Phooey on That

     "Phooey on that, I can clean my own teeth."

     Every muscle in my body tensed at the sound of that one word.
 
     Phooey.

     It doesn't sound like much but that word means the live ammunition has come out. Ma D has her back to the wall and no one is pulling her away. But I give her another chance, maybe the hygienist can talk her down - maybe.

 And so began the dental appointment for my MIL, affectionately known as Ma D. I did what works in these situations and it's not the truth. I used to feel bad about that but dementia is an ugly disease to wrestle and I've learned through two different individual's paths that one must guide them through the rapids (so to speak) the quickest way possible.

     And that, I hate to say, doesn't usually involve the truth. Once I felt bad about that but now I realize that stressing them with the truth is often - just that, a whole lot of stress for everyone involved. So I lean on my forte - making up a story.  Stories, I make them up all the time, every day. But, those stories are for other reasons. This story is playing with the footprint of someone's life. I know it but I prefer to think of it as getting from point a to point b, and all with a smile on each of our faces, at least at the end.

     "I'll just take them for a few minutes," the hygienist continues but she's yet to learn who she's up against.

     "No. And where's that dentist, I'm betting they went for lunch. That's happened before you know."

     Maybe it happened before, maybe it didn't. All I know was that it never happened on my watch.

     Ma D isn't smiling and I know that at this point it's time to step in with the story. First off - an assurance that the dentist will take a late lunch and she won't be left waiting. But lunch is on her mind and that comes up again and again - I can deal with that. The refusal to have her partials cleaned, not so much.

     "The dentist has to look at your partials to see if they need repair."

     "Oh."

     And some days it's as easy as that.

     As easy as the new rollater/walker, known as the cart - which has been adopted, much to my surprise, with little fuss or muss. It runs beautifully indoors through store aisles - everywhere. Aside from attempting to return it with the other carts a few times, the last in Walmart - where the shoplifter alert went off as we passed through - Ma D has been running with it like a pro. With the shoplifter alert bleating, she kept on pushing while I turned to go back. Instead, I was waved through by the Walmart greeter without even a check to see if we were actually lifting anything - we weren't. Was it the cart that shrieked innocence or maybe it was Ma D's white hair and smile.

     And so, another excursion ends with dark clouds closing in and Ma D saying that it's time to go home. A year ago - the care home where she lives would never be called home.

     We've come a long way.

     And with dementia you take every win - savour every smile and just keep trucking along.

     It's her life and she's still here and she's still smiling.

     And through it all, I'm counting days to the book that explores the fictional side of dementia - and offers a promise of love. More on Cassie's story in the weeks to follow.

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

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Writer Writer - Did you do your job?

Today I received a phone call from a friend. First off I had to race through the house searching for my phone with wet hair and expecting a telemarketer at most, a charitable request at least.

Instead it was a friend. She was in tears.

I was immediately concerned until I heard the reason why. No family members in jeopardy, no catastrophe of any kind. No - she'd read my poem.

..."It's beautiful. I can't stop crying. I'll be reading it again. And I'll probably cry again."...

These comments from a woman who I have never heard cry were some of the best words of praise I'd ever received. I couldn't stop smiling and all because I had her in tears. That wasn't right. The tears should have had me upset. But, the fact that my words touched someone that deeply was ...to say the least - amazing.

Amazing. It's a dull little word. The only thing going for it is three syllables. I know I should have better words for what just happened. Richer words, deeper even. Words that reach into the gut. Wait, I already did that with the poem.

About the poem - it was inspired by my experience with my MIL who has dementia. I submitted it some months ago to the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) yearly poetry contest. My fingers are crossed but I know the odds are high. For it's up against talent from across Canada. So whether my poem makes it past the first hurdle and places at all or whether it doesn't - to touch someone like that is what it means to be a writer.

Today, for me, that reaction - was amazing. It reminded me of the reasons I write.  Every poem, book or short story is different but in some way you hope it reaches someone - makes them smile, laugh or even cry. Because if I've engaged someone in some way, then I've done my job.

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

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An Official Take on an Unofficial Holiday

After a relatively bad August, at least as far as  weather was concerned, yesterday was glorious.  30 Celsius or 92 Fahrenheit, either way summer is back - a little window before fall drops the curtain. Today the weather dropped a degree or two but it's still nice and warm.

Beginning yesterday at our house we celebrated the last two days of foreseeable summer - at least as far as weather is concerned.  It’s an in-house holiday that the authorities have never heard of. In fact, I thought it up right after checking my phone late last week and seeing the weather forecast.

Here is day one of the unofficial last days of summer. 

No deadlines, no promotional quirks and no computer file organization - two hours writing related at daybreak doesn't count as a cheat - not quite.  Still I remember when summer meant freedom - hot sun, maybe a dip in the pool and basically a whole lot of fun. It seemed to go on forever when I was a kid.  And, while there's no dip in the pool, there's the promise of margaritas this evening and, before that, maybe a bike ride this afternoon. We'll see, nothing scheduled, just a day of warm sun and fun leisure.

And if a story idea comes out of all of this - bonus. 

Meantime...

