Finally, it’s here!

Becoming Family

I have not been wasting my retirement doing things like cleaning and going to the gym – I’ve been writing! Becoming Family is the second in the Cal’s Law series, but like all my books it can be read as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed writing this book, and I felt I got to know both characters so much better.

Here’s the blurb:

Against overwhelming odds, Jenny and Cal are together and happy. Their love is strong, but before they can become family Jenny needs to learn what that word means. Jenny has no background in the real meaning of "family" but when Cal wants her to meet his and get to know hers, she knows the time has come. The difference in the two families is wide and jarring. Jenny has a lot to learn, but then so does Cal. When he meets her family, he discovers that the word family doesn't always mean the same thing to all people.

Jenny’s mother has planned a future for her daughter that does not include someone as ordinary as Cal Bennet. What could this small-town hick with no money and no connections do for her? How far will her mother go to see that Jenny accepts a life of high society and prestige? Will these two lovers come to an understanding of what their family will look like?

Blushing Books
Amazon

I hope you’ll read Becoming Family and I hope you like it. Now for those of you wondering about Cassie, fear not! She is still around and still talking to me and I’m nearly finished with the first draft of the next book. I told you I wouldn’t waste retirement!

Add to my list

Eventually, hopefully, I’ll get back to posting ‘on topic’. This is supposed to be a spanking blog after all, but until I have something good to report on that part of my life, I’ll report on other parts. For those of you tired of hearing about my kids, feel free to check back another day. But many of you have been reading for years and you might be interested on what Mollie’s up to.

She’s bought a house. Never thought I’d be around long enough to blog with that sentence since Mollie was only thirteen when I began writing here. But she decided paying rent was too much like watching her money spiral down the drain. If she had to pay it, she wanted the money to go to her house.

I really stayed out of this one. I could argue both sides – home owning vs renting – eloquently. So, I just let her look and went with her when she asked me too. We saw some really terrible houses! I’d begun thinking that she would have to save for a few more years and then look again when she came across the cutest little house. It was built in the 1920’s and as recently been completely renovated. It has a deep front porch, three bedrooms, two baths and sits on just over an acre of land – and she could afford it. She could, we’re staying out of this.

I’m showing a picture of her kitchen because that’s what really sold me. After the dumps we’d seen this was a real breath of fresh air!

Now if you all will help me out here. I’m trying to make a list of things one needs in any home, but Mollie may not think to buy them. She’s been in an apartment for a few years so she has some things, but not all. These things may not make up the most lovely house warming gift, but they will be needed.

Plunger

Smoke detectors

Small fire extinguisher

Wasp spray

Small tool box (we gave her a cordless drill for Christmas)

I’m still trying to think of things, please help me add to this list. What would you want to be sure was in your daughter’s home?

Please come by the Reading Room today

My newest book, Becoming Family - the second in the Cal's Law series will be out next week. I'll put a post here when it's officially out. But I don't want anyone to think I've forgotten Cassie. If you get the chance go to PK Corey's Reading Room today and read my Saturday Spanking. For those of you who haven't read any Cassie maybe I can talk you into it.

Am I enough?

This isn't my writing, I only wish it were. I ran across this on Facebook and it really spoke to me. I think may of you will relate too.

What if All I Want is a Mediocre Life?

KRISTA O'REILLY DAVI-DIGUI

What if I all I want is a small, slow, simple life? What if I am most happy in the space of in between? Where calm lives. What if I am mediocre and choose to be at peace with that?

Photo courtesy of Erin Loechner

The world is such a noisy place. Loud, haranguing voices lecturing me to hustle, to improve, build, strive, yearn, acquire, compete, and grasp for more. For bigger and better. Sacrifice sleep for productivity. Strive for excellence. Go big or go home. Have a huge impact in the world. Make your life count.

But what if I just don’t have it in me. What if all the striving for excellence leaves me sad, worn out, depleted? Drained of joy. Am I simply not enough?

What if I never really amount to anything when I grow up—beyond mom and sister and wife? But these people in my primary circle of impact know they are loved and I would choose them again, given the choice. Can this be enough?

What if I never build an orphanage in Africa but send bags of groceries to people here and there and support a couple of kids through sponsorship? What if I just offer the small gifts I have to the world and let that be enough?

What if I don’t want to write a cookbook or build a six figure business or speak before thousands? But I write because I have something to say and I invest in a small community of women I care about and encourage them to love and care for themselves well. Because bigger isn’t always better and the individual matters. She is enough.

What if I just accept this mediocre body of mine that is neither big nor small? Just in between. And I embrace that I have no desire to work for rock hard abs or 18% body fat. And I make peace with it and decide that when I lie on my deathbed I will never regret having just been me. Take me or leave me.

What if I am a mediocre home manager who rarely dusts and mostly maintains order and makes real food but sometimes buys pizza and who is horrified at moments by the utter mess in some areas of her home? Who loves to menu plan and budget but then breaks her own rules and pushes back against rigidity. Who doesn’t care about decorating and fancy things. Whose home is humble but safe.

