In Memory of You

3-Page Special Promo Rodneymartin ii

Rodney Martin II was almost born in Minnesota by 2 weeks, but he was born in Memphis, TN instead. Then, after living in Memphis for 5 years, he then moved to Mississippi where he moved 3 more times. There, he attended Mississippi State University. He almost moved to Dallas, TX, but he ended up moving to Virginia instead. While there, he underwent training for the United States Secret Service. But he didn’t let this distract him from his writing, as it has always been his passion. Despite all he went through, from injuries and brushes with death, he never allowed anything to stop him from building worlds with a pen.

In Memory of You Rodney Martin II Inspirational Anthology

An interesting take on storytelling, author Rodney Martin II’s new book is an anthology of stories that make readers think they are the narrator or a character of the story. This story is not what readers expect it to be. It’s like wandering into the dark without a flashlight. But reading this story means that one chooses or wants to get away. It’s like holding the lives of others in one’s hands; not because one is playing God, but simply because. And readers will find out why, as they leaf through the pages of this book, In Memory of You.

EXCERPTS

Scales

I awake to the sound of rain knocking on my window in the old trolley downtown. The weather-man talked about heavy rain, and I guess he wasn’t lying. The tram moves like my grandfather after he got his walker. But riding this thing was what I had to deal with until my car got fixed. I wipe at the window and see the bus stop at a sidewalk I’m not familiar with. A man in a brown trench coat steps down the aisle.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken,” he asks politely, referring to the seat in front me.

“No.” I move my bag from the empty seat and sit it next to my feet. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s quite alright,” he says while sitting.

Now, I usually sit alone, but it was kind of boring on the tram with no one to talk to. I look at the man, who is now ensnared within a small book.

“I ride this tram pretty often; you must be new here?”

The man looks up from his book, slowly examining me.

“Not exactly.”

The vagueness of his speech gave me plenty of reasons to just keep to myself. I mean, after all, it’s really none of my business where he’s from. I look out the window, refraining from any further interaction.

“The ring on your hand, how long have you been married?”

The abrupt question makes me look at him and my hand in rapid succession.

“Oh, we just got married last Saturday. We dated for 4 years,” I say with a winning smile on my face.

“It will not last.”

The words shadow me in dejection.

“I beg your pardon?”

He puts down his book and stares at me now. “The marriage will not last.”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time. Who the hell do you think you are, telling me about my relationship?”

“Is the ring...heavy?”

I look down at my hand.

“What the hell are you talking about?” He grows silent and points outside. “Listen, do you hear the rain? Do you see it as it rolls down the glass?”

I look at the rain, failing to see a point in all this farce. “Yeah. I see the damn rain. What about it?”

“The rain falls from above and touches the glass. Smaller drops combine to make larger drops. But in the end, they always fall apart by losing their previous identity.”

“What are you sayin-”

“Why did you marry?”

“Because I lov-”

“You love your wife? Have you ever thought about the weight of youractions? Your emotions? Intentions?

“You will come to realize that strumming the same guitar, humming thev same song, and tasting the same delicacy from before will only become a grain of sand, of the past.”

“We live to die but die to live. All of this is an individual achievement. There is no sharing, only doing.”

The tram stops after what feels like an hour ride.

“This happens to be my stop,” the man says, rising from his seat.

He exits the tram before I even have time to utter a word. I peer at the ring on my hand.

It’s so damn heavy.

authorjayciemandrell.com

JoyceMclean

Joyce McLean is the great-great granddaughter of Kenneth McKenzie, one of the earlier settlers to Manitoba, Canada, during the formative years of the province and indeed Canada as a country. She grew up on the farm that was passed down from generation to generation within the McKenzie family. In transcribing the journal of Kenneth McKenzie, she wanted to make this firsthand description of life at the dawning of the country accessible to current family members and those to come, as well as any others fascinated with history.

kennethmckenziediary.com

US REVIEW OF BOOKS RECOMMENDED by the US Review

Kenneth McKenzie Diary 1869-1870 Joyce McLean

After farming in Ontario, Canada, for over 20 years, Kenneth McKenzie, an immigrant from Invernessshire, Scotland, travelled from Guelph, Ontario to Burnside, west of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, several times from 1867 to 1870, establishing one of the first farms in the area. This journal, Kenneth McKenzie Diary: 1869-1870, by his great-great granddaughter Joyce McLean, covers four of these trips, via the United States, and the work that went into establishing a home and farm at Burnside. This was at a crossroads in history with first a provisional government lead by Louis Riel, and then the establishment of the Manitoba Government in 1870.

book review by Nicole Yurcaba

“It gave us great courage to hear from all our dear ones at home.”

