Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

August 2016

Having been born to young parents, your editor became first child, and first grandchild to three sets of grandparents as one couple had remarried, and first great grandchild to a maternal side great grandmother and to paternal side great grandmother and great grandfather. This formed a sense of continuity and tradition at an early age, a foundation of gentle manners with encouragement to develop ones talents and lots of leeway to expand ones personality as well.

 It also fostered a feeling of being appreciated and of having responsibility to uphold values and always exhibit good character. Now as the next to the oldest remaining family member (Uncle Rex Joslin), and being a GreatGreat Grandmother of four so far, it isn't as easy to pass on tradition and values with the electronic distractions (to name one) youngsters and indeed, adults as well, have today. Trying but missing the mark would be the kindest judgement at this point.

Four generations with Great Grandmother Bullard, Grandmother Joslin, Mother Lena May Carroll,   Baby Mary Elizabeth.

Our authors were inspired however, especially the poets, so we bring you fourteen poems this month. One each by Blair and Lemire commemorating the Fourth of July, but several years apart in each poem's period. Blair submitted six more poems, and we are thrilled to see him getting back his writing muse. This group is: "Fourth of July at Grandpa's House," "Humming Bird Season," "In High Summer," "A Poem for A Day without Poetry," "Squirrels at My Window," "These Old Hands," and "When Trees Sing."

Bud Lemire's poems are: "The Pond" and "This 4th of July." Bruce Clifford also sent us two: "I Was" and "The Bloodline." Two of our columnists added some poetry this issue: Judith Kroll included "Harmony" and "All I Want is A Little Faith;" LC Van Savage penned the nostalgic "Lace Doilies."
LC Van Savage is showing an article "Maybe It is Our Job," and the second article is Dianne Lynch's "Packaging."

Thomas F. O'Neill, "Introspective," sends his column from Suzhou, China, with a perspective perhaps from his home town of Pennsylvania. Mattie Lennon in "Irish Eyes" tells of a lighthearted play currently popular in his country which spoofs the workhouse situation. The play is popular but the true facts of that era are much grimmer he explains, and similar to Alcatraz has now become a tourist venue.

Judith Kroll's "On Trek" asks us to be kinder in our perceptions of others and most importantly, of ourselves. LC Van Savage's column "Consider This" confesses to the "Mounds of Sins" she has held against herself that are rather normal procrastinations and good intentions unrealized. Don't we all relate? For August, she also includes a tale for children "How to Be A Dragon."

The other story is Chapter 16 of The Adventures of Ollie-Dare which has the bear beginning plans. This delightful series soon concludes but is available from the first chapter by clicking the author's name. Rebecca Morris originally wrote these whimsical tales with a gentle moral for her nieces and nephews.

Both Rod Cohenour's "Cooking With Rod," and Melinda Cohenour's "Armchair Genealogy" are delayed this month since she suffered a heart episode, not yet completely diagnosed, and is hospitalized undergoing a multitude of tests. We are expecting them to be on their toes again soon.

Thanks again to Mike Craner for his expertise and patience that allows this little ezine to continue its mission of encouraging writers, experienced and beginners, and to promote reading.

Watch for us in September!

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This issue appears in the ezine at www.pencilstubs.com and also in the blog www.pencilstubs.net with the capability of adding comments at the latter.