RANDOM THOUGHTS

Post by Doris McCraw

It's the first Sunday of the month and time for another post. I pondered what I would write about. There are a lot of things on my plate these days.So I've decided Random Thoughts will be my theme. Those who truly know me, well, hang on.

1. My story 'North Star' is in the recently released Medieval Anthology "One Hot Knight". Deciding to participate, I needed to find my story. As someone who loves history, I looked at non-traditional areas for the story setting.There was the large tome about Medieval Spain that was just calling for me to pick it up off the library shelf. What a gold mine. Moors, Spaniards, Italians, French, a Pope and the Reconquista had the story off and running in my head. Hope you all enjoy it.

2. I'm trying to finish up a paper for the Pikes Peak Library District on Doc Susie, Dr. Quinn and the myth of the lone female doctor who had to fight for everything they got. While it was not always easy, the facts and events give lie to some of that myth. If I didn't have to always cite my resources I would have had this paper done weeks ago.

3. And speaking of Female Doctors in Colorado before 1900, for someone who is not fond of doctors, the stories of these women and what they accomplished continues to fascinate and draw me in. An advertisement for a woman doctor appears in the Denver paper in 1873 and the ad cites many male doctors as her references, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

4. Recently was Helen (Hunt) Jackson at the local cemetery walk. I've neglected Helen over the past couple of years. That is sad, for she has many wonderful things to say that are just as important today as they were in the 1800s. Her poetry, stunning. If you ever get a chance, read 'Last Words', 'Two Truths' and 'Emgravit'.You can search online for most of these. Her "Bits about Home Matters" can be found on the Project Gutenberg site.

5. If you haven't read "Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters, go do it right now! You can also this on the Project Gutenberg site.

6. I'll end with some of my favorite quotes:
          Marcus Aurelius:
Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.

Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.

The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.

          Mark Twain:

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.

          Dorothy Parker:

If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.

Don't look at me in that tone of voice.

I hate writing, I love having written.

So those are my random thoughts as I head back to the paper, the novel, the short stories and the photos and haiku. Who says life is boring? Too many stories to tell and books to read. Have a great July! OH, and by the way, don't forget to get your copy of "One Hot Knight". I don't think you will be sorry. **GRIN**

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris also writes haiku posted five days a week at – http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com and has now passed one thousand haiku and photos posted on this blog. Check out her other work or like her Amazon author page:  http://amzn.to/1I0YoeL

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