“Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.[1][2][3] It is the Monday of the long weekend known as Labor Day Weekend.
Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. “Labor Day” was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the United States officially celebrated Labor Day.”
My debut collection was released yesterday on Amazon (Ebook & Paperback), Kobo (Ebook) , and Barnes & Noble (Ebook). This is a short, but I hope powerful, anthology about my narcissistic chilchood trama and my recovery as well as my Huntington’s Disease diagnosis. The blurb and a poem excerpt are below.
Ebook Cover
Blurb:
There is nothing more terrifying than realizing there is no hope.
Overcoming a traumatizing childhood, abuse and toxic relationships to face a bright and successful future only to be diagnosed with Huntington’s disease is a cruel joke fate played.
This is Gail’s story delivered to you in a four-part heartwrenching series of poems, allowing you to see the world through her eyes.
Huntington’s disease is a cruel and hopeless disease without a cure. It affects not only the body and nervous system, degrading movement and learning, but as an added surprise, it’s genetic.
Watching her mother suffer with the horrible disease, Gail and her siblings suffered the abuse of her narcissistic, sadistically cruel father, a stepmother who may have been worse, and a toxic ex-boyfriend.
As horrific as this sounds, her story ends in hope, survival and inner peace.
Join Gail as she illuminates the darkness, finding her inner peace and rising above it all to eventually have a spiritual rebirth! Please Be Advised (TW/CW), this book contains both sensitive and traumatic content.
Ice Cream Machine
Down a long, sterile hallway— The white walls were mildly suffocating But the ice cream machine of yesterday Sat in the guest visiting rooms, a blessing.
Even though we couldn’t speak to her, Even though she ate through a straw, We shared with her a treat of sugar. With my grandmother, we shared what we saw.
We showed her new photos of the family, New additions to the band. We told her of all the news, properly From the life she no longer had in hand.
Ten years later, I had to move in my mother. She was the same grace, in sickness As her mother before her. Now we shared the ice cream, and I shared my glimpses
Surely, in ten years, I will trade again. It will be my turn to lose this life. Will my husband share the ice cream? A tradition retained As fate twists the knife?
With Huntington’s Disease, we are masters of death, And so too are we the masters of life. Though the agony of it can steal our breath, We live each day with abandon, as befits this nonlife.
Father’s Day has many different forms of celebration through time and by country. The US and a cluster of countries, observes a celebration of fatherhood on the third Sunday of June, while the rest of the world celebrates as early as February and as late as December 26th. It all depends on local custom and religion.
While I don’t personally have the best relationship with my own father, I can be grateful for other father figures that were there. My grandfather and uncle proved that unconditional love was possible at their hands. On this day, I would like to thank them as well as any other fathers or father figures out there doing your best. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, just keep trying and that’s all we can do.
Coronavirus has created new ways of life for us all. but together, we will make it through.
