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from the editor.. our amazing advertisers and loyal readers. But I would like to tell each and every one of you that you hold a special place in my heart.
I
was supposed to write an article about organization for this issue. It was going to be something along the lines of “Organization to Simplify Your Life”. I was supposed to have my life in order so I could tell you, the reader, how to do the same. Instead I’m a mess. No, not on the outside. If you met me right now you probably wouldn’t know it unless someone told you. I’m wearing clean clothes, my hair is brushed and i’ve usually got some makeup on. My laundry is all hung up and folded into neat little piles. The dishes in my kitchen are clean. From the outside looking in I’ve got everything together. Most of you don’t know me. I am the quiet, unspoken partner of The Minute Magazine. My sister, Jackie does all of the heavy lifting. She is the face of The Minute and the one making sure that all the balls stay in the air. I on the other hand, don’t have the opportunity to form relationships with many of
We live in a very cynical world. Tragedy surrounds us and sometime it’s difficult to hold on to optimism. Until recently I didn’t fully understand what our magazine represented. When someone would ask me to describe The Minute I would rattle off our slogan without giving it much thought. “At The Minute Magazine we write stories that ‘encourage, enlighten, and inspire’.” Don’t get me wrong, that is a true statement. We do focus on stories that embody those characteristics. I guess I just didn’t understand how our stories could make a real impact in someone’s life. Sure, I’ve shed tears while reading our columnists submissions but I have never felt shaken to my core to make a life altering change in the direction my life was already going. Then again, I’d also never had a real life experience that completely knocked me off course until now. I’ve come to realize that we all really do need a little encouragement, enlightenment, and inspiration sometimes. So here goes... At this difficult time I would like to take the opportunity to share how I am simplifying my life. It’s pretty easy. I start and finish my day with the same thought. I say it over
and over again even when I don’t agree with it. “I WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS DAY.” No matter how difficult the day, no matter how much I want to give up or give in, I repeat those words until I do mean them. It amazes me how much your outlook can change when you are grateful for every situation, every trial, and every complication. I am grateful that this day is easier than the last. I am grateful for a possible tomorrow. I am grateful for my hope that you may be grateful too. In the midst of everything you are facing, be grateful. Count every blessing. Hug every friend and family member. Love your life in spite of all its problems. Understand that success is not measured in money or job titles. It is measured more in the amount of love that you give or the comfort of your home. The memories that you leave behind will last far longer than any salary ever could. Live your life to the fullest and make the most of every minute. I used to think that sentence meant that you should always be working on a new project or learning a new skill. Now I realize that there are so many things that are more important than finding things you are good at. Fill your minutes with laughter. “Waste” time talking about absolutely nothing with people you care about. The importance of tea parties and playing catch can never be measured on
traditional scales. Cherish every smile, touch, and tear. Do all those things and I can assure you, your life will be simplified. That’s all I’ve got. The rest is up to you.
Tiffany Byram
Southern Louisiana Regional Editor
----------------------------------In loving memory of Asher Levi Byram. February 22,2012 May 17, 2012. -----------------------------------
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issue inside this
The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, DeSoto, Ouachita, Red River, Natchitoches, Webster, Lincoln & Orleans Parishes in Louisiana. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” For a list of locations near you, visit www.theminutemag.com today!
JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout
VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager
GLORIA HAYNIE Account Representative
EMILY STARLING
Feature Story & Cover Photography
JENNY REYNOLDS Founder
Circulation & Distribution: James “Shay” Callen Contact Information: Office Phone: 318.263.8350 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 2232 Highway 533 Arcadia, LA 71001
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Barbara Ellis Durbin Anita Goodson Winnie Griggs Laura Horton Jackie Lewis
Seasoned Moments by Barbara Ellis Durbin
Antique Junkie by Donna Arender Louisiana Girl Revelations by April Timmons Natural Beauty by Jackie Lewis A Novel Approach by Winnie Griggs How they do it in Louisiana by Jesse Click PJs Point of View by Phillip Volentine You Never Know by Laura Horton Weeder's Digest by Anita Goodson Life's Blessings by Vicki Caskey Hormonal Woman by Elizabeth Drewett
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.
contributors Donna Arender Tiffany Byram Vicki Caskey Jesse Click Elizabeth Drewett
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April W. Timmons Phillip J. VolentineMelissa Teoulet
cover
Our cover photo was taken by Emily Starling Photography, and our feature model is the beautiful (both inside and out!) Ashley Marie Nygaard.