Kenneth McKenzie was born in 1822 in Inverness-shire, Scotland. In 1841, aged just nineteen, he emigrated to Puslinch, Ontario, Canada, and married three years later. His endeavors as a farmer supported his wife and ten children for twenty years until he established a new farm near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, in 1867. He achieved his ambition to become the first settler of a community, which he named Burnside, situated on the bank of Rat Creek. That farm took years to establish as frequent and arduous travel between Canada and the midwestern United States, prolonged illness, obligations to his family, and maintenance of his existing property slowed his progress. Nevertheless, once solidly established, the new farm remained in continuous operation within the McKenzie family until its sale in 2010.

A man of more action than words, McKenzie made brief entries in a diary he began keeping in 1869. His entries reveal insightful details about farm life and the rigors of nineteenthcentury travel. From livestock and goods prices to glimpses of “good sail on St. Louis Bay & out to Lake Superior,” personal details from an all-but-forgotten part of history make the past tangible for readers.

Being a part of a community was, at times, paramount to survival. And while McKenzie documented the closeness of his frontier community, he also provided stilted entries where readers clearly see that conflict often resulted in disastrous economic and agricultural losses. The most noteworthy of these entries are the March thirteenth and August eighteenth entries from 1871. In March, McKenzie writes, “Fawcett went to stop my sons this day from cutting timber near the woods next to the creek.” Not a single entry exists between March and August, and then the August entry starkly declares, “Fawcett’s two sons shot our cattle.” These terse but chilling lines provide sociological insight into the social constructs of the time.

Another interesting feature of the book is its incorporation of original documents, which make it a unique means of preservation. McKenzie originally wrote his entire diary in pencil. However, one annex contains photos of several pages of McKenzie’s diary manuscript in his own hand, adding an intriguing, visual glimpse into the man himself. The inclusion of numerous entries written on Sundays and that mention church attendance also suggest that McKenzie’s staunch religiosity drove his every action. His revulsion for profanity and underhanded business dealings figures prominently, revealing an understated sensitivity of spirit.

Since its central action occurs in the same era and some of the same American states, this book has about it more than a mere suggestion of the flavor of the Little House on the Prairie book series. The account may also serve as a companion text to Louis Aubrey Wood’s The Red River Colony: A Chronicle of the Beginnings of Manitoba, supplementing the information in that volume with McKenzie’s firsthand recollections. McKenzie’s abstinence from self-adulation throughout contrasts nicely with his descendant’s praise of his various contributions to his new community, making this an even more pleasant read.

Dr.Teresa Cody

Dr. Teresa Cody earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas, then her Dental degree at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston in 1992. The next year she and her new husband, also a dentist, bought a practice in Sugar Land, Texas. Through a sequence of extraordinary events in 2018, Dr. Cody discovered the healing power of Platelet Rich Plasma. PRP for short. PRP is found in the plasma portion of the blood. Everyone has this priceless gift, however, most are unaware of its amazing healing powers which lead her to write her book entitled You Healing You. Her passion is to introduce others to the multiple health benefits of PRP treatments. In February 2019 Dr. Cody opened C & C Wellness to treat patients with PRP and other natural treatments.

Uncaged welcomes Dr. Teresa Cody

Welcome to Uncaged! Your book, You Healing You, talks about how your own blood plasma can help to heal yourself. Why did you write this book and what do you hope that people take away from it?

I wrote the book, You Healing You because I wanted people to know about this excellent and easy way to heal naturally. The plasma contains at least 15 growth factors that direct the healing process.

Do you have any other books planned in the future that you can tell us about?

I may do a follow up with PRP (plasma) and other biochemical hacks.

What are some of your favorite genres to read? Do you settle in with any non-fiction titles?

I like to read non-fiction and scientific studies. This year I have read Vermont Folk Medicine, Cancer and Vitamin C, and The Lost Herbal Remedies.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I have 11 chickens whom I adore.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

It is super relaxing to float in my lazy river.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

I love summer! I love the summer activities especially swimming. I built a lazy river in my backyard and adore floating all summer.

I prefer physical books but also enjoy audiobooks especially when driving. I am reading The Fourth Phase of Water.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I am starting a video series to keep readers up to date with new and old discoveries. C and C Wellness is on Facebook, Instagram and follow my blog on candcwellness.com

Stay Connected

candcwellness.com/contact

Enjoy an excerpt from you Healing you

You Healing You Dr. Teresa Cody Alternative Medicine/ Self Help

Everyone HAs THIS PRICELESS GIFT --- BUT most NEVER DISCOVER IT! Come learn how each and every one of us has a miracle at our fingertips…… Coursing through your bloodstream is a miraculous golden healing liquid called Platelet Rich Plasma [PRP, for short]. PRP contains all the healing factors your body uses to heal. Using this knowledge, we can concentrate this priceless blood component and reintroduce it into your body to heal injuries or as an esthetic treatment. Learn how your own body holds the key to healing. It truly is “you healing you”.

