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

The Runaway

The Runaway

Our days are identical suitcases ~ all the same size ~
but some people can pack more into them than others.

When wRiter's Block hits ... close the laptop and run away!

A little over a month ago I had been writing my heart out
until my eyes crossed and my tummy growled, begging for food.
I only had time to indulge in another cup of coffee.

I love when God gives me the words that flow from my heart,
to my brain, to my fingers, and on to my computer.
If you're an artist, you know what I mean ...
... the juices start flowing.
You're fearless!

But when that mean ol' writer's block comes a knockin',
what do you do?
Hide?  Stay in bed?  Go shopping?  Not me.
 This Lady Traveler shuts down the laptop, backs away from her desk and ...
hits the road!

This happened recently,
so I dropped this suggestion on Robinski over morning coffee.
"Lets go to Texas!"
"Uh, sure, okay.  When?"
"Next week, before we sell Moon River."
Our motor home had been for sale for over a month.
A few bites, but no sale.

Memories of our last chapter.  Ready to turn the page for the next chapter. 

We had no longer hung our clothes, stored some food in the pantry and frig,
and locked the door of our beloved RV,
ready to leave the next morning for the lone star state, when, out of nowhere,
a gentleman vacationing from Idaho took one look at her, and wham!
Our beloved RV was sold.
So, what did we do?
We unloaded clothes and food,
re-loaded clothes in our car,
and hit the road for Texas the next morning as planned.
Good-bye writer's block!

I love our road trips, but this trip was definitely different than most.
We were usually in our motor home towing our Ford Escape.
This trip we were driving our red car.
Confession: I began having RV withdrawals.
Rob wasn't asking me to check my "RV Parky" app for rest stops or fuel stops.
I missed 'sitting up high' over the traffic on I-20 west with
Popcorn sitting on my lap.
(she stayed home in a kennel that spoils her rotten).
No more fixing BLT sandwiches at rest stops.
But I kept these emotions to myself.  Why?
I glanced over at Robinski.
He was really having a relaxing time cruising down the interstate in our red Escape.
"Why do you look so happy?" I finally asked.
"No stress," he quickly answered.

I then realized that with all the fun and adventure we'd experienced,
the responsibility that had been on his shoulders
these past 4 1/2 years had been heavy.
"Hey, lets pull over and have lunch at that Mexican restaurant," he added joyfully.
He didn't have to worry about finding a parking space large enough for our home-on-wheels.
Can all you RV owners agree to all of the above?
Note: Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade a minute of our hours on the road,
but lets face it, there are moments when you ask,
Why did I buy this monster?

Cruising down one of many interstates across the USA ~ 2015-2019

We had a wonderful two-week-Texas-vaca' on the road
visiting family and friends,
stopping by Magnolia Table in Waco, Texas ...
and staying in hotels,
unloading overnight bags, and
eating lots of complimentary breakfasts of
bacon, eggs, OJ and coffee.
Note: when looking for hotels online, read the reviews.
For me, I always make sure a hotel is rated high for clean and safe.
The Hampton Inn is good for one-night stays, or longer.

Home sweet home on Lake Murray

I returned home refreshed, but tired.
Then came the head cold.
Pray. Rest. Don't spread germs. Stay home. Rest.
Now, a week later, I'm getting back to normal,
and the writing bug has returned.
Yesterday I finished my June blog for the website
Retirement and Good Living (soon to be published)
This morning I'm writing my Lady Traveler blog.
Now my eyes are starting to cross, and my tummy is crying out for food.
More coffee and rest, then I'll continue adding a few thousand more words for
Lady on the Run.

So, if you're getting any kind of block,
back away for awhile.
If you can't take trip, then take a walk.
Outdoors does wonders for your body, soul, and spirit.

Until next time,
I wish you oceans of safe summer blessings!
And remember ... keep that body movin'!

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

www.sharonleaf.com

www.retirementandgoodliving.com

Lady Traveler ... What Now?

Lady Traveler asks ... What Now?

Writing in Barcelona, Spain

Have you ever asked yourself, what now?

Most of the time we don't have time to ask ourselves that question.

We're too busy going from one project to the next, one destination to the next.

Before we think, Do I really want to do this?

or

Do I really need to do this?

We forge ahead.

Today I'm wondering if I'm biting off more than I can chew.

Most of you know I published a book several years ago,

Lady and the Sea.

Have I bit off more than I can chew?

Over the last few years I've shared this story at many venues.

Now, in the near future, my next book

Lady on the Run will be published.

If you can't run, then walk

So now, I'm asking myself,

Can I begin this process all over again?...

...to gather even more followers...they're now called tribes.

And, oh, all the marketing that it entails,

not to mention the speaking engagements.

The theme of Lady on the Run is

Finding the joy of running your physical race and your spiritual race~at your own pace!

Since my knee replacement three years ago my pace is power walking.

Hours of walking.
Keeping my body movin'.
With a title Lady on the Run, 

I have to be an example, right?

The list goes on...and on.

You writers, walkers, business owners know what I'm talking about.

Me running 1/2 marathon  in 1979

So what now?

Do I stop mid-stream?

or

do I run the race that is set before me?

I wouldn't be asking myself these questions if I were younger.

But I'm 73!
I move slower. I look forward to my afternoon siesta.
On and on.

Then I remember the words spoken by the main speaker at the 

Carolina Christian Writers Conference last month:

"Reclaim your time...shed distractions. 

Be still in your calling, your purpose, your anchor.

Choose rest.

Create and honor a sacred place of prayer, meditation, and rest."

I'm not a philosopher nor am I a counselor.

But through the years I've learned a thing or two.

One,

If I don't have an answer,

I ASK GOD.
Two,

Our Creator has the answers.
He's waiting to walk with us through life.
Three,
so I wait to hear from Him.

As I'm writing this blog, I realize that I must close for now

and go to my sacred place to find my answers.

That is where God is.

I suggest you do the same.

Let's find our answers together as we run--or walk--the race that's set before us!

Hebrews 12:1

www.sharonleaf.com

www.retirmentandgoodliving.com