This is the best time I can think of to write about my late husband Bob and his work as a rocket scientist. He began his career working on the development of the US Air Force’s Minuteman III MIRV ballistic missile weapon system, serving as the Manager of Systems Engineering and Test for the Minuteman Program Office in charge of the testing of the weapon system. Other management work included the development of real-time software for the Hard-site Defense system, a US Army development of an operational anti-ballistic missile system. This assignment included almost two years in residence at the Kwajalein atoll engaged in live testing of the radar and software product against live Minuteman III launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base in CA. In his work in aerospace, he served as the Systems Engineering & Integration Manager for the NASA AXAF (Chandra) x-ray telescope spacecraft and Program Manager for the ROCSAT satellite program for the Republic of China on Taiwan, which … [Read more...]
A must see movie!!!
I've been raving about a new Emma Thompson movie for a couple of weeks. I think it's so good I've already seen it twice. It's called "Good Luck to You Leo Grande." And though it will probably appeal more to older women like me, I think the acting and the script and the directing will appeal to others as well. But of course that's me being partial. Besides being about an older woman's experience with a young handsome and paid-for sex worker, a major theme is how she learned to love and respect her body and her face after a whole life of putting herself down. Actually I'm not the only one who liked it. The other night three of us sat in my living room watching Leo Grande on my sixty-five inch television screen. And one of the women reported her reaction in her blog the next day: "I had a very interesting evening yesterday. My friend Madeline invited me and our friend Carol to her apartment to watch a movie. Madeline had seen it a few days before and not only recommended it but … [Read more...]
Shame on them!
"Shame is a psychological autoimmune disease, the mind trying to eat itself." I’ve been thinking about shame today, and the most I can come up with is how I feel after watching the January 6 select committee hearings this morning. How Mr. Trump and his allies Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman treated people who didn’t obey their requests to overturn the election or go along with their lies about the work of honest election officials. Our whole country should feel shame about how these politicians acted and are still acting and how, at least in my estimation, they will eventually get away with their appalling and illegal behaviors. I watched a young women named Shaye Moss as she gave her testimony to the committee. She had been a loyal election worker for many years and loved helping people – especially the older adults – vote, either in person or by mail. And now, after the lies that she and her mother stuffed the ballot boxes with votes for Biden and the life threats she … [Read more...]
Not home yet
Next week I'll have lived at Fountainview at Gonda in Playa Vista California for one year. And I still can’t call it my home. It’s supposed to be, but to me it’s just a building with six stories, common areas consisting of a living room, dining room, library, gym, theater, bar, and a big room called the events center. All those rooms are nice looking but mostly empty. Because of Covid and staff losses, we haven’t eaten together in the dining room for months except for a few special occasions. My apartment is on the fourth floor. It’s a corner unit so it gives me a little more space and a wrap-around deck. I furnished my apartment with things from the family home that I sold in Manhattan Beach, and they fit in very well. But that’s because I hired a designer recommended to me who was familiar with Fountainview floor plans. She picked out the pieces of my furniture that would fit best here. And to make it more homey, I kept and display artifacts, pictures, books, crystal, depression … [Read more...]
A poem for Uvalde, Texas
President Biden Said losing a child Is like tearing A piece out of your soul. I know. I lost a son. And yesterday nineteen Sets of parents In Uvalde, Texas Lost their precious Little boys and girls too. No amount of prayers Will ever take away Their pain. I know. My pain Stays in my heart After twenty-three years. And that we allowed it To happen. That we didn’t restrict An eighteen-year-old From buying An assault weapon, Designed and intended Only to be used In battlefields And not to bloody Schools or grocery stores Or places of worship. We must stop These horrors – The killing of Innocent people Just wanting To live normal lives. We must stop The pain and The pieces of our souls From tearing away. … [Read more...]
On sale during Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in its honor, my memoir, Leaving the Hall Light On, is on sale for $0.99 until May 31. SHOP HERE My memoir has been lauded as a mental health resource. Here are excepts from a few reviews: Leaving the Hall Light On has undoubtedly assisted those affected by mental illness and suicide in one way or another to feel less alone. Many thanks to Sharples for sharing such a tragic story of love and loss and also for offering resources for guidance and help at the end of her book. I applaud her courage and honesty, and believe her story will help those who may be going through similar experiences. I bought Leaving the Hall LIght On about 2 weeks ago. I read it voraciously. Why? Because I am a mother who lost her son to suicide in Nov. 2021. He was Bi-polar. I could've written parts of this book as well. Madeline Sharples as a grieving mother is very honest about her pain, her son's pain, husband's pain and the periphery … [Read more...]
Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley is a must-read!
Choices is very happy to host Linda Stewart Henley while she's on her Women on Writing WOW! virtual book tour. Her book, Waterbury Winter, a heart-warming novel about ordinary people reclaiming their dormant potential, celebrates the restorative value of art and the joy to be found in keeping promises. And especially for Choices, Linda has also written about the advantages of hiring an editor to ready our books for publication. I agree. Editors have been so valuable when I was getting ready to publish my books as well. Here's Linda: WHAT A DIFFERENCE AN EDITOR MAKES by Linda Stewart Henley When my debut novel Estelle was accepted for publication my first reaction, not surprisingly, was one of exhilaration. I had written a novel that had caught someone’s attention, and I would become an author. Then reality set in. How could the publisher judge its worth from only the first fifty pages? Maybe it wasn’t good enough. Maybe I would embarrass myself by sending it out into the … [Read more...]
Remembering Madeleine Albright
"Madeleine Albright, the first female US secretary of state and who helped steer Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War, has died. She was 84 years old. The cause was cancer, Albright's family said in a statement Wednesday. "Albright was a central figure in President Bill Clinton's administration, first serving as US ambassador to the United Nations before becoming the nation's top diplomat in his second term. She championed the expansion of NATO, pushed for the alliance to intervene in the Balkans to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing, sought to reduce the spread of nuclear weapons, and championed human rights and democracy across the globe." (CNN) Albright's funeral was held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. yesterday where family, friends and colleagues from around the globe who gathered member her. I was especially taken by Hillary Clinton's remembrances. Clinton, who also served as secretary of state, shared very personal memories with … [Read more...]
Beating the heat in Palm Springs
I met my dear friend, Eleanor, in Palm Springs and we had a wonderful time. Since the weather was unseasonably hot - up to one hundred degrees - we found a wonderful inside diversion. The Palm Springs Art Museum has a great collection. Here are a few samples: The above is in the entry hall. Looking down inside of it, seems like looking at forever. A must see. Of course Picasso is represented. I also saw works by some of my other favorites, including Chihuly, Agam, and Vasarely. And of course we had to have some lunch, so we chose the museum's grille. We sat outside amidst the cactus gardens and sculpture, very close to the pool. The food we ate was so good, I couldn't stop gorging. After lunch we decided to risk the heat and visit the giant statue of Marilyn Monroe, called Forever Marilyn. It was well worth it. Bob and I saw it in 2012 when it first arrived in Palm Springs. I was very happy it is still there so I could see it again. Marilyn is definitely a forever … [Read more...]
I’m binging on Red Oaks
I don't do it very often, but the last few nights I've been binging on a television series called Red Oaks. My friend turned me on to it, and I'm finding it very entertaining. What peaked my interest is that the story starts out with the lead character playing the part of a tennis coach at the Red Oaks Country Club. Of course that led me to think about my tennis and country club days and of my son who currently works as a tennis coach. Plus the tennis shown in Red Oaks is pretty good to watch. But that's not all that goes on. Here's what Google has to say about it: "It's the summer of 1985, and NYU student David lands a summer job at the Red Oaks Country Club in New Jersey. As the assistant tennis pro, he rubs elbows with the clientele, as well as his fellow employees. And they all have advice to offer him on how he should be planning for the rest of his life. His father urges him to buckle down and improve his grades ("a C is a Jewish F!" he tells his son, just before collapsing … [Read more...]
Is Mahjong for me?
I've agreed to meet with three other women and learn to play Mahjong - a very popular game in the retirement community where I live. I think I played it once before way back in the seventies when I lived in the South Pacific. But I can't remember anything about it. Back in my younger days I played all kinds of card games. I learned Bridge in high school and played it until I married my first husband in 1961. I also played Canasta in those days - I remember playing it with eight decks of cards. And, my dad taught me to play Gin Rummy when I was quite young. He was an expert player and teacher. I also played War and Go Fish as a little girl. But I haven't played any of those games in years. So what is Mahjong's attraction? Probably because it's a way to socialize and make friends where I live, though I don't expect it will become an addiction. And now that I've committed to learning the game, I've done a bit of research. Here's what I've found out: A brief description: Mahjong or … [Read more...]