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-------------------------------------Caribbean Corn Dogs ¾ c. all purpose flour 1/3 c. corn meal ½ t. salt 1 t. baking powder ½ t. paprika ½ t. dry mustard 1/8 t. cayenne pepper 1 egg, beaten ½ c. milk 1 pkg. hot dogs vegetable oil for frying 8-10 popsicle sticks
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Caribbean Corndogs -----------------------------------
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hildren munching on corndogs, fresh from the deep fryer, dart through a back door. Once outside they relish a few extended moments of freedom. Under the cool of white oaks a hammock beckons, and homework assignments are briefly forgotten in the compelling sway and creak of knotted ropes. Seething temperatures and hot sultry winds thrust past the dog days of summer; and give motion to faces in the clouds. Those cumulus billows offer a heavenly umbrella for children swinging in the late afternoon sun. A game of charades quickly causes those batter covered frankfurters to convert to the swords of fighting Caribbean pirates. The hammock becomes the entwined
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rigging of a sixteenth century galleon; and it sets the stage for an infamous battle taking place among the ropes and sails of vivid imaginations. The gently coo of a hidden mourning dove and the faint hum of diesel engines on distant highways, supply background music for this epic adventure. Overripe vegetables peek from within gardens grown into shambled disarray. They, other than guardians angels; are the only audience to so magnificent an encounter. Nature’s timing, its sounds and facets; provide a glorious backdrop to this scene and the nostalgic passage of a season. It is called summer’s end; the name itself provides the symbolic closure to a nonchalant carefree existence. The Caretaker of the Seasons will soon eradicate this time frame. With a mighty move of His hand, the autumn equinox will force breezy cool winds and curled brown leaves to burst upon the scene. Summer will be thrown into long ago closets; and only the gentle sway of a hammock with its cradle of fallen leaves, will serve to remind us of its reality. Faint memories tug tenderly at the weathered ropes of time; as they gently uncover buried recollections from its sands. By gone eras raise their heads momentarily in coffered minds; and are quickly swept away by the winds of change.
Today is here and the new season’s panoramic view places yesterday into apparent oblivion. Oh! How the stream of time drives us forward. Whether we want it or not, eternity has been placed in our hearts by God; and willing or not, our choices propel us toward our unending destiny.
In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients. Stir in egg and milk to form batter. In a large deep pot, pour oil to a depth 2 inches. Wipe hot dogs dry with paper towels and slide hot dogs onto the popsicle sticks. Leave enough of the stick showing to be used as a handle. Dip hot dogs, one at a time, into batter. Place in hot oil and allow to brown on all sides, turning when necessary. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel. --------------------------------------
www.learningrx.com/shreveport
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-------------------------------How Does Your Garden Grow? --------------------------------
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’ve written stories about my flowers before and their sentimental value. When I look into my yard and see the roses, irises, daylilies, hydrangeas, altheas, and other flowers- there is a story attached to each one. They are a reminder of “who” gave them to me and the special relationship with that person. One of my favorites is the bright pink running rose that beautifully cascades over the arbor that is the entry to my garden spot. I got the rose when mom and I went on one of our many wild-
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flower hunting trips. I still laugh every time I think of me being across the fence, inside the pasture, when some MEAN looking bull decided to investigate who was in his territory. Mom was holding up the barbedwire for me to hurry and crawl back under... but I was determined that I was not leaving without the rose since I had worked so hard to dig it up. As the bull picked up speed, so did I... my rose in one hand and a shovel in the other, with my mom cheering me on as if I was running a track meet or something. “FASTER! FASTER!” she said in a worried voice. By this time...I didn’t dare to look back... I just kept on moving as quickly as I could until I was safely under the fence, across the ditch and back to my truck. As we drove away, and started talking about the “near-death” experience I had just encountered... we both burst out laughing hysterically until there were tears streaming down our face. Now, that’s the kind of sweet, wonderful memories I’m talking about when I look at my flowers
outside and it depresses me. I want to jump out there and get everything back in shape all in one day. But the truth is, that’s not gonna happen. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, and long hours to get it near where it used to be. Some of the perennial and wildflowers are still blooming amongst all the weeds, leaves, and limbs that need to be removed. As I stood looking at my little flower garden the other day, I felt like it is a “reflection of my life” in a way. Some of the older bushes and shrubs remind me of the “elders” in my life that are firmly planted with deep roots and have withstood the “storms” of life, and they’ll be around for years to come. Then there are the perennials that are like my friends. They range in variety and color, each one is unique and different, yet very beautiful in their own way. They bloom year after year and continue to be a part of my life; I know I can always count on them. Then there are the annuals that bring a splash of color throughout my garden, but only last for a season. These are like the friends that come into my life for just a little while, and then they are gone. And of course, there are the weeds. Some actually look pretty, but if allowed to stay in with the good plants, they can take over and choke them out. And so it is with some things in our life... that need to be removed in order for us to “grow”.