Cheers to the last hot day of summer! At least here in the frozen north!

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

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Life and Words Go On

Ma D enjoying a walk with the cart.

I never thought the day would come when my MIL aka Ma D would need a walker. She didn't believe it either - so we call it a cart. Somehow the word cart goes over much better than calling it a walker. She can still walk on her own but some days she's a little shaky and her legs give out. I never thought a cart/walker would open doors though. While I knew it was all about keeping her safe, instead I found that the world expanded. Now, we can go for much longer walks together, because first there's the stability and second, but possibly most importantly, there's a seat that she can rest on. Suddenly taking a walk takes on a whole new meaning. Just today, we explored another section of her neighbourhood that she hadn't seen before.

And, we talked books - the three that are due out this fall. First up is the American Armor series, a two-book Harlequin Intrigue series.




     American Armor - Wanted by the Marshal
                                    Marshal on a Mission

Can he keep the key witness from harm…                                               She witnessed a robbery.            
before it’s too late?                                                                                   Now she’s a killer’s target.

And, my first women's fiction is only a few months from publication. I'm so excited!

Here's a short blurb of the book that I really think of as Cassie's story. 

         Forty is just around the corner and she's going no where fast. She never got that degree she wanted and her career just hit a wall. Life couldn’t get any worse for Cassandra McDowall. At least so she thought until she had to retrieve her confused and frightened mother from the local police station. She’d known that her mother was forgetful – now she knows that it’s so much worse than that, and there’s no going back. Her mother has rapid-onset Alzheimer’s and she needs her. But, putting her going no-where life on hold to move in with her mother doesn’t turn out quite the way she expected.  

It’s a dance of wills to keep one step ahead of mother who loves to dance, to laugh and to try new things. And soon, while Cassie finds herself extricating her mother from one potentially life-threatening situation or another, she also finds herself sharing the joy of an amazing foreign sunset or taking an impromptu skate with her around the local rink. 

 It’s a year where Cassie discovers a man she thought she could never love; and, a year where mother reveals a secret that threatens everything Cassie believes herself to be.

I'll have updates about "Cassie's story" as it nears publication.

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

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Wanted by the Marshal -

Wanted by the Marshal is out in paperback today!  It's the first in the American Armor series.

can he keep the key witness from harm... before it's too late?

After escaping a terrifying encounter with a serial killer, RN Kiera Connell lands in the protection of US Marshal Travis Johnson. In order to make sure she stays alive to testify, Travis has to thwart whatever danger comes her way. Normally, for a pro like Travis, that's not an issue. But focusing on the mission becomes his greatest challenge as Kiera's exposure threatens to unravel all his best-laid plans.

An RN in a care home, Kiera is a caregiver on and off the job, and it is her caring nature that finds her in a nightmare that threatens her very life. Set in Wyoming, where prairie meets mountains and the landscapes stretch forever, with a cat named Lucy (just along for the ride) - Kiera proves that she might have a soft side as she cares for the vulnerable in society but she's got a spine of steel. With, don't mess with me, Travis by her side - they face a nightmare that never seems to end.

The paperback is available today at bookstores everywhere, including: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, Kobo

I'm participating with a group of authors at AuthorXP.com who is offering a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card. Following me on Bookbub gives you one chance to win. With each author you follow, you get anther chance to win. 

If you want to follow me on Bookbub and get a chance at the prize - I'm listed in section three - last name on the list. Just keep scrolling down the page.

Here is the link: Enter for a chance to win an Amazon gift card

Good Luck!!

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

                                                        ...a world you never imagined!

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New York - On the Street

RWA 2019 has come to an end and I can't believe it's over. Time to test out the subway system which, after a confusing first go - a local is quick to point out what train is ours and after that, it's a breeze - almost. First up is the Brooklyn Bridge with beautiful views of the city skyline.


Then there was the trip to Greenwich Village.  Almost peaceful in comparison to the constant motion  of Times Square. It's pretty with lots of green space and dog walkers almost everywhere.
First up is a craft sale where the dresses and uniquely embroidered jean jackets at Inca Heritage caught my eye.  A jean jacket with gorgeous embroidery of hummingbirds and flowers originating in Peru is destined to return to Canada -  my first souvenir of New York. One I can see wearing years from now. Plus, good luck - I'm her first customer!


Then it's off to find the ten foot wide house that was once the residence of Pulitzer Prize winning author, Edna St. Vincent Millay and then anthropologist, Margaret Meade, as well as a few big names from movies; Cary Grant and John Barrymore. And, as far as being ten feet wide, not quite. The actual width is nine feet, six inches wide or 2.9 metres and that's just the outside width - the inside gets just a tad smaller!


Then it's off to Chelsea and Chelsea Market where a lunch stop is a necessity and a taco is in order. And then back to Manhattan, where a street market is an unexpected find. It runs once a year, for one day only with the proceeds going to charity. What are the odds that that day is today? It's a wonderful collage of street entertainment, all sorts of crafts and goods and unique places to stop for a bite.


All in all - a lovely self-guided tour of New York.




Tomorrow, a flight heading home.  One week flew by much to quickly.

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

                                                        ...a world you never imagined!

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