Two things inspired this post, starting with the iconic song from Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World“. This verse goes straight to my heart:
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really sayin’, “I love you”
Even when life feels upside down with incompetent leaders here in the U.S. and suffering which seems normalized, I find hope in music. You, too?
I’m also inspired by generous friends here on WordPress, like Todd Fulginiti who shares his monthly slideshow of all things Todd. And of course, dear Wynne Leon does a weekly recap on Saturdays…pictorial poignancy featuring her lovely family and moments of inspiration. These things fill me up and I figured it was my turn.
Extra encouragement came last week when a new follower and reader of “Slivers” reached out by email and we had a lively chat about remarkable connecting threads in our lives – people, places and priorities. So fun! I shared a bit about my professional background (former college dean, licensed professional counselor, doctorate in Education) and my tumultuous life with my mom (yes, I literally “Survived Sue“). Bonding moments with a new friend made my day.
Motivated by her interest, I thought I’d do a post that’s more pics than text this week. Sort of a “getting to know Vicki” for anyone who’s new here. Snippets of what matters most to me and a peek at the busy month I’ve had – full of celebrations and gratitude.
First Up? Some new photos from my sweet sister Lisa’s spotlight moment at the Clearbrook Shining Star Ball. Support for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities was never more important. And just for fun, I snuck in a pic of Lisa – a glamour shot from many years ago when she was a speaker at a fundraising event in San Francisco. I told Lisa I was including the photo today and she loved the idea, grinning as she said, “Hello, writer friends!”
Next? Hubby Paul and I are lucky parents to daughter, Delaney and our future son-in-law, Cole. They recently celebrated their engagement with festivities across several weeks. We love our girl and the magic of growing our family by embracing Cole’s parents and siblings.
Girlfriend moments matter. My dear friend Kathleen sent me the sweetest congratulatory note about “Slivers” along with a darling swallow figurine from her travels in Portugal. And then…I had the best time visiting with Michelle from the Boomer Eco Crusader blog when she flew through the Chicago area. A languishing breakfast, meeting in person, was a total blast. Later that week, I received multiple messages from the great beyond from a dearly departed girlfriend, Janine. Our favorite song – the one we’d blast relentlessly in high school – was Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” and for three days straight, every time I got in the car, Stevie Nicks’ voice greeted me, but I felt Janine’s presence, too. My dear friend passed away unexpectedly just a year ago. I think she chose to ride along with me and Stevie for a few days, nudging me to remember her. It worked, it worked.
And of course, there’s the book launch prep. Talking about “Slivers”, explaining the connections to “Surviving Sue” and spending loads of time on promo work. It’s fun…and I can’t wait to share the launch party pics with you…coming soon…the party is this coming Thursday!
Last but not least, I’ve loved recent interactions with WordPress friends and fellow authors. I admire Maggie Watson and love her latest book, “Wildflower”. Deborah Brasket’s beautiful “This Sea Within” is coming soon and of course Pooja Gudka’s perfectly titled novel, “Perfect” needs to be in your reading rotation. Next up? Diving into my dear friend Joy Neal Kidney’s “The Immigrant and the Outlaw”. I started reading Joy’s latest this week and found myself slowing down so I don’t gobble it all up in one greedy gulp.
Sending all of my best wishes to you! Let me know what’s cookin’ these days in your world. Grateful to have you here, friend.
Vicki 💝
Hi – I’m Victoria, Vicki, Dr. Vicki. I hold a doctorate in Adult Education and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and author of Surviving Sue and Slivers.
Check out this link to learn more about my book “Surviving Sue” – all about resilience and love. Check out this link to order “Slivers”…a ghost story with surprising twists.
Post your thoughts about “Slivers” on Goodreads.
Victoria Ponders 
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