blooming each year. And, ironically, this particular rose blooms every year... right around Mother’s day! By this time each year, I usually have ferns hanging on the front porch, caladiums planted in the two flower beds on either side of my front steps, impatiens planted in the shady bed underneath the camellia tree, and a few annuals in large flower pots scattered here and there to add a little color. My yard gets very little sun since we have a canopy of large trees. So, I have to stick with plants that like mostly shade with a little bit of sun. I love working in my yard and in my flower beds. It is therapy to my soul. Unfortunately, my schedule has not allowed for much yard work or attention to flower beds in the past couple of years. Every year, I think... I’m going to get a head start next spring and get things back in shape again. Then spring rolls around, the weeds & grass start sprouting up... and before I know it- there’s a jungle ----------------------------------
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Dr. Keitha Smith Ear, Nose & Throat
MINDEN MEDICAL CENTER IS PLEASED TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST PHYSICIAN Dr. Keitha Smith chose to locate her practice in Minden to be closer to her family, but also for the community’s rich cultural heritage and exceptionally friendly people.“I’m looking forward to becoming fully integrated into the Minden community – both personally and professionally.” She brings a vital and growing specialty to our community, OTOLARYNGOLOGY. Louisiana ENT Associates will offer a wide variety of ENT services including: head and neck surgery, facial plastic/reconstructive surgery, allergies, disorders of the ears, nose and throat, as well as cutting edge endoscopic sinus surgery, for both children and adults. Dr. Smith is accepting new patients (ages 6 months and older) at her new practice located at 101 Murrell Street Suite 3 in Minden. Appointments may be made by calling (318) 382-4777. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
EDUCATION MEDICAL DOCTORATE DEGREE University of Arkansas Medical School INTERNSHIP & OTOLARYNGOLOGY RESIDENCY University of Texas – Houston
PERSONAL (V 7QMXL MW E GIVXM½IH (MZI 1IHMGEP 3J½GIV ERH MW ER EZMH WGYFE HMZIV She enjoys traveling as well as riding her motorcycle. She is personally committed to improving her patients’ quality of life and strives to encourage their participation in achieving these goals.
www.mindenmedicalcenter.com #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA 71055 | (318) 377-2321
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Listen with your heart --------------------------------------
A re you listening? Are you hearing? Do you understand
what someone is trying to tell you? As mothers we all know that every cry from our baby means something different. One cry may mean they are hungry; one may be from pain, while another may be “You’ll never sleep again. So ha ha!” These early forms of communications are the beginning of a dance we will learn to dance over our lifetimes. Sometimes we will be “leading” and sometimes we will be “following”. In order to successfully communicate with each other will we have to learn to listen sometimes not only with our ears, but with our eyes. Some of the worst days of my life were watching my sweet brother fight a ventilator after he was burned. He wasn’t awake but he wasn’t really asleep either. For fourteen agonizing days, he chewed the tube, tried to pull it out (unsuccessfully), and tried to talk over it. He was constantly trying to tell us something. He would try and get so frustrated that we could not understand him. We would assure him that he was okay, but he would shake his head furiously. Finally,
after some of his swelling went down around his face I could read his lips. What he said was something I wish I hadn’t heard. “Help me.” Those were the simple words he was mouthing to us. I would say probably one of the most frustrating feelings in the world is feeling like you are not being heard. In our fast paced fast food world, we sometimes forget those who matter the most. We can inadvertently put them at the bottom of our list. They may feel as if they are screaming loud and clear but you have your hands over your ears and eyes wide shut. We get so caught up with life; we can easily become distracted by things that really don’t matter. We can forget that the most primal, foundational need we have is for someone to hear us! The words sometimes don’t come easy and so our actions may not mimic what we actually want and need. It may be a child with her arms stretched up, needing to be held, usually while you have an armful of groceries. It may be a friend that calls for no apparent reason, but there’s a reason. You just need to ask why. It may be a wife who is tired, but just needs you to hug her and tell her you’ll take care of supper tonight. It may be your husband that needs to feel like he’s needed, like he’s your first priority, instead of # 587 on your list of things to do. Could it be that someone somewhere is trying to tell you something? If you listen, look and learn, you may find out that you are missing out
on so many things around you. I’m sure you’re busy and overstressed, but at the end of the day it’s who you come home to that matters. When you listen closely, there will even be times when you don’t like what you are hearing. It won’t be pleasant and it won’t make you smile. These are the times when you will grow. You can use these opportunities to strengthen your relationships. These are
the times that communication is hard. You won’t want to hear that your child is feeling unloved, your friend is feeling abandoned or your spouse is feeling lonely. Nobody wants to hear those things, and usually those are the hardest things to say. Relationships can die everyday from lack of communication, but the fact is that sometimes people are telling us things but we just aren’t listening. There are signs of communication all around us. They may not even come in the form of words. They may come from a look, a tear, anger, or resonating silence. The ones that are most precious to us may not even know how to say how they feel but they are telling you. Sometimes you may not even want to hear what they have to say. Is someone you love mouthing “Help me.”? Can you hear them? Are you listening? Do you want to understand what they are trying to say? Listen with your ears, listen with your eyes and most importantly listen with your heart.
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article by jackie lewis photography by emily starling photography
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Transform the way you look... at life. W
hen I was a child, I loved to read about the adventures of Peter Pan. To me, there was something mesmerizing about the thought of staying a child forever, about never having to learn lessons in life, and about the possibility of not having to grow up like everyone else. I suppose that if Tinkerbell had flown into my window, I would have been thrilled beyond belief to have her sprinkle fairy dust and fly me away to Never-Never land. But Tinkerbell never flew across my window sill. And if you’re reading this article, chances are that she didn’t fly across yours, either. It’s easy to look at such a lovely little story of flying children, angry pirates, flying fairies, and tick-tocking alligators and realize that you’re reading fiction. But did you know that there are other works of fiction that we often think of as facts? You see them every day, and chances are that you will never realize that you’re being taught to believe them--unless you finish reading this article. What would you say if I told you that society has a sort of DNA that is unique to each region, state, country, and continent? Just like the biological markers that make us inherently human, there are sociological markers that make mankind inherently flawed. And those sociological markers have the power to either make or break a society.