My smoking story
I wrote this piece for my memoir class last week. I don't think I've ever written about this subject before - so I thought I'd share it here. Bottom line: I feel very lucky I was able to quit smoking when I did and be able to live and write about it. *** In the mid 1950s fifties when I was in high school, the thing to do was smoke. No one thought anything was wrong with it. Even our major movie and radio stars smoked and looked so beautiful or handsome in their cigarette ads. And doctors endorsed certain cigarette brands. I hung with a smallish group of girls and boys. We didn’t go on many real dates, but we knew how to party. Most Saturday nights my best friend Sylvia would have us over and we’d gather in her dark basement to dance, eat, smoke, and make out. Either her parents were not home or didn’t pay attention to us if they were. We also went to one of the boys’ houses after school. It was there that I first heard Elvis Presley sing Blue Suede Shoes. Every time we were there … [Read more...]
The journaling power of self-love
I'm so glad to introduce you to Mari L. McCarthy and her book, Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book, today on Choices. We are honored to highlight her theories on making our lives vibrant through journaling. You've probably read about the importance of journaling here at Choices many times before. We are so glad Mari is such a practicing advocate. Book Summary Want the cure for culture chaos? Grab your pen and pad and prescribe yourself, Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book. The news, the fear, the media, the texts, the constant bombardment of electronic sludge. It can all tear you down and rip you away from being YOU! You can choose to give into this madness and be manipulated into submission. Or you can join the Journaling Power Revolution, reconnect with your higher self, and love yourself without conditions. In her third book, award-winning international bestseller author Mari L. McCarthy reveals a journaling power path that leads to an … [Read more...]
A little death mixed in with protest
In my writing group last Tuesday we were offered two prompts: write a protest piece or write about death. I decided to write a little about both. Have a look: *** I think it’s appropriate given the time we’re living in to protest Vladimir Putin. From what I read and hear the man has gone crazy. Even Ted Cruz says he’s “off.” And that’s saying a lot coming from Cruz who’s mind and actions are always the opposite of what’s good for our country. Anyway, back to Putin. He has a face that looks blank – a flat affect they say in the mental illness world. He never shows any expressions. Plus it’s gotten rounder and whiter and wrinkle free – he must be getting Botox injections, so maybe the Botox is making him act off. What Putin is doing by invading Ukraine is not only bad for Ukraine and Russia, it’s bad for the world. If he presses the wrong button – which a crazy man is likely to do – he could start World War III and end it for all of us. He’s now moving in multitudes of military … [Read more...]
I was hacked and scammed
The last couple of weeks have been horrendous. I was hacked and almost scammed out of all the money I had in my bank savings account. Thankfully my bank fraud team saved me from myself, and all my funds are still in tact. However, this episode created a lot of worry and work: changing checking and savings account numbers, getting a new debit card, and notifying all my contacts who need those numbers for deposits to or debits from my accounts. It's almost two weeks and I still haven't finished that task. I also brought my computer guy in to clean any related stuff off my computers and do an anti-virus scan. The thing that bothers me the most is how stupid I was to allow this to happen although my bank told me that it happens all the time. They said people of my generation are too nice. We should be hanging up on people who we suspect - don't even answer one of their questions. Just hang up. Great advice. I think I've learned my lesson. I'm sure I won't let it happen to me … [Read more...]
Aging fears and prejudices
The prompt at my writing group last week was to write about our fears and prejudices regarding aging. Look at what happens when we have no value as sex objects. Look at the discounting of women older than we are. Here is what I wrote: The other evening I had a conversation with a friend about aging and how aging women are treated these days. This woman and I are the same age – born in the same year – and we’re both pretty fit for being eighty-one, since we both exercise every day and have been exercising regularly since we were thirty-six. I started walking every morning on March 23, 2020 – the day my gym closed because of COVID and have not missed a day since. We are both, I’d say, not too bad looking since the wrinkles and sags haven’t taken over our faces yet, and, most importantly, have all our faculties. We can have a coherent conversation on most subjects. In those respects I find myself pretty lucky. I also feel lucky since I’m still writing – I write a short poem … [Read more...]
Writing life woes
I feel like I'm not putting in enough writing time these days. I still write my short - ten-minute - poem every morning and a journal entry every night before I go to bed, but I have three started memoirs that I need to work on and finish once and for all. But all is not grim. I still attend my memoir class every week and read a piece there at least twice a month. I also still write in my writing group the first and third Tuesdays of the month. At the start we're given a prompt, write for about forty-five minutes, and then read what we've written in real time to the group. I have that opportunity this afternoon. As always, it's very nerve racking. Here are four recent poems I wrote lately about my current writing life. Why do I keep at it? Why am I so obsessed? I don’t have to write A poem a day I don’t have to write A journal entry every day. But still I sit down here And open my computer, pull Up my ten-minute poem doc And scroll down To the end, Three hundred and Thirty-two … [Read more...]
