The Mystery of Memories

As promised last month, I’m sharing a few memories with you that travel clear back to my college days.

But first, a huge shoutout to the beautiful country of Ireland. We traveled there in 2017, and it feels fitting to share a picture I took at a children’s park in Dublin. The Irish people are known for their keen sense of humor, and those of you who have read Oscar Wilde, totally get that. At the end of this newsletter, I will be reciting a wonderful poem that our tour guide in Ireland recited from heart. Oscar Wilde didn’t write it, but it’s pretty darn funny!

 In early January, I received a very long email from someone who, at first, did not identify himself. As I read through the email, I soon realized who had sent it. The email began like this: ‘Gay, I found your name and email in The Northwest Nazarene Alumni Directory last published in 2009. Then I trolled you on Facebook. I bought TAKE THREE. It came today.’ (for those of you unfamiliar with TAKE THREE, it’s my memoir, one which I published in 2020.)

The email was awesome because it gave me a wonderful glimpse into the life of a friend I’d known since my teen years: David Peterson. As Dave caught me up on all that had gone on in his life, his marriage to Linda, their two beautiful children and grandkids, I was surprised by how similar our paths were. Like my husband, Jim, Dave was a numbers guy and at one time had worked in retail. His wife, Linda, like me, had at one time been a third-grade teacher. Dave and Linda had a son and daughter; Jim and I have a son and daughter.

Dave had begun reading my memoir and noticed that some of the people in my book were friends or in some cases, relatives of his family members. It was an absolute delight discovering that my longtime pastor had been related to Dave’s parents. Go figure! I had never known that but had often wondered why Dave’s grandmother was a frequent visitor at my church.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road, the part that reveals how incredibly different memories can be for the individuals experiencing them! In the first part of Dave’s email, he indicated that we had met for the first time at the small college we both attended out in Nampa, Idaho. Now, mind you, as I’m reading this, my mouth flying open, I am pondering Dave's account of this recollection.

In an effort not to embarrass or contradict Dave, I did not share with him the fact that I had actually gone out on a date with him in high school. It was a double date with his cousin who I had an immense crush on. However, I was Dave’s date and his cousin, Tom was cuddling up with a beautiful, bubbly girl with strawberry blonde hair.

So, there you have it: I had dated a guy who totally blocked out the fact that we’d gone out on a date. I mean, that’s a real ego booster for sure, right?

Being the good Christian girl that I am, I didn’t share that juicy morsal with Dave when I emailed him back. And, to be honest, I was intent on getting another review for my memoir up there on Amazon; which, I promptly received. Dave posed as Papa Dave on Amazon and gave me a 5-star review. Still, I can’t help but wonder how many other fellas I dated forgot all about going out with me. I mean, no one wants to be ‘unforgettable.’

The thing that intrigued me as I read Dave’s email and he shared details about his family, I’m thinking, ‘Dave, your wife and I are Facebook friends. I know all about your kids and grandkids!’ But again, I was focused on that 5-star review on Amazon, so I kept that part to myself in my email to him. I mean, grandfathers like to brag about their families, right? Why should Dave be any different?

On Valentine’s Day I published FORGOTTEN DREAMS on Amazon and sales are going well. For those who read it, please consider posting a review on Amazon. Reviews truly do help potential readers decide if they want to purchase a book. I always check reviews before  purchasing books to read.

I’ve got some cool stuff coming up in the spring. On March 25th, I’ll be speaking at the golf course community across the street from me, Heritage Ranch, about my memoir. It’s an amazing group of wonderful people over there and one of their book clubs will be hosting me. The other event is in McKinney, Texas at a place called GATHER. I’ll be reading an excerpt from one of my cozy mysteries, KILLER IN THE CHOIR and then doing a book signing. I’m meeting some awfully wonderful people when I do public speaking. (Y’all know how much I love to talk!)

I’m so grateful to good friend, Sandy McKinney for getting me involved in a writer’s group in the DFW area. It’s so inspirational to see what other writers in the industry are working on. I’m working hard on getting my third cozy mystery, Arson in the Alto Section out by June.

Please encourage your friends to sign up for my newsletter and remember, if you do, I’ll enter you in a drawing with a chance to win a free book. If you enjoy this newsletter, consider forwarding it to friends who love to read. And now, here’s that adorable Irish poem I promised you earlier.

May those who love us, love us;

And those who don’t, may God turn their hearts;

And if He can’t turn their hearts,

May He turn their ankles,

So, we’ll know them by their limping

  All My Best,

Gay