Personal Reflections

Fantastic Find at the Bookstore #13: Humor in Daily Life

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 47 Comments

When I came across this cute vintage paperback by Betty MacDonald at the used bookstore, I recognized the author’s name right away. But this was a “new” story and a new husband! The $3.00 price tag was well worth it, and I snapped this one up without a second thought.

I became familiar with Betty MacDonald’s humorous writing through her first book, The Egg and I, years ago, in high school. I was one of the students chosen in my senior English class to take part in a regional forensics competition. Assigned to do humorous readings (not sure why), I had no clue what to present. The Egg and I had rested on my parents’ bookshelf for years without tempting me. It no longer had the dust jacket pictured below, and with just a plain green cover, it never called to me.

My mom wisely suggested I check it out for some humorous chapters. I thoroughly enjoyed the funny book about a newly married couple who lived on a chicken ranch in Washington State. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this was the origin of the Ma and Pa Kettle characters I had seen in movies! I did well in the competition, advancing several rounds, and even had to read in front of my entire (small) school at an assembly. I was very nervous, but Betty MacDonald’s entertaining words gave me much-needed confidence.

Years later, I enjoyed watching the movie on either AMC or TCM. Claudette Colbert played Betty, and Fred MacMurray played her first husband, Bob.

When I came across Onions in the Stew, I realized there was a lot more to Betty MacDonald (1907-1958) than I had ever known, and I needed to dig deeper! I soon discovered that she wrote Anybody Can Do Anything about raising her daughters as a single parent during the Depression and also The Plague and I about surviving tuberculosis. All told through humor, of course. Onions in the Stew tells about moving to Vashon Island in the Pacific Northwest’s Puget Sound with her two daughters and new husband, Don. For a taste of the humor, I’ll mention that their washing machine floats away into the Sound their first night there!

Although Betty MacDonald died much too young, from cancer at age 49, she packed a lot of living and writing into her life. She is also the author of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series, in addition to Nancy and Plum.

My research prompted by this fantastic find at the bookstore also placed another book in my sights, this biography by Paula Becker. I can hardly wait!

Looking Back While Moving Forward

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 56 Comments
Becky as Mrs. Wishy-Washy,
Joy Cowley’s Delightful Character

I try not to dwell on the past, but I often enjoy thinking of my teaching years. I especially loved teaching reading, using books like Joy Cowley’s “Mrs. Wishy-Washy” stories. Many times, I’m able to effectively use my background in education to enrich both my writing and freelance editing work.

My editing projects sometimes involve non-fiction educational materials. And, of course, picture books provide an abundance of teachable scenarios. Blog articles I’ve written aimed at early childhood education have also been published, along with several decodable readers.

I’m happy to say that one of my fiction stories has recently been published, which combines reading instruction strategies with a fun fantasy setting. Click here to meet Mr. Zappo and his “buzzing letters.” He and Ms. Exeter are the early elementary teachers we each would have been lucky to meet while learning to read!

Struggling Sunflowers

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 70 Comments

At least seven new apartment buildings with large parking garages are in various stages of being built around my neighborhood. Last year, this was a beautiful field of sunflowers. These are the brave holdouts. Amid all this construction, only one small “park” area was designed. Most of the other areas are being covered by pavement and buildings. Almost everything has changed in the eight years since I moved to this area of Texas. And now a Universal theme park has been approved for just up the road a few miles! Would you be surprised if I told you the mayor is a Realtor?

Let “Freedom Read” All Year Long!

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 40 Comments

We each have the power to do something about this growing problem. Here are some ideas to get us started!

A Perfect Setting for Suspense

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 67 Comments
Tawas Point Lighthouse

I was lucky to grow up in Tawas City, Michigan, near beautiful Lake Huron and the long point of land that forms Tawas Bay. The lighthouse at Tawas Point always fascinated me and felt somewhat mysterious. When I began planning a suspense story, that area seemed like the perfect setting!

