Friendship – Page 2 – Rebekah Lyn Books

My Once a Year Neighbor

Once per year neighr — Join Me on my Potato Couch

About once a year, I walk past Annie’s house on my way home from my walk when she’s out. We like each other a lot and always have a delightful conversation. This has been going on for about twenty-five years.

Every year we look different, older, of course. We’ve talked about our kids and our lives. Mostly Annie talks, I listen… fascinated. Today we compared our ages. She says she’s going to be eighty this year and she’s glad of it. When she turned 79 she felt like kids do on their 16, 18, or 21^st birthdays. “I’ve made it, she says.”

I feel the same way. I’ve made it too, with no major tragedies and my health intact. I was even more interested than usual to hear what Annie had to say. Listening to her was like taking a ride on a cloud. “People are looking to politics and the church to make them happy,” she says. “Those don’t work. Only God can get us through. He loves us unconditionally!”

I heartily agreed. I agreed with everything she said. “If I can help somebody, I do. These kids these days are so smart. I’m going down, but I still have my mind. That’s the most important thing. All of us are going to die. I don’t have any complaints about that, but I’m doing okay while I’m still here. (She has diabetes and kidney failure.)

There we were two neighbors who see each other rarely, but who were in perfect accord on the things that mean the most in life. We could talk on for a long time and never get upset with each other , though we have different opinions on surface matters. When it was time to part we hugged each other gently. We know life is short. We know the last time we saw each other could well be the last time we’ll ever see each other. If she goes, first I’m going to miss her a lot. She has always just been there on the corner. Funny too, when you think about it. She’s black, I’m white, she’s left I’m right, she’s Jehovah’s Witness, I’m interdenominational. I guess it proves that love and respect on a personal level is what really counts. If we can’t sort anything else out, at least we know that much…

Matthew 22:36-40

New International Version (NIV)

³⁶“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Busy, Productive and Slightly Confused

Thanksgiving weekend was very busy and productive for DiVoran and I. I was deep into finishing the rough draft for my next novel Jessie and DiVoran launched, Clear Spring her final book in the Florida Springs Trilogy We were so busy in fact our emails indicate we seemed to have had some mental lapses.

I’m so happy to hear that Jessie if finished and I’m really looking forwarding to reading it. Congratulations.

Love,

DiVoran

P. S. Bill liked your announcement for Clear Spring on RLB and so did I. Thanks

BooktoberFest — Me as Michele Burton, Rocker

Thanks! There’s still a lot of work todo on it but getting the basic story out is a relief. I would love to get together with you & Precious one Saturday or Sunday.

We were happy to Matthew announcement of Clear Spring on the website. I hope it helps!

Love,

Beck

Sent from my iPad

Do you write or collaborate with a friend? Would love to read your funny communications. Care to share?

Getting High

I remember those words from another generation. Are they still apropos? By the way I hate that word it sounds as if someone has the flu.

Anyhow, let me tell you about the high that happened to me minutes ago.

On my way home from my walk I came off the trail and entered the neighborhood. A good neighbor was having a garage sale. Those things attract me as flowers attract butterflies, so I fluttered across the street to have a look and a chat with the sale-er. This neighbor is especially precious because she, her husband, and their two blond-haired boys have lived in the house since the boys were toddlers, and because her husband and another neighbor helped get a downed tree off our house after Hurricane Charley. The boys are thirteen now, and very smart. I could see why as I looked through the childhood books for sale, and their mom told me how she had read to them even before they were born. She read a children’s Bible, mostly.

I selected a few children’s books for my Sunday School class, but didn’t have any money with me, so I walked home to get some. When I was almost here I thought about taking two of my books, Sacred Spring, and Living Spring to her and her helper. The ulterior motive didn’t surface until later, I’m always happy for people to read my books and that was enough for me at that time.

When I gave them the books they were truly thrilled. I guess it was the subject and the covers. The helper said, “My husband will read this book too, he reads everything he can get his hands on about Florida. He won’t use a motor on a boat. He has a kayak, and a canoe.”

“Several men have liked those books.” I told her. and it’s true. Then I asked if the women would consider writing reviews for Amazon about the books if they liked them and they both eagerly agreed that they would.

“And I’ll tell people about it,” the neighbor said. I work for the County.

“I’ll tell people too,” said the helper. “I work for the School Board.”

“You can be my little fan club.”

They both nodded happily. I felt so warm, fussy, loved, and accepted that I couldn’t wait to get home and tell you about it.

Some highs are good for us. What makes you high? Or perhaps it would sound better if I were to say, “What puts you in high spirits?”

Happy Writing,

DiVoran

I Love Crime Shows

I love crime. CSI, Criminal Minds, Magnum PI, NCIS, The First 48, I find them all fascinating. I also love reading crime novels from David Baldacci, to Brad Thor. When I saw a Groupon for the CSI Experience, I gobbled it right up. Now, I’m supposed to be dedicated to completing the first draft of my work in progress. I’ve worked on nothing else in my few spare moments and I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I needed a break, and my Groupon was getting ready to expire, so I called up a fellow crime junkie and we went to check out this CSI Experience.

There were more people at the venue than I expected, but the staff processed them effectively and before we knew it, we were zipping up our “official” CSI vests. We were given a clipboard and assigned to one of three crime scenes, then we were off. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who might do the experience themselves so I won’t go into detail. We gathered our evidence, “ran” all of the forensic tests on computer simulators, and came to our conclusion who the killer was. Along the way there are videos with cast members from the original CSI series and when you think your know who did it, you file your report. I can’t imagine how you wouldn’t be able to solve the case, but it was still fun to have Gil Grissom tell me how well I did. There is certainly room for improvement in this experience, but I’m glad we did it and I even feel more energized in my writing quest after taking the afternoon off. You can find out more about this experience at CSI Crime Exhibit

Maybe one day I will even write my own crime novel, but for now, I need to finish my work in progress. What fun things have you done to take a break from writing?