First, I wanted to introduce one of my first followers, Elisa Ann Lindstrom, before I discovered the writing community. She is an artist with nature based themes and her blogsite is here.
Her latest post is something we can definitely relate to.
Next, I thought I would share a story from Ecuador that I've taken out of my book. I threw it in to try to show the culture, but it's a side story that has nothing to do with the plot, so it got cut. This is a true experience that I had on a visit there with my husband and then four year old daughter.
We were driving from Quito, the capitol city to Otavalo, where my husband's family lives, when we saw a llama tied up in front of a house. Eager to show him to my little girl, we stopped the car and got out. An old woman was standing near the llama, and we asked if we could take pictures. We took several shots and then I noticed a scrawny little puppy nearby. I grabbed a snack pack of crackers that I had for my four year old and spilled them out on the ground for the puppy to eat, when a little toddler I had barely noticed came running up and starting eating the crackers too. Right off the dirt road! It broke my heart.
I ran back to the car, got another bag of crackers, and handed the new pack to the child, who grabbed it and ran to hide behind the old woman. We take everything for granted in the States, like having enough to eat, that it hadn't occurred to me the child might be hungry too. Isn't that sad!
Last of all, I finished the book Deadly Additive, a Christian suspense novel. I wasn't sure what that genre meant, but it's my writing partner's genre and she had recommended it to me. In turn, I recommend to anyone who likes suspense. It is very well written- the dialogue is excellent, and the religious part is subtle, not preachy, and it doesn't take away from the page turning plot.
I also purchased the Emotion Thesaurus as recommended. This is exactly what I needed to help me with fresh ideas. Over and over I've been told that I needed to add more feeling. I'm getting better but this is the boost I was looking for. Thanks for the tip!
By the way, I just thought I should mention that I work during the second half of the week. That's 12 hour shifts at night, so when I'm not working I'm sleeping, and I don't always get a chance to respond to comments as quickly. I will get to them though! Thanks for understanding :) and have a great week!
We do tend to forget that others don't have it as well as we do. A least you had crackers for everyone.
ReplyDeleteIt really puts things in perspective. I was glad I had more too!
DeleteWe do take so much for granted in the U.S. So when I hear kids complain about having to go to school...I get so very irritated.
ReplyDeleteI had a conversation about that with my 11 year old after the story broke about the 14 year old in (is it Pakistan?) who risked her life to promote girls getting an education. It left an impression, that's for sure.
DeleteIt would've been hard for me not to empty my cooler right there and then for that family.
ReplyDeleteWhen you see these situations it's easy to understand why they think ALL North Americans are rich, because even the poor here have it better.
DeleteWe do take things for granted. It's always good to be reminded of that. It's nice you had more to share with the child.
ReplyDeleteIt helps to put things in perspective- true enough.
DeleteThese little stories are so important to put things back into perspective. So many of us take what we have for granted. Thanks for sharing this Rose. And hand in there with your work hours, get your sleep in and don't worry about us, hon. (:
ReplyDelete*And hang in there...
Deleteuggg hate typos. :P
It made such an impression on me, and reveals so much about the difference in our cultures. And thanks for understanding!
DeleteThat is sad, and yes, we take so much for granted in N/A. Very sad. On a happy note, I used to farmsit for Llamas down the road. There was this brown-eyed female that wouldn't let me pat her, but she'd come as close as possible and stare into my eyes. I ended up blogging about her because her gaze was so intent. One mother to another, maybe.
ReplyDeleteThey have the sweetest faces! Especially with those long eyelashes.
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ReplyDeleteWe do take everything for granted. But you did great by giving that child the pack of crackers. I would've done the same.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve a hug!
Nas
It was just the tip of the iceberg though. If only I were rich!
DeleteYour story of the little girl in Quito is so common where I am now living and writing in Manila. It's sad but I am not God and cannot help everyone. Not to be a pessimist, but I do not believe we will collectively ever see prosperity again.
ReplyDeleteI've heard poverty is bad there. Things are getting bad all over, I agree.
DeleteAh yes, it's heart-breaking to see scrawny kids without food on the street corners, or scavenging in dirt bins for any scraps they can get their hands on...
ReplyDeleteWe have our fair share of street children this end of the globe.
Terrible! And heartbreaking.
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