In the summer of a 1960s vacationland, an encounter offers a tempting renewal of a bond from the past. My fictional tale, “Yours Till Moonlight Falls,” visits the dark side of human desire for connection. And I am happy to say it has found a publishing home at Mystery Tribune!

Click here to read the story. Is that the screech of gulls you hear, or could that be something else?

When Reading was Golden

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 80 Comments

As a child, I loved going to the library. And I definitely looked for my favorites each time we visited. But for the books we bought at the store to keep at home, Little Golden Books were the stories that made my heart sing! In fact, I loved them so much that I still collect them. The three pictured above are titles from my collection that I remember from childhood.

I grew up in a small town, so we had no bookstores or large department stores. The great thing about Little Golden Books, besides their affordable price of just a quarter, was that they were sold in grocery stores and at the local “dime store.”

Although I didn’t yet pay much attention to the illustrator or author names as a youngster, I eventually realized that I was drawn to the books illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. Her characters always wore such soft and friendly faces, as the three covers shown above.

And I also loved the Little Golden Book stories written by Margaret Wise Brown. Yes, the same author of Goodnight Moon fame!

Although my 1946 copy isn’t in very good shape, I’m proud to say that my oldest Little Golden Book, The Little Taxi That Hurried, was written by Lucy Sprague Mitchell , a child education reformer. And it’s illustrated by Tibor Gergely, whose artwork graced many other Little Golden Books, as well.

Later, in the 1970s, my own kids liked many of the Little Golden Books, too! The Monster at the end of this Book was one of their favorites. By that time, the price had gone up to $.89.

My family members know that I still love these books and help me add to my collection, on occasion. Above is a Little Golden Book I received last Christmas from my sister. We used to watch Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on TV when we were kids.

And this is the most recent addition to my collection from one of my daughters, purchased right at Target. Both my girls and I “love Lucy” and have watched many episodes together over the years!

What about you? Are you a collector? Do you have a favorite memory of a Little Golden Book?

Earth Month (Every Month!) Challenge

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 57 Comments

I remember the first Earth Day in 1970. I was a senior in high school, and the environment wasn’t exactly uppermost in my mind. Many of us weren’t all that worried yet. These days, I’m feeling a great deal of eco-anxiety but still have trouble finding purposeful things to do about that. If you’re feeling that way, too, Treehugger has 30 ideas for easy tweaks you can make in your daily routines!

Earth Month Challenge: 30 Easy Actions

And I’m reading Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility, which is a collection of essays edited by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua. This book was suggested by Tracy Abell in one of her informative Climate Movement Monday posts. Thank you, Tracy! I’m already enjoying the book.

Maybe you’re lucky enough to have little ones to share books with! You can help them understand the importance of taking care of our Earth with some of these lovely picture books.

Let’s make it Earth Day every day!

Lax on Taxes

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 45 Comments

I Really Should Work on My Taxes

But…

Sleeping in was so fine,

with sweet dreams intertwined.

My black coffee was strong,

and I lingered too long.

To the store I will drive

and buy this week’s supplies.

I will take out the trash,

with the boxes all smashed.

Pluck the weeds from my flowers,

before getting rain showers.

I will write a new story,

as I aim for that glory.

Nudge some grime with my duster,

as I zoom that Dust Buster.

I will then call my sister,

who avoided a twister!

Take a walk in the sun

and gulp water when done.

I will edit a tale,

freelance work without fail.

Cook my dinner so tasty,

with air fryer so hasty.

Choose a show I can stream

with a snack of my dreams.

And those taxes can wait

until near the due date!

As an independent contractor who does freelance editing and writing through Upwork, completing my taxes each year feels a bit complicated, and I dread it. But, as is often the case, writing about something that’s on my mind can help me look at the issue in a more positive way. After working on this poem, I saw my way clear to get my taxes done and out of the way!

Speak Up for Library Funding!