Excerpt

THE MIRACLE INSIDE YOUR BODY

n the mid 1990s, I read a study about stem cells. The researchers knew that stem cells could help spinal cord injuries, but they did not know how they could deliver them to the exact location of the trauma. They injected a mouse with tagged stem cells distant from the trauma. To the researchers’ amazement, the stem cells migrated to the exact location of the trauma and began their job. Healing the damage! The body is a miracle. We have observed this same phenomenon with the healing factors in PRP.

We all have stem cells. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues. We can find them throughout the body. These cells can transform into any cell your body needs— acting as part of the repair system for the body.

There are three accessible sources of your own stem cells:

1. Bone Marrow 2. Adipose tissue (fat cells) 3. Blood

Extracting stem cells from bone marrow requires drilling into bone and harvesting the stem cells. They often come from the thigh bone or hip bone. They also extract stem cells from fat tissue. There is a special centrifuge that can extract your stem cells from your fat cells in about one hour. But don’t get too excited about shedding a bunch of fat; it only requires about 30 cc (ml) which is not much. Option three to access your stem cells is through your blood. Blood runs through a machine and it separates

| Dr. TErESA cODy |

the stem cells from the other blood components. Collected and “minimally manipulated” stem cells are FDA approved. This means no one can grow them in a petri dish and then re-implant them.

A simple way to get stem cells to the site of the injury is to attract them using PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) which is available in your blood. We have known for some time that the platelet portion of the blood is essential to the healing process. At first, we recognized it as the clotting portion of the blood. We now know it also has other functions like inflammation, healing, immunity, and tissue regeneration. These tiny blood components are loaded with growth factors, antimicrobial factors, and tissue regenerative factors.

For example, let’s say you skin your knee. Platelets will ooze into the wound and start the clotting process. At the same time, it releases anti-microbial factors that kill any bacterial infection, then the growth factors kick into gear and direct the healing process whereby the tissue regenerates itself. This is miraculous!

The growth factors are also time released so that they work over a week or more. They attract stem cells and direct new blood vessels to form. With new blood vessels, more blood flows to the injury, bringing more healing factors to the area. The growth factors also stimulate collagen to form and they enhance tissue proliferation and regeneration.

PRP is readily available with a simple blood draw. We spin the drawn blood in a centrifuge. The red blood cells are heavier than platelets, so they sink to the bottom of the test tube. The platelets and plasma float on top of the red blood cells. We pipette off the platelets, the plasma and all those beautiful growth factors. PRP is an excellent resource to concentrate on healing in a specific area. It can boost healing into high gear. Have you ever fed fish in an aquarium? Those fish swim to the surface and gobble down the food. Imagine, your cells are the little fish and the PRP is the food. Your body gobbles up the PRP and loves the growth factors.

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Dr. Zuvarashe JudithMushipe

From her Zimbabwean background and culture come compelling folk tales based on jungle animals. Author Zuvarashe Judith Mushipe humanizes seven jungle animals to impart important lessons on life, community and character. In her Jungle Animals Folk Tales: Children Folk Tales Based on Animals of the Jungle, a children’s book based on fiction, young readers will find themselves immersed in a collection of fables that are meant to teach them good morals.

There are seven stories in this book and each story conveys a strong moral message especially to children of ages 9-15 years old. The stories have good illustrations that are quite captivating. At the end of each story, the readers are asked to list the things they learned from the story. Grown-ups can also find the book appealing as it teaches people about the African culture and that of the Zimbabwean people in particular.

Readers will meet the different animals living in the Animal Kingdom, the Jungle where they play different roles as they interact with each other in good and bad ways. Children will be excited to follow the animal characters as they talk and help each other, just like human beings. Lessons are learned from the way the animals interact and children are asked at the end of every story to write down what they learned. Aside from learning about the Zimbabwean culture, readers will also learn proper ethics that must be upheld in communities and other valuable life lessons.

This book is available online and can be purchased at online bookstores.

About the Author

Zuvarashe Judith Mushipe has a PhD in Business Management / Administration and has been teaching at university level since 1985. She is a mother of four grown children and has four grandchildren. She was born and raised in Zimbabwe. Growing up in rural Zimbabwe in the 1960’s, children listened to adults telling stories as a way of entertainment. The stories were meant to teach children good morals or to know right from wrong. That background influenced her to write the book Jungle Animals Folk Tales and would like to see the stories passed on from generation to generation.

Jungle Animals Folk Tales: Children Folk Tales Based on Animals of the Jungle by Dr. Zuvarashe Judith Mushipe Hardcover: $28.00 | 9781647023379 Publication Date: October 22, 2020 | Pages: 56

Jungle Animals Folk Tales by Dr. Zuvarashe Judith Mushipe had been exhibited in 2022 London Book Fair New Title Showcase on Apr 05, 2022 - Apr 07, 2022

Intentional Blindness

Guest column by Pat Daily