By some fluke of television programming, I watched the season finale of Criminal Minds where JJ is reassigned to the Pentagon. So, that was the end of the '09-'10 season? I had read a few things online and knew that for part of the following season, JJ was not a part of the BAU team. Seeing it was so much more emotionally gripping than just reading about the changes in the cast. Anyway, part of her exit interview voiceover resonated with me and I had to write it down.
"This isn't what I want, but I'll take the high road. Maybe it's because I think of everything as a lesson, or because I don't want to walk around angry. Or maybe it's because I finally understand. There are things we don't want to happen but have to accept. Things we don't want to know but have to learn. And people we can't live without but have to let go."
My life has been full of those things, and like them or not, they've had a strong influence over who I am today. I wasn't always so 'zen' about them. I fought change tooth and nail, railed against injustices to me and generally hated the world. At some point, I chose to see lessons in things and make an effort to be and see positivity around me, regardless of the "reality" bombarding me at every turn.
I'm on the outs with my family. I don't really know why. I know what I've been told, but there's something else, unarticulated, at the heart of it. I didn't want this to happen, but I'm learning I have to just accept it and move on. My relationship with my core family will never be the same, and it's their loss, but it's mine, too.
I don't want to know anything about child abuse or pedophilia, and I've had to learn them anyway. Those things in particular have taught me a lot about how strong I am and how much I want to survive regardless of the obstacles. My experiences have shaped me, and more important to me, have helped other people when I've shared them.
My daughter is married now, with a just-now one-year-old son, and is moving to Italy with her Air Force husband. I never thought I'd have to lose that relationship until I died, but I have. As an extension, I've lost my relationship with my only grandchild. That one is hitting the hardest. I don't understand it at all. This change can't all be chalked up to teenage rebellion or new marriage or new baby or adjusting to military life or moving to a new home/city/country, though those are easy excuses readily at hand. So I'm attempting to let go with love and see what I can learn from this hurtful experience other than "keep your heart closed - no hurt that way."
So, last night, I cried watching those last few minutes of Criminal Minds. Today, I cry again, thinking about why those words were so powerful.
Showing posts with label child abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child abuse. Show all posts
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Rest of the Books, Part I
I checked out all these books at the library, and no money changed hands anywhere.
Suzanne Brockman, Hot Pursuit: this is one of the FBI series I mentioned in another blog post about Brockman's books. Turns out, I'd read this one before, and just didn't feel like re-reading, but I do remember that I enjoyed it the first time, so go, read!
Hot Pursuit: A Novel
Nora Roberts, Carolina Moon: small-town girl survives an abusive childhood, leaves home and decides to return to the small town to bury some old memories. There's action, romance, suspense, and a twist that I didn't see coming. Good, solid, Nora Roberts read.
Carolina Moon
Jayne Ann Krentz, Smoke in Mirrors: librarian leaves her full-time job to investigate the death of a friend. Decent action, solid mystery and the killer is not who you think it is. I'd read this one before, but didn't realize it until I was a pretty good way in, so I just kept reading. I enjoyed reading it again.
Smoke in Mirrors
Carla Neggers, The Whisper: blah, with an extra helping of blah, and a side of blah, to boot. This was a continuation of another Neggers book, which I recall enjoying a lot. This one, not so much. There were too many references to past events (possibly two books, one for sure, because I read it), and too much of this book was taken with those references, leaving not enough of this book about this book's events and plot points. Until near the end, I wasn't even sure there was a romance in this book, even though I know that Neggers writes romantic suspense. Overall, this book was a disappointment. It might even be a strong enough disappointment that I won't pick up another of her books for quite a while.
The Whisper
J. D. Robb, Fantasy in Death: Nora Roberts alter-ego writes another Eve Dallas romantic suspense novel, and I enjoyed this one immensely! I loved all the tech talk, knowing that some of this tech is available now, even if only to the military. It's an interesting whodunit, and though the killer is foreshadowed, I wasn't sure until the end where Eve starts figuring it out and setting up her sting.
Just a few examples why I love Robb's Eve Dallas:
Peabody's dissecting the amorous activity of one of the suspects, and overloads Eve, who replies, "See now I've got this image of some cock sitting at a swim-up bar at a resort, wearing sunshades and drinking one of those stupid drinks full of fruit and paper umbrellas." I actually laughed out loud at the visual!