In 1976, Evolutionary Biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term MEMES to describe society’s tendancy to follow the leader. And though this term may be foreign to you, the effect that MEMES have upon your life may be surprising. Imagine, for a second, that you are standing in line at the grocery store. You are being bombarded with photos of women in string-bikinis who are telling their stories of how certain products melted their belly fat, lifted their sagging chins, or firmed their bulging thighs. A few minutes later, as you walk outside to load your groceries into the trunk of your car, you walk by a billboard that features a scantily-clad model who is promoting the latest weight-loss supplements. Once you’re safely in your car, you turn on the radio and hear an interview with a local plastic surgeon whom promises that he can trim, tuck, or lift any region of your body that dares to follow the rules of gravity. You, my dear, have just come face-to-face with a MEME. But what is a MEME, exactly? Webster’s defines a MEME as, “an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.” And in case you haven’t connected the dots yet, I’m more than suggesting that our culture’s idea of beauty has become one of the most dangerous MEMEs that the world has ever seen. And to do so, we must travel back in time to my own high school days. As a teenager, I came to believe that perfect happiness could be achieved with a mathematical formula. I had no doubt that my life would be amazing if only I could reach the measurements of 36-24-36. I ex-
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ercised constantly, wouldn’t allow an extra crumb in my diet, and dreamed of how amazing my life would be if only I could be just a little bit thinner, my hair a few inches longer, and my teeth a few shades whiter. It seemed that beauty had become my beast. I had become obsessed with society’s mold of the “perfect” woman. I had given in to the notion that I couldn’t possibly be beautiful unless I wore the latest fashions, had the most in-style haircut possible, and did my make-up in the style that runway models begged me to mimic. But no matter how many fashion rules I followed to the T, no matter how often I bleached my teeth or applied a new coat of lipstick, I never quite felt thin, happy, or beautiful. Unknowingly, I had allowed a MEME to make me feel bad about my own body. The perfectly capable, healthy, strong legs that carried me throughout the day were never tan enough for my own self-created standards. The eyelashes that protected my 20/20 vision were never long enough, and I always felt self-conscious about the ski-jump shaped nose that made it possible for me to smell and taste. Thankfully, those days are long behind me now. I have come to realize that our society is driven by beauty, but that true beauty is found within. There is a quote that I keep posted in my office, and rarely do I go more than a few weeks without re-reading it. It is the ultimate weapon against the negative MEMES that plague our society. (Yes, there are positive MEMES, but that’s a different article entirely.) I’d like to share these wonderful words by Nelson Mandella with you (see below) and I truly hope
"Our deepest fear is not that we
are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened
about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are
liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -- Nelson Mandela 18
that they motivate you as much as they inspire me. As you go about your daily lives, please take the time to recognize the MEMEs around you. And if you dare, ask yourself the following questions to help break free from a few of the MEMES that are holding you back. What have you always believed to be a fact that might be just the opposite? What molds have you allowed to shape you, despite the fact that you’re a unique person with thoughts and feelings of your own? How many times have you decided to buy the latest fashion instead of creating a style of your very own? And how often do you look into the mirror and compare yourself with the man or the woman that society thinks you should be? I say we begin to focus more on Nelson Mandela’s words and less on the ties that bind us to society. I say we forget about our shirt sizes, and start sizing up one another based on the good that we achieve with our lives. Sure—it would be easier to fly away to NeverNever land with Tinkerbelle and never, never look back. Growing up, or growing wiser, is not an easy thing to do. And learning to feel beautiful, both inside and out, while living a life filled with MEMES, is even harder. But once you identify the difference between our society’s expectations and your own, you’ll come to realize that you don’t need Tinkerbelle to reach new heights in your personal and professional lives. You simply need permission from yourself to become the person you were meant to be.
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what the reader knows about the characters and the situation, it must be a believable next step.
-----------------------------Crafting Effective Scenes ------------------------------
L
et’s start by defining just what a scene is. My favorite definition is one that comes from author Holly Lisle.
should have a focus or goal. Note, the author must look at the scene goal on two different levels: One is to view this from the character’s perspective - what is the character hoping to accomplish during the course of this scene? The second is the reader perspective. What do you as the author want the reader to come away from this scene with?