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 32 Comments

From the ALA:

“Each year, the library community makes our voice heard for federal funding, which libraries across the country rely on to sustain crucial programs. Congress is crafting next year’s federal budget on a truncated timeline – with only one week for House members to show their support.

It’s time to take action. It’s time to #FundLibraries. 

Tell Congress to Fund Libraries!

The federal appropriations process began with the President’s proposed budget, before moving on to the House and Senate. Library champions in both chambers are leading our budget request letters and working hard to make the case for increased library funding through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program (IAL): 

  • In the House, Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) are leading the LSTA letter, and Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Bacon are leading the IAL letter.  
  • In the Senate, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) is leading both letters! 

We are requesting funding of at least $232 for LSTA and $50 million for IAL. Learn more about the campaign – and find tools to share this action – at ALA’s #FundLibraries homepage! 

We are incredibly grateful for the time, work, and dedication you have put in to support libraries. Your efforts as advocates are responsible for some of the most consequential wins for libraries in decades. Now stand with libraries, library workers, and the communities they serve: take action to #FundLibraries! 

Speak Up for Library Funding!

Thank you for all you do for libraries! 

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy” 

***********************************************************************

Thanks so much for speaking up for libraries! What would we do without them?

If you love books and libraries, you might enjoy this book by Sara Nisha Adams that so clearly shows their transformational powers. I read this one for library book club and absolutely loved it. I hope you will, too! ~Becky

Detective Dog

~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 93 Comments

I recently pet-sat for my daughter’s four dogs: two large boxers (Titan and Hazel) and two small mini pinschers (Rubble and Remi). They’re all friendly and affectionate, but each has its own personality, as well. Remi is the youngest and just turned one. She still exhibits a LOT of puppy-type behaviors, like pottying indoors on occasion, grabbing things to run away with them, and chewing on anything she gets her paws on.

When I went to their house, I took my laptop to work on freelance editing and also made sure to pack a few books I’m reading. One was an early Christmas gift from my sister, Terri. We both love mysteries and like many of the same authors. One of our favorites is UK author, Elly Griffiths. She has three mystery series, and I especially like the two featuring Ruth Galloway and DI Harbinder Kaur. Knowing for sure I’d like it and hadn’t read it yet, Terri sent me the latest Harbinder Kaur book, Bleeding Heart Yard. It’s a great story and pulled me in immediately.

One evening, I had the book set well back on the nightstand, thinking I was being careful. But I hadn’t considered that jumping up on the bed to reach interesting objects was easy for Remi. The next thing I knew, the sound of ripping paper met my ears. My wonderful new book was flung to the floor with pages 321/322 ripped out and lying in several pieces. (Sorry Terri!) I rescued the book right away and set the pieces aside, realizing the pages were from later in the book and wouldn’t be needed right away.

The next morning, I decided the best way to make sure I hung onto all the pieces was to tape them together and back into the book. A few were too small and mangled, so I certainly hoped enough of the print remained to get the gist of the paragraphs. With tape in hand, I began reconstructing, while matching up words.

Suddenly, to my horror, I realized my eyes had landed on a section with an all-important sentence…”X X has admitted to the murders.” What are the chances that in those 30 seconds of jubilant grabbing and chewing, Remi would choose one of the few pages that revealed the killer?! I had to laugh, though. It was almost as if she were playing detective and sharing the solution to the mystery with me.

Lucky for me that my main goal in reading a mystery isn’t just to solve the puzzle, although I do that to a certain extent, of course. I love the way mystery series authors weave their interesting characters into suspenseful plots and reveal more about the people in each book. Will I finish reading Bleeding Heart Yard even though I know the name of the culprit? You bet! That doesn’t make much difference to me, except that I’ll be reading from a somewhat different perspective. I’ll be looking to see just how artfully the author reveals the rest of the clues and keeping an eye out for any red herrings.

So Remi wasn’t “in trouble.” But I certainly was reminded to be even more careful about where I set things when she was around!

Remi’s 1st Birthday