Island Fever, Kitties and Hope

Friends, there is so much to be grateful for as Christmas rolls around. Where did the year ever go? Things have been hectic as Barry and I searched Oahu for many moons, looking for affordable rentals that would accept our two precious kitties. Challenges have been accepted and overcome. Love has grown fuller and flourished. Truly, my cup runneth over.

I can’t fathom where the time has gone, though I have been professionally, and personally, busy.

Island Fever

Island Fever: New Mysteries From Hawaii’s Finest Writers, featuring my short story Love Fever, and Second Chances came out this year. My story features my real-life husband Barry in a fictional story about a chiropractic detective who solves a murder. (This is my second short mystery story featuring Detective Barry; the first, Palm It Off On Murder, was published in the anthology, Dark Paradise: Mysteries in the Land of Aloha, in 2017.) And in more good news, our book was MidWeek’s Book Pick of The Week in November! Check out the blog I wrote on the exciting collaboration between myself and ten other fabulously talented authors.

Island Fever, Dark Paradise, and my own true story, Angel Hero, Murder in Hawaii, A True Story will make the perfect gifts for a mystery-lover in your life, by the way. Get them on Amazon.

Kitties

The girls, who do so enjoy your love and comments on their Facebook videos, are quite the little starlets these days. Though feral when we originally met, they’ve become accustomed to us, and have enjoyed living inside our home for a few years now. They bring us such joy.

And isn’t that what it’s all about? A simple exchange of love and affection.

It soothes the soul. Whether romping and playing as hunter and hunted, or lounging lazily in a ray of midday sun, they bring more to us than we could ever give them.

They’re getting ready for their closeup just now, but asked me to invite you to our Angel Hero Facebook page to partake in our joyous exchanges. The more admirers, the merrier, they say.

Hope

And did you hear the recent good news? A single woman (1) – who, on hearing the tragic news of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary years ago, started a nonprofit to get moms who wanted gun reform elected to office – helped to get a whopping ONE HUNDRED FORTY (140) gun control advocates elected this past election cycle.

In total, up to 140 candidates who were volunteers with the organization she founded, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and its newly formed arm, Demand A Seat, were elected to office.

The Washington Post (Fowler, 2022)

140 more people in government to work on this! Can you imagine?

You don’t need to, because Shannon Watts was on the job. As some know, I’m an activist in the gun control area myself. Shannon’s dedication moves me. It inspires me to continue doing what I can, when I can. Shannon said she looked to Mothers Against Drunk Driving for inspiration as she built her organization, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. I couldn’t be prouder of the work she’s done.

Humans give me hope!

Why? We inspire each other to do great things.

Who inspires you? Remember, you don’t have to take it ALL on. The tiniest of action towards making life funnier, kinder, gentler, more interesting, healthier – you name it – for any living thing goes FAR at making the world a better place. And yes, some days that does include making it a better place for yourself.

You are worthy, too.

Don’t forget.

Though the last years have been trying in ways we never imagined, we’re afforded moments of spirit, friendship, and generosity (aloha) moving into 2023. For this moment, day to day duties and their pesky details be darned; nearly lost to memory already in bright glitter and gifts of hope in this blessed season of miracles. Gratitude abounds.

Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays! Happy New Year to you, one and all.

Lizbeth’s essay discussing the devastating reality of her dear friend Vic’s death as a result of gun violence is featured on Bullets into Bells. You can read the essay, Healing Violence Through Activism, on their website by clicking here. Read the entire story, as well as what it was like dealing with the sociopath that murdered Vic in cold blood, in Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story.

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