5. A scene should have structure. As in a full-blown story, each scene must have a well defined beginning, middle and end in order to be effective. It’s a mini-story of sorts - there is an inciting incident, a series of actions or beats, and then a resolution that tells us we’ve extracted everything we can from this particular scene. However, with the exception of the final scenes, the scene resolution does leave some unanswered questions, some loose ends if you will, that nudge the reader into the following scenes to try to find the answers.
effective scene She states that, "a scene is 3. An should elicit a reaction. the smallest bit of fiction A well crafted scene that contains the essential will evoke an emotion elements of story." of some sort, both in the characters and in You see, the workhorse the reader. Again, these of a story is not words, won’t necessarily be the or sentences or even same. A good writer will 6. A scene should show paragraphs - but it is the choreograph her scene scene. Because it is in a logical, believable to tease the emotions scene that we see the key p r o g r e s s i o n . she wants from both element of any good story The scenes should flow the characters and the namely relevant change. one from the other, readers sculpting and shaping There are eight elements your story in an that make up an effective 4. An effective scene will aesthetically satisfying have a story purpose. scene: way that is entertaining In other words, it must and relevant. Each move the story forward 1. In an effective scene, scene builds on the in some fashion. This something happens. one that came before is the whole crux of The ‘something’ doesn’t it and leads to the next your scene’s reason have to be remarkable - enhancing, changing, for being. Something it can simply be a stroll or redirecting your necessary to the story through the park or a throughline, either as a whole must be trip to the beach. It can subtly or forcefully contained within the be as simple as a single always pushing scene to warrant its activity or as complex inexorably forward to existence, otherwise it as several dozen story the story’s resolution. should be rewritten or beats rolled together. CAUTION: Logical ruthlessly cut. doesn’t mean 2. An effective scene predictable, but given
7. A scene should have a mood or attitude. This is the underlying emotion in your story. Is it comedic, solemn, dark, light? Are there underlying urges or desires that drive your characters? These will play into your scene in subtle or overt ways, coloring the actions and goals, informing the responses of both the characters and the reader. 8. The final element is the all-important element of change. The change can be big or small, but you should be able to both identify it and see how it moves your storyline forward. This forward motion can come either through revelation or a relevant honing of character, world or plot. Again, something must change as the result of your scene - if it doesn’t, then, no matter how lyrical or elegantly crafted, no matter how invested you as a writer are in it, the scene must be ruthlessly deleted.
The way to create a vivid, engaging, well paced story is to impart those details that propel the story to a satisfying, fulfilling ending in an entertaining manner. Using this checklist will aide you in making your next work a page-turner. ----------------------------------Read WINNIE GRIGGS' new releases this summer, including A Baby Between Them in June of 2012, and Handpicked Husband in September! For more information, visit her website at www.winniegriggs.com. ------------------------------------
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Louisiana written by Jesse Click
that's just how they do things in
G
rowing up in Arkansas just a couple dozen miles north of the Louisiana line, my life was heavily influenced by Louisiana culture, which sometimes seemed foreign to my Arkansas heritage. “What do you mean, ‘they eat crawdads?’” I asked my mom when I was a young boy. “That’s just how Louisiana does it,” she replied. Once I began to learn about geography I asked my teacher, “Why do they call them parishes?” Her response was, “That’s just how Louisiana does it.” And while in college a friend invited me to Mardi Gras. “Wow, why do you think they let loose like that?” I said on the ride back. “That’s just how Louisiana does it,” he answered with a grin. Now that I’m a grown man suffering through the current economic, social,
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and political hardships with the rest of our great nation, I find myself worrying often. Sometimes my concerns shift my thoughts southward toward my closest friends and neighbors – the Louisianans. I have learned that Louisiana is a state full of survivors. It is true that our country is a nation of survivors, but few other states in our union embody resilience more than the people who live within the borders of the state at the gateway of the Mississippi River and likewise America’s very soul. Few Americans have endured more than southern Louisianans after Katrina, small central Louisiana townsfolk during the economic downturn, or northern Louisianans in our recent droughts. The pride of having robust self-reliance is, sadly, becoming a more and more scarce attribute in America. Not so in Louisiana. Only the most hardy of people can make a meal of thick-skinned toothy creatures that could just as easily make a meal
of them, or a delicacy out of claw-footed critters that live in muddy ground. That’s just how Louisiana does it. Few, if any, people during the height of the British Empire could say they whipped the besttrained army on the planet with little more than hunting weapons the way Louisianans did during the Battle of New Orleans. And when General Grant sent an army and thirteen ironclads up the Red River to split Louisiana in half, no one resisted the invading armies of the north harder than the Louisianans. That’s just how Louisiana does it. In spite of all the hardships including a crippling oil spill, Louisiana has remained steadfast, the perfect mixture of rugged fortitude and genteel courtesy with a sense of swagger that is hard to match. Now don’t get me wrong. I am fiercely loyal to my state (the article honoring the spirit of Arkansans is for another magazine). Arkansans
are a gritty people always eager to help our kind in need and fight the good fight, but remember that we, also, were once a part of Louisiana. And though Louisiana football has become the standard bearer for the college sport, my Razorbacks bring the Golden Boot back to Fayetteville as often as it is taken away to Baton Rouge. No team year-in, year-out plays the Hogs harder than the Tigers of the Bayou State. That’s just how Louisiana does it. As we all stand united in these difficult times, I look south to my friends and neighbors in Louisiana as an example of unfaltering determination and self-sufficiency. Louisianans have endured eras like these before and survived them to see better days. Louisiana is a good model of how to keep composed through hard times, even finding ways to benefit from them, and then bouncing back even better than before. Well, because that’s just how Louisiana does it.