What if I am not cut out for the frantic pace of this society and cannot even begin to keep up? And see so many others with what appears to be boundless energy and stamina but know that I need tons of solitude and calm, an abundance of rest, and swaths of unscheduled time in order to be healthy. Body, spirit, soul healthy. Am I enough?

What if I am too religious for some and not spiritual enough for others? Non-evangelistic. Not bold enough. Yet willing to share in quiet ways, in genuine relationship, my deeply rooted faith. And my doubts and insecurities.

This will have to be enough.

And if I have been married 21 years and love my husband more today than yesterday but have never had a fairy tale romance and break the “experts” marriage rules about doing a ton of activities together and having a bunch in common. And we don’t. And we like time apart and time together. Is our marriage good enough?

What if I am a mom who delights in her kids but needs time for herself and sometimes just wants to be first and doesn’t like to play but who hugs and affirms and supports her kids in their passions? A mediocre mom who can never live up to her own expectations of good enough, let alone yours.

What if I embrace my limitations and stop railing against them? Make peace with who I am and what I need and honor your right to do the same. Accept that all I want is a small, slow, simple life. A mediocre life. A beautiful, quiet, gentle life.

I think it is enough.

*Note — This article was originally published at A Life in Progress

Great trip!

We made it home from NYC safe and sound. I love seeing my boy, who isn’t a boy any longer. Let me get my complaints out of the way first. I feel like someone took a baseball bat to my legs, knees and feet. I better hurry back to NY because I feel when I’m a little older I won’t be able to make it. The subways are a great feature of NY and if you are with someone who knows them, very efficient. But the steps getting to and from them are daunting. A few have elevators and there are some escalators, but mostly there are steps. My knees aren't crazy about steps. Starting on our third set down in one location I told LJ I thought I saw a sign reading, “Bowels of Hell.” He just laughed and said it seemed accurate.

Except for a few aches and pains the trip was great. With all NYC has to offer, I was only going to see people, LJ and Collin top the list, of course. This time there was a bonus. My niece lives there too and we managed to connect for a quick lunch, we got in at noon and she was flying out at six. She’s moving to Texas and she and her boyfriend were heading there to find an apartment. This younger generation does move around.

We did see Beautiful and I loved every minute of it. It just made my heart happy to hear the music I grew up with. LJ knew one of the cast and we got to talk with him afterwards. I definitely recommend the play to anyone heading that way.

We got to eat with three of LJ childhood friends who also live in the city and I loved seeing them all grown up and with some impressive jobs. One friend had her son with her – a delightful child! He’s four and played quietly with his toys as we ate and visited. His mother never offered him her cell phone and he never asked for it – he entertained himself with toys! I was impressed.

On the last night there we had dinner with LJ and Collin and their dear friend, the girl who officiated at their wedding. We had a wonderful time but I was truly dreading getting back to the hotel. The walk from the subway to the restaurant was just under a mile and I wasn’t sure which train we should take when we got there, though I have no doubt Nick knew, then a half mile trek back to the hotel from that subway stop and I was tired!

We had talked about how much walking we’d done – I average 3,000 steps a day at home and on our second day there it was just under 20,000 steps. We saw LJ’s friend texting as we all came out of the restaurant to say good-by. I was trying to get my bearing for heading to the subway when she told us, “Don’t worry I just ordered you a car. It’ll be here in four minutes.” I was so thankful. As we thanked her I asked if it was better to pay with cash or a credit card. She answered, “It’s already paid for, including tip. All you have to do is thank the driver and get out at your hotel.” We may hear people gripe and make fun of millennials, but the ones I know are fantastic!

I learned, or at least remembered, some things on this trip. I don’t like NYC. I don’t like the traffic, the confusion, the noise and mostly the crowds! But I was also struck by LJ’s complete joy in his adopted city. He loves every bit of it, he thrives there and I’m so grateful he had the desire and the courage to make his dreams come true. I love seeing my children happy.

Just thought I’d add one shot of my two favorite men in the world, Nick and LJ.

Traveling

I hope everyone who celebrates Easter had a wonderful holiday weekend. Ours was on the quiet side and for the first time in thirty years, the Easter Bunny didn’t stop by. I suppose because there were no children here. Mollie is on spring break and she took off with her teaching partner, her partners two daughters and their grandmother for a girl’s trip to New York. They will meet up with LJ and Collin at some point for a good visit and Mollie has a cousin there also so they are planning to go out one night. They saw Wicked Saturday night and that seems to have been a hit with all ages.

Nick has this week off too so we planned to follow in Mollie’s footsteps and head to the Big Apple ourselves. Mollie flies home Tuesday and we fly up on Wednesday, causing Collin to ask, “Has there been a falling out that we don’t know about?” We’re honestly not trying to avoid Mollie, it just worked out this way.

At the moment, it seems that Mollie has taken all the warm sunny weather for her trip and is leaving us with rain in the sixties – grrrrr… but we’ll survive. LJ asked if there was a play we’d like to see and there was! We now have tickets for ‘Beautiful’. I can’t wait, I grew up on Carole King’s music and all who have seen this say it’s incredible.