Eve and Roark are finishing up some alone time and Eve tells Roark, "Lawyers and shrinks and suspects," to which Roark replies, "Oh my." Eve just looks at Roark, puzzled. I love that Eve is not afraid to not know something. She knows that nearly anyone is more tuned into pop culture than she is, and she's OK with that.
And, last, her opinion on parties: "...because that's the problem with parties. You have to get dressed up then talk to a bunch of people you'll probably never see again and you don't care about their opinions or life stories anyway." A woman after my own heart, though I tend to attend parties where I actually know someone. If I don't know anyone, what's the point of going? lol
Fantasy in Death
Maggie Shayne, Charlaine Harris and Barbara Hambly, Night's Edge: three novellas about the things that go bump in the night. I enjoyed each of these shorts, though I most enjoyed the last one, Someone Else's Shadow by Barbara Hambly. Suspense, romance and action, in little bite-sized pieces. lol
Night's Edge: Dancers in the Dark\Her Best Enemy\Someone Else's Shadow
Suzanne Brockman, Hot Pursuit: this is one of the FBI series I mentioned in another blog post about Brockman's books. Turns out, I'd read this one before, and just didn't feel like re-reading, but I do remember that I enjoyed it the first time, so go, read!
Hot Pursuit: A Novel
Nora Roberts, Carolina Moon: small-town girl survives an abusive childhood, leaves home and decides to return to the small town to bury some old memories. There's action, romance, suspense, and a twist that I didn't see coming. Good, solid, Nora Roberts read.
Carolina Moon
Jayne Ann Krentz, Smoke in Mirrors: librarian leaves her full-time job to investigate the death of a friend. Decent action, solid mystery and the killer is not who you think it is. I'd read this one before, but didn't realize it until I was a pretty good way in, so I just kept reading. I enjoyed reading it again.
Smoke in Mirrors
Carla Neggers, The Whisper: blah, with an extra helping of blah, and a side of blah, to boot. This was a continuation of another Neggers book, which I recall enjoying a lot. This one, not so much. There were too many references to past events (possibly two books, one for sure, because I read it), and too much of this book was taken with those references, leaving not enough of this book about this book's events and plot points. Until near the end, I wasn't even sure there was a romance in this book, even though I know that Neggers writes romantic suspense. Overall, this book was a disappointment. It might even be a strong enough disappointment that I won't pick up another of her books for quite a while.
The Whisper
J. D. Robb, Fantasy in Death: Nora Roberts alter-ego writes another Eve Dallas romantic suspense novel, and I enjoyed this one immensely! I loved all the tech talk, knowing that some of this tech is available now, even if only to the military. It's an interesting whodunit, and though the killer is foreshadowed, I wasn't sure until the end where Eve starts figuring it out and setting up her sting.
Just a few examples why I love Robb's Eve Dallas:
Peabody's dissecting the amorous activity of one of the suspects, and overloads Eve, who replies, "See now I've got this image of some cock sitting at a swim-up bar at a resort, wearing sunshades and drinking one of those stupid drinks full of fruit and paper umbrellas." I actually laughed out loud at the visual!
Eve and Roark are finishing up some alone time and Eve tells Roark, "Lawyers and shrinks and suspects," to which Roark replies, "Oh my." Eve just looks at Roark, puzzled. I love that Eve is not afraid to not know something. She knows that nearly anyone is more tuned into pop culture than she is, and she's OK with that.
And, last, her opinion on parties: "...because that's the problem with parties. You have to get dressed up then talk to a bunch of people you'll probably never see again and you don't care about their opinions or life stories anyway." A woman after my own heart, though I tend to attend parties where I actually know someone. If I don't know anyone, what's the point of going? lol
Fantasy in Death
Maggie Shayne, Charlaine Harris and Barbara Hambly, Night's Edge: three novellas about the things that go bump in the night. I enjoyed each of these shorts, though I most enjoyed the last one, Someone Else's Shadow by Barbara Hambly. Suspense, romance and action, in little bite-sized pieces. lol
Night's Edge: Dancers in the Dark\Her Best Enemy\Someone Else's Shadow
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Got another one
Got another one of those emails from my mom today.