News that’ll make your heart happy. The highest quality heart care procedures are available in Minden
Minden Medical Center has invested in the latest digital imaging system, allowing our physicians to perform both cardiac and vascular exams on patients with a single approach. This technology means patients who have a wide range of heart and vascular conditions can be more
accurately diagnosed. And in some cases, even be treated during a single procedure, eliminating the stress of undergoing multiple procedures and getting your heart health back on track. Which, as a neighbor here in Minden, makes us very happy. And we mean that from the bottom of our heart.
To learn about the steps you can take today to improve your heart health and prevent heart disease, talk to your physician or visit www.mindenmedicalcenter.com/happyheart.
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Vitamin Supplements --------------------------------------
T
he twentieth century experienced major changes in quality of life. Shortly after World War I the United States saw the worst depression in its short history with a large number of people unemployed. It was critical that the government instruct people on things that could be grown in local gardens to help prevent vitamin deficiency. During this time the government printed several documents on different types of food that could be grown in local gardens in different parts of the United States. I’m not sure but I think this was the first time in our history that vitamins and minerals became important in our daily diet. This remained the standard of vitamin supplements until after World War II. After World War II vitamins were becoming more and more popular through the nation and especially through the
South. Several companies began manufacturing vitamin supplements in pill form for persons who didn’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Having man-made supplements, in many cases, was the only practical way to get the vitamins and nutrients that were recommended at that time. Personally I don’t remember having taken any vitamins in my youth, but I do remember my older brothers and sisters telling me when I was young that Mother would sometime fill my bottle with “Pot-Licker” to insure I received the same nutrients as the other kids that ate the turnip greens. It’s not the same as one-aday vitamins but I lived, so I guess something worked. A few weeks ago I visited my grandchildren. When I am there our morning usually begins between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. before Mom and Dad roll out of bed. The boys drag me to the kitchen and offer me three different types of cereal and I was told when I finish my cereal I could have a vitamin. I hadn’t thought about vitamins in years perhaps since their Father was their age. When they had finished their cereal the boys climbed up on the cabinet like squirrels
on a big oak tree. They began opening cabinet doors until one of them exclaimed, “Here it is!” and the search abruptly ended. I began moving the boys back to the floor. The four year old had the bottle of vitamins in his hand as I sat the other two boys on the floor. Before I could reach back for him, he had
the lid off the childproof container, or should I say semi-childproof container. I was surprised how fast he got the container open getting to the berry looking, gummy bear textured, reddish-purple colored, raspberry flavored vitamins. Even though my grandchildren eat healthy food most of the time, I am sure they don’t get everything they need without the supplements. I have heard of some parents giving their children a breakfast of M & M’s covered with chocolate milk. I sure hope those kids are taking some form of vitamin supplements!
-------------------------------------P. J. is a Storyteller, Lyrics writer and Poet. Email him at phillipvolentine@yahoo.com --------------------------------------
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Invest Childcare Money In Your Child’s Future --------------------------------------
I
s your child one of more than 11 million U.S. children under the age of five in childcare? If so, the cost is likely a significant line item in your budget.
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Reliable childcare can be difficult to afford. Full-time center care for an infant ranges from $4,650 to $18,200 annually; for a 4-year-old, $3,900 to $14,050, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. Saving for college may seem impossible while paying for childcare along with other fixed expenses, such as housing, utilities and food. You can take solace in the fact that there is light at the end of the tunnel. When your child begins elementary school and
no longer requires full-time childcare, you’ll see a significant increase in your discretionary income each month. But before you convert those childcare dollars into disposable income, consider investing in your child’s college education. After all, you’re already accustomed to living without that
income. A number of investment opportunities are available that offer tax advantages while you accumulate funds to help pay for future education expenses. One is the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA), a trust or custodial account with a $2,000 annual contribution limit that can be used for your child’s elementary and secondary education, as well as post-secondary education, such as college, graduate school, or vocational school.
You can invest in a Coverdell ESA account regularly, if your income is under a certain amount, with current year contributions accepted until that year’s tax-filing deadline. If you’d like to invest more toward your child’s education, consider a 529 college savings plan for qualified higher education expenses. An individual can contribute as much as $65,000 to a 529 plan and treat the contribution as made ratably over a 5-year period. For federal gift tax purposes, a $65,000 contribution is treated as having contributed $13,000 (the amount of the federal gift tax annual exclusion) per year for 5 years. Also, a husband and wife could each make a $65,000 contribution. A quality education may be one of the most important factors in determining your child’s future. It’s never too early to begin saving, and dedicating funds you previously used for childcare may be a great way to start.