I know this trip will be good for us, we haven’t been to see the boys since their wedding in 2013, we’ve seen them, but they’ve come to us. I’m not a traveler. I know that’s what retirement is supposed to be all about, but I’m a home body. Should I ever be put on house arrest my first thought would be ‘Thank God!’. That doesn’t mean I haven’t loved every trip I’ve ever been on, I have. But I’m a hermit at heart and I love my cave.

Don’t know if I’ll have my computer or not, but I’ll be around here one way or another.

Cassie’s gone to meddling

Cassie’s been with me for fifty years. Just as a companion. She’s always eager to share her stories with me and I’m always eager to listen. But lately, as we’ve gotten closer and closer to the same age, she is definitely starting to meddle.

We’re going to a big family wedding the end of April. As it happened it’s another gay wedding. My cousin’s son and his boyfriend are ready to tie the knot. But unlike LJ and Collin’s wedding which was basically a wonderful party in a bar, this wedding is going to be the wedding of the season with a large rehearsal dinner, late afternoon wedding, dinner, dancing and an open bar.

If you’ve read here long you should know – I don’t do fancy. I’ve worn one dress since August of 2003. I didn’t like it. Dresses also require shoes – other than flip flops or tennis shoes. I don't like shoes. They hurt my feet and if they have any heel I'd probably kill myself. So I’ve been worrying about what to wear to this upcoming wedding. Monday I headed out in search of a wedding outfit – pants with a pretty blouse.

Then Cassie decided to stick her nose into my business. As I was looking for some nice pants, she basically told me that ‘women of our age’ needed a dress or two. But I don’t like dresses I explained in my head. She gave me a look and said no more.

I ended up with two dresses and two pair of shoes.

Cassie has gotten me half way through her tenth book, but she is going to have to stick to telling me stories and stay out of my wardrobe.

Ronnie is crazy

* I didn't know what Ronnie was posting today, but I find the timing amusing! Go by and see what she has to say about canes!

Please know, I just love Ronnie. We’ve been friends for years. I love reading about the way she and P live their lives.  Their relationship has just about the perfect balance of fun and discipline spankings. Why would I say my dear friend is crazy?

It’s her professed love of the f*ing cane!

I never even liked canes when I fantasied about this life style. Once I experienced one in real life – thanks to my dear friend Ronnie sending me one, (thanks Ronnie) I knew I’d been right in my disregard.

This comes up today because Nick used our damn cane (again Ronnie, thanks) this Saturday and my feelings for the cane are the same or possible more negatively. Really, Ronnie, WTF?

All right griping and complaining aside, used sparingly the cane might actually be a deterrent for me if Nick would just be consistent. He wants me to eat healthier, exercise more and in general be healthier. He’ll make vague suggestion, “You ought to…”, “You should try…” and in a normal world in a vanilla relationship that would be fine. I just wish that for once, about one or two things in particular, he would be a bad ass and really lay down the law and be consistent about  enforcement. I have no idea if it would work, but nothing else has and I would so like to give it a try.

Ronnie, I do love you dearly – despite your weird attraction to this implicating of torture. But should ours ever break – by getting caught in a door or some pruning shears or something, please don’t feel you have to replace it.

Cat and Lindy's questions

From Cat – asking everyone the same question that was asked of me several years ago...What four people (and their spouse/partner), living or dead, would you invite for an evening of drinks and dinner?

Hands down I’d want my parents back for a dinner, and I’d want LJ and Mollie there so I could show my folks how wonderfully they turned out. I think I’d also invite two of my aunts who were very important to me growing up. They’ve both been gone around thirty years. That’s one dinner.

My last two I’d like to meet and talk with would be Laura and Almanzo Wilder. There are thousands of people I’d like to meet from the millions that have been here, but with most I’d be too nervous and in awe of them to enjoy myself. But with Laura, I’ve read so much about her life, both her books and those writing about her. I’d love to tell her of life now and how things are done. I’d love for her to know her books are still being read. I’d love to take her to a grocery store, and for a plane ride and to schools and libraries. I guess this would be a little ambitious for a dinner, but it would be so much fun.

Lindy asked -
PK if your Cassie books were made into a movie who would you cast as the characters? Especially Cassie and Tom.

Cassie is easy as can be. In my mind she looks like Ellen Burstyn. Here are a couple of picture that make me think of her.

Now Tom, that’s much harder. There is definitely some Tom Selleck in there maybe a little Sam Elliott too – although Tom is clean shaven.

But this is the picture I’ve found that looks the most like Tom. I don’t know who it is. If you do, please tell me. But this is Cassie’s man.

If you'd like to see the whole cast - go here, and tell me what you think.

Lindy's last questions was: What's the best part of TTWD you enjoy?

That one's easy too. When we actually doing it, I most like the closeness it brings us. We actually look at one another more, we talk more, we smile across a crowd and know what the other is thinking. We make little jokes that no one else would get. We could be out and he brushed his hand lightly across my butt and I feel like I'm his. It's just that we don't really do TTWD very much and I wish we did.