'm taking my blogging to the next level. If Hollywood can make a movie from that girl Julie Power's blog, then why not mine? My future beauty book can do as much for women in the bedroom as Julia's cookbooks did for them in the kitchen.

~ I don't know who I love more, Julia Child or Meryl Streep. I've been told that I have the looks of Julia and the talent of Meryl, so anything is possible!

~ I'm going to my attic now to find the box where Julia's cookbooks are stored, so until next time, Bone Appeteet!
Yours truly, Aunt Eunice