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Making Do with what you have, from Shortages, Sharing & Recycling --------------------------------------
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am open to the accusation that I see compost as an end in itself. But we do grow some real red damn tomatoes such as you can’t get in the stores. And potatoes, beans, lettuce, collards, onions, squash, cauliflower, eggplant, carrots, peppers. Dirt in your own backyard, producing things you eat. Makes you wonder. ~Roy Blount, Jr., American Writer. ( 1941) Back in the day, soon after World War II, times were hard for the average American family. Everything was saved, recycled, reused, swapped, sold, and/or shared with your neighbor. If you had chickens you sold or traded eggs with your friend for sugar or anything else you may not have. Remember The Waltons, grandma always had egg money stashed back in the cookie jar for something special. Rationing was put on everything. Preservation was a way of living. All households used glass jars to can food. War time rationing ended in the United States after the war. According to my dad the rationing coupons given out
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didn’t mean much to them. They had no money to buy things with. The family grew what they ate and ate what they grew. Grandpa planted cotton for the cash crop each year. Grandma sold eggs to buy what little flour and sugar that was available. During that time they killed their own hogs and chickens for meat. Beef, well, they had no way to preserve it. Pork, you could make your own bacon, a smoke house cured the pork. I remember that old smokehouse. Food was cooked from scratch, sugar was in limited supply. Flour wasn’t any better. Daddy explained they ate cornbread with everything. Flour was saved to make gravy and biscuits on occasion. No such thing as TV dinners, the freezer wasn’t even invented yet. That came in 1947. My grandparents had a wooden ice box to store butter and milk in. The ice man came around to sell his ice a few times a week, if you placed a tag on the door, and if you had a place to store it. Some didn’t have an icebox even, they used several quilts to wrap around the ice, keeping the milk, and butter from spoiling. For people that had a little bit of money, city dwellers mostly, they purchased meat from a butcher and bread from a bakery. Truck farmers provided produce at harvest. In the country people that owned stores grew gardens too. Many farmers in the country raised everything they ate and what they fed the farm animals. Rows of corn were planted for the cows, pigs, and chickens. They planted and
harvested enough to provide for the family through the whole year and to feed the family and animals thru the winter until the next harvest. I can remember my mom talking about the peas. I asked; why so many peas? This is just in case we have a bad year, mom would say. We put up enough for two years and extra for deer to eat. Hay was raised to feed the mules and horses. My cousin told me she
remembered her grandmother using her chicken manure for fertilizer. She put it in a bucket with water, then used the watered down manure to water her plants with. From what I understand my family had it good. For some folks, home cooks made eggless cakes, sugarless cookies, and meatless meals. The war changed lives in America. After the war life got better. The economy grew and “Convenience food” was introduced to the public. Things like dehydrated juice, instant coffee, cake mixes, powdered eggs, etcetera. These, a product of necessity developed during the war. Think about it. Most people had to use an outhouse. I do remember the outhouse while visiting my Great Aunt’s. We girls(four) had to go thru the pasture with cows, we would get a running start and run really fast. We thought the bull would get after us. Many folks had little or no water indoors, some didn’t have electricity. Dad remembers that. A thank you to my Daddy, for teaching me to garden. Happy Gardening!
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Bittersweet. -----------------------------------
M
y precious Ruby made the walk and received her high school diploma on Thursday May 24th. My heart is full of pride at all she has accomplished and all that lies ahead for her. But I am going to be real for a minute. I want to stop time and stay right here for a little while longer. I don’t think I have had the chance to enjoy all the festivities of her senior year. I feel like I have been rushed through this year. Oh sure I have attended every event and function. I have pictures and memories to prove it. I have bought the homecoming dresses, prom dresses, and cakes for banquets. I have talked to other senior parents, planned events and trips, laughed, cried, cheered, ate lots of fast food, traveled to games, nursed injuries and broken hearts, paid fee after fee, cried myself to sleep, watched Ruby sleep, prayed and then prayed some more. And yet
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here we are in the middle of summertime and her senior year only a memory. I was not ready for her to graduate. I am not looking forward to sending her off to college in August. It seems like yesterday I was walking her into kindergarten. How on earth did we arrive here at the end so suddenly? I know I am not the only mother feeling these feelings. I know it is part of life I must accept. But I do not want to. I want to hold her and protect her for just a bit longer. Ok maybe I want to hold her and protect her forever. But I know that is not possible. I know that as I look at my gem of a daughter that I have done the best I could possibly do. I have no doubts that she is ready to head into the next phase of her life and I share in her excitement. Never mind the loud sobs and sniffles that are sure to be coming from me when we load up the car at the end of August and make the two and a half hour drive to college. I must say with all jokes aside. I was feeling sorry for myself the other day and really needed to get it together. Now the Lord must have known my family was considering sending me to therapy because somehow a peace rushed over me and I am feeling a little better. Every morning I
pray over Ruby. I have for many years. Part of my morning prayer is this “Lord please let every breath she breathes and every step she takes be in your perfect will for her life�. I thought about this and thought to myself, do you actually believe this prayer? Do you have faith in this prayer? YES I do believe and have faith that
the Lord honors my daily prayer. That he has Ruby in the palm of his hand guiding her everyday. I am grateful to have the peace that passes all understanding! I sure could not do all of this without it.To all the mothers who have just watched their children graduate, I feel your pain oh I mean joy. I am right there with you. These are the best days of our lives! To all you mothers of new seniors, ring day was the beginning of a fun filled memory making year. It will go by fast so get your cameras ready. No stopping this ride until the end but oh what fun it is! Even with the twists and turns, laughter & tears. I love you Ruby JoHannah Richie! You have given me more memories than I ever thought possible and I am blessed beyond measure to have shared these times with you.
