Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Tribute to Pappy and IWSG

Tribute to Pappy

Last Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, my step-father passed away. He was born Richard (Dick) Monroe on Oct. 4, 1921. He would have been 95. His health and my mother’s had been failing for a number of years but it still came as a shock.

He was Pappy to my children and the only grandfather they knew. I can still see him with his fingers folded together and making his classic comment, “Yeah,” with a little chuckle.

My mother and Dick went to High School together in Rochester, Minnesota. I remember mother showing me a picture of a class play she was in along with several other students and Dick. Since mother never mentioned Dick other than the one time, I had no idea he was special to her.

After many years here in Colorado, mother returned to Rochester to be close to her own mother during her failing years. One day I stopped by mom’s house to learn that her High School was holding their 50th Class Reunion. Mother had never attended before but she went that year and met up with Dick.

Theirs’s was the classic love story. A best-selling book or tear jerking movie. Right after High School mom went into nursing school and Dick went into the Air Force. Pearl Harbor soon sent America into WWII. But even though mom and Dick were separated they still wrote each other.

After the war my mom met my father and married him a little too fast. They were happy at first but my dad was an alcoholic so mom always worked. Eventually they divorced when I was thirteen.

As it turned out, Dick had intended to ask my mom to marry him, but he waited too long. However, he did marry and have two children. His wife died of M.S. So, they met again and married thirty-six years ago this November. I have never seen my mother so happy.

Here’s to you pappy. You are loved and will be missed.

IWSG


As you probably know the Insecure Writer’s Support Group was started by Alex J. Cavanaugh to encourage writers of all ages. To read other post go here.

Today’s question: When do you know your story is ready?

This is a subjective question. When writing my epic fantasies, I create a one or two sentence outline. I know where the story is going. I bring up questions throughout and I’m careful to answer them.

However, my flash fiction stories are written by the seat of my pants. So for me, either the outline helps to complete a story or as in the second case, it feels right. My critique group will let me know if it’s not.
How about you?
Nancy

The spook is on!
My Halloween Collection 1 is available for a low friendship price of 99 cents. This is a collection of 7 stories. The cover is wrong, it say’s five but it is seven flash fiction stories.




Soon my Halloween Collection 2 will be available.

14 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nancy - lovely tribute to your mother and step-father ... I'm so glad they got together ... as you must be and they must have been. All the best now ... and good luck with the story writing - cheers Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Very sorry about your step-father. I'm glad he and your mother finally got together.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

So sorry for your loss. This was a lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing their story with all of us.

N. R. Williams said...

Thanks Hilary, Alex and Madeline.
Nancy

alexia said...

I'm sorry for your loss. A wonderful love story indeed, though!

N. R. Williams said...

Thanks Alexia
Nancy

erica and christy said...

I'm so sorry about your step-father. What a beautiful love story they shared and you witnessed. Praying for you in your sadness. Thanks for sharing with us. Christy

dolorah said...

Beautiful tribute to your step-father. So sorry for your loss. We are reaching the age where we are now the oldest parents. A bit scary.

Congrats on the release of your anthology. What an accomplishment.

It so hard to know when a story is "done".

Yolanda Renée said...

So sorry for your loss, but what a beautiful remembrance!

I find it easier to let the short stories go but I'm never done with the books, even after publication. :)

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Christy, Donna and Yolanda.
Nancy

Crystal Collier said...

I'm SLOWLY getting around to everyone's posts. Man! What a week or two it's been! (I'm sure you're feeling that too.) My heart goes out to you with the loss of Pappy. I hope you're holding up well and despite all the book crazy, things are going well.

N. R. Williams said...

Thanks Crystal
Nancy

Denise Covey said...

Hi Nancy. What a lovely tribute to Pappy. You will miss him.
I can't wait to buy your new Halloween collection. Are you going to share one of your stories, or an extract, for WEP?

And would you like to appear on my blog to promote it?

Denise :-)

N. R. Williams said...

I would love to be on your blog Denise, thank you.
Nancy