After reading it, I wondered again if she really thinks I'm so stupid that I don't know what needs to be done to get ready to move by the end of April.
Oh, and apparently sending me birthday money gives her government over said money. I took myself and Mrs Potatohead out to dinner one night. We got cheap appetizers for meals and free guacamole. We had a good time getting out of the house. It didn't cost us much. Nonetheless, my thank you note raised her ire and I was informed that I need to stop going out to eat so much.
I wonder what I did in a previous life that I'm paying for now? No use wondering when she'll realize what she's doing.
I do have a lot to do to get ready. So much stuff to get rid of. >sigh<
After reading it, I wondered again if she really thinks I'm so stupid that I don't know what needs to be done to get ready to move by the end of April.
Oh, and apparently sending me birthday money gives her government over said money. I took myself and Mrs Potatohead out to dinner one night. We got cheap appetizers for meals and free guacamole. We had a good time getting out of the house. It didn't cost us much. Nonetheless, my thank you note raised her ire and I was informed that I need to stop going out to eat so much.
I wonder what I did in a previous life that I'm paying for now? No use wondering when she'll realize what she's doing.
I do have a lot to do to get ready. So much stuff to get rid of. >sigh<
Monday, January 31, 2011
Facebook Friends
There are some people with whom I do not wish to be connected on Facebook. My ex-husband is among them. I really wish that when I clicked the little X, he really would disappear from the people Facebook suggests, but no such luck. He keeps popping up.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Book Review: Torn Apart by Sharon Sala
Katie and J.R. are a married couple in Bordelaise, Louisiana. The couple has a deep love for one another and solid commitment to the marriage and to raising their son together. They are experiencing some realistic problems - he's away from home a lot for his job, and she's still grieving over her parents' deaths.
Life throws in a monkey wrench, as life is wont to do, and this seemingly tiny thing puts a serious crimp in the marriage, leaving the two living apart, with neither willing to move forward on a divorce.
On Dad's weekend with Bobby, a big storm hits, one that does serious damage in the Gulf of Mexico, and touches down twisters in other parts of Louisiana, including Bordelaise. As this twister rocks through Bordelaise, Katie and J.R.'s son, Bobby, goes missing.
Now, we get to the meat of the book.
What happens next is heartbreaking, and yet shows the lengths to which people will go for each other in times of life-threatening peril. The story of how Katie finds herself, and how J.R. returns to Bordelaise, and how together they find Bobby is gripping and heart-wrenching and life-affirming, and unstintingly straightforward. Sala tackles two incredibly difficult subjects - child abuse and mental illness, and does it without hesitation.
If this book is a random sample of the caliber of Sala's writing, I cannot recommend her highly enough. I'd never read anything by Sharon Sala before, and I'm going to hit the library to find some more, as quickly as I can. I hope the rest are as good as this one.
I got this book in a free sample pack of books from MIRA. MIRA offers these trial packs to anyone, and had no expectation that I would do anything for them in return.
Life throws in a monkey wrench, as life is wont to do, and this seemingly tiny thing puts a serious crimp in the marriage, leaving the two living apart, with neither willing to move forward on a divorce.
On Dad's weekend with Bobby, a big storm hits, one that does serious damage in the Gulf of Mexico, and touches down twisters in other parts of Louisiana, including Bordelaise. As this twister rocks through Bordelaise, Katie and J.R.'s son, Bobby, goes missing.
Now, we get to the meat of the book.
What happens next is heartbreaking, and yet shows the lengths to which people will go for each other in times of life-threatening peril. The story of how Katie finds herself, and how J.R. returns to Bordelaise, and how together they find Bobby is gripping and heart-wrenching and life-affirming, and unstintingly straightforward. Sala tackles two incredibly difficult subjects - child abuse and mental illness, and does it without hesitation.
If this book is a random sample of the caliber of Sala's writing, I cannot recommend her highly enough. I'd never read anything by Sharon Sala before, and I'm going to hit the library to find some more, as quickly as I can. I hope the rest are as good as this one.
I got this book in a free sample pack of books from MIRA. MIRA offers these trial packs to anyone, and had no expectation that I would do anything for them in return.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)