Willow Ridge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
“LOVING EXCELLENCE IN SENIOR CARE” State of the art facility 120 bed, Medicare, Medicaid & VA certified Semi-private rooms & suites Private rooms 20-bed Dementia Unit Large activity room In-facility beauty shop Large chapel Pharmacy services All rooms have private bathroom Caring licensed nurses & certified nursing assistants staffed
around the clock Company owned Rehabilitation Services - Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy Now offering outpatient therapy services
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favorite was a “charm of hummingbirds.” My son Langdon’s favorite was a “wake of buzzards.” My husband C.P.’s favorite was a “shrewdness of apes.” And my favorite? My favorite was a “congress of baboons.” We all burst into uncontrollable laughter at that point. I wonder why? ------------------------------------------------
nouns.
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Dinner and a Noun? --------------------------------------
M
y should-have-been-achef husband is always throwing together some kind of wonderful for the dinner table. We cherish our family meal and are committed to keeping it a nightly occurence, with the exception of baseball season. (A family’s got to cheer, right?) Most nights we discuss our day. Sometimes we watch Chopped (we’re hopelessly addicted to Food Network). But one night in particular, we discussed anomalies of the English language. Boring, you’re probably thinking. This night, the conversation began with the outdoor scenery. Several ducks were waddling across the golf course in our view and Reagan, the 7-year-old, lobs the question, “Mom, there goes some ducks or maybe geese out there. Is that a flock?” My husband smiled and joined in the conversation. “It’s a flock of ducks, but I think it’s a gaggle of geese.” “A gaggle?” Reagan giggled. “Yes, a gaggle,” her smiling dad replied. Suddenly we found ourselves competing to think of other interesting phrases that described a group, otherwise known as collective
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“Can you think of any others?” I asked Reagan, but primarily directed the question at my 13-year-old son, Langdon. He’s old enough to have heard a few funny collective nouns. “A flock of sheep,” Langdon interjected. “And a den of snakes.” “Those are good ones,” I commented. “How about a pride of lions?” “Ooh, that’s a good one,” my husband commented. “How about a colony of ants, a pack of mules, and a clutch of chicks?” “Those are good ones!” I exclaimed. We were beginning to get a flow of phrases that had us all laughing. After a few more “bouquets of pheasants,” “passles of possums,” and “convocations of eagles,” the iPhones emerged from our pockets (and purse) and the Googling began! “Mom, did you know that ducks can be a brace of ducks, a flock of ducks, a flush of ducks, a paddling of ducks, a raft of ducks, AND a team of ducks?” Langdon asked. “Nope. Never heard of all those,” I responded. “Here’s one...a storytelling of ravens. I wonder if that one came from Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “The Raven”? “Here’s a good one,” my husband said. “A memory of elephants. I really like that one.” “Oooh, that is good,” I replied. As we poured through lists of collective nouns and compared which ones were the most interesting or that we’d never heard before, we pondered where the names
came from and laughed about the interesting combinations of words. I couldn’t believe how many phrases I had never heard before -- and I am a writer/ editor! We marveled at a “crash of hippopotami” and loved the idea of a “zeal of zebras.” Finally, we landed upon a few that were simply the best of the list. We each chose a favorite to share with the family. My daughter Reagan’s
Elizabeth Haynes Drewett: a hormonal woman rumored to be somewhere between the age of 30 and 50. Her job: Managing Partner of SPRING Media USA. Her training: BA in journalism degree from LSU and a BFA in piano performance from LA Tech. Her life: wife of C.P. Drewett, Jr. and mother to Langdon, age 13, and Reagan, age 7. Her passions: the state of Louisiana - as Miss Louisiana 1992 she devoted her year of service to breast cancer education; lover of music - choir director and piano teacher; lover of a good game. Her favorite things: an underdog who overachieves, a good laugh, a good book, a good word, and a good hair day. Follow her on Twitter @edrewett. Read the rest of Confessions of a Hormonal Woman at www.seasonswc.com. You can share your favorite collective noun there!
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If you remember Motown, Mood Rings and Drive-in Movies. . . it’s time for a Colonoscopy! For the 40 million Americans 50 and over, this offer might save your life! Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States*, and will be diagnosed in one of every 20 people in the U.S. But here’s the good news: Death rates due to colon cancer have been dropping steadily for the past 20 years, thanks to early detection and improved treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that all persons over age 50 be regularly screened for colon cancer. So why take the chance? Call us today and we’ll send you a FREE coloCare kit, a simple but advanced home screening test that helps detect early
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