Milestones by Suzanne Rossi

Hello everyone.

Here in West Tennessee autumn is slowing closing in on us. We've closed the pool, and while most of the leaves are still on the trees, more and more are dotting the lawn--not to mention clogging our gutters. I'm about to face my second winter in a colder climate than what I lived in for twenty years. Hope I can survive without too many layers of clothes.

So my first year in Germantown has passed and I'm happy. This is a milestone I can live with. I get to see my son, his wife, and the grandkids on a regular basis, which is why we moved in the first place.

There are other milestones in my life--some good, some not so noteworthy.

My birthday is next month. I will turn seventy. Damn, that seems old. Maybe because it is? I didn't have much of a problem with thirty. I still looked and felt young. Forty was a big milestone. I don't remember how I felt, but with kids and activities galore, I doubt if I gave it much thought--although I do recall having a dream in which my recently deceased mother appeared at the foot of the bed to wish me a happy birthday. To this day, I'm still not certain it was a dream.

When I turned fifty, I paused to reflect that I had most likely lived over half of my lifespan. I began to think about death, dying, and all I still wanted to do in life. I didn't like my sixtieth birthday. It signaled I was nearing that milestone no one likes to think about--retirement. I also had to realize that things I used to do without a care had suddenly become harder--like driving at night, my vision (hello, bifocals), and not having the stamina to go full steam with projects.

Sixty-five brought home the fact that according to the government, I was now a senior citizen. I could collect social security and apply for Medicare. I was bummed for months.

And now I am approaching seventy. I've accepted the bifocals, and only drive at night if I know the route well. I've also acknowledged that I need help with doing things that were once a breeze, like cleaning the house. We broke down and now have a maid service in every two weeks. My son does a lot of repair work my husband can no longer manage.

Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, sixty-five, seventy--all milestones in my life.

And this is another milestone--my sixteenth book, Point of View, the sequel to Through My Eyes is now officially available in both paperback and e-formats from www.thewildrosepress.com and over at www.amazon.com.

Here's a description and the cover.

Psychic Sasha Bellwood and her former fiance, Detective Reed McIntyre are once again thrown together to find a killer before he strikes. In the past two years, Sasha's psychic abilities have strengthened and now she works with the Memphis police to solve crimes. However, not all is well within the department. Her boss is being replaced with a skeptical detective who feels he's been demoted. Sasha is under pressure to produce, but her emotional state has deteriorated creating self-doubt regarding her ability to interpret the nightmares and visions. Then the new detective is murdered. And Sasha's vision of the killing is not clear. Reed, concerned for her, agrees to help. But the two quickly discover that their love has not diminished, and when Sasha becomes the target of the killer, their worlds are changed forever.

That's all for this month. See you then, and may everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Suzanne

It's Summer!! by Suzanne Rossi

Hi everyone.

June ushers in my favorite season of the year. As a kid, summer meant riding my bike with friends to the local drug store for Archie and Little Lulu comic books, and waiting impatiently in the afternoon for the ice cream truck to finally appear so I could savor every bite of that Drumstick or Eskimo Pie. My teenage tastes were more refined. I could drive to the local pool and eat those Drumsticks and Eskimo Pies with my friends under the covered pavilion. Sometimes, we'd swim, sunbathe, and of course, flirt with the boys. And then there was that week or so when my parents packed up and off we'd go on vacation. It didn't matter where we traveled--to Pensacola Beach or a relative's house--it was an adventure, not to mention a change of scenery.

Once I became a parent myself, summer meant vacations with grandma and grandpa. They spoiled the kids rotten allowing my husband and I relax without having to do much of anything. Eventually, we'd have to deal with the results of all that spoiling, but it was worth it.

Today, summer means something else--construction. The contract for the addition and kitchen renovation was signed three weeks ago. Last week the men showed up to demolish the useless pergola and warped deck. It turns out part of the deck was built over an existing patio, so much of that had to be broken up, but the good news is we can keep an 8 x 15 foot section for grilling and sitting. This afternoon, they will be digging the footings for the 12 x 16 foot addition. In a couple of days, the concrete will be poured for the pad, new pool steps, and walkway. Then I'm told the framing can begin. Naturally, all of this is going on while I have company. Plus, my editor sent me the final edits for "Point of View." Just little bumps in the summer road.

The contractor will do the outside first so we can use it for cooking/eating while the kitchen is in shambles. The timeline is ten weeks, but this isn't our first renovation rodeo. I'm figuring closer to twelve--maybe fourteen, which means summer will be almost over. I will not allow this to interfere with my pool time. If the workers can't deal with my fat body in a swim suit, then too bad. They can look the other way. LOL.

And speaking of the pool, it is now open for business. I went out a couple of weeks ago and bought a three-seat covered swing, new chairs, and oodles of pool toys--including a giant floating flamingo--for the grandkids to play with when they come over. They seem to enjoy the water cannons the most. My favorite part of it all is I can sit in the swing and watch them having fun. But then, that's what it's all about. Right?

Yep, summer is here and in between the jack-hammering, nail guns, cement trucks, and whatever else is thrown my way, I intend to enjoy it. Hope you all have a great summer, too.

See you next month.

Suzanne