The Moon, Stars, and Rain, and Three Beloved Boys

Posted on February 4, 2016 by russtowne

I focus on squeezing as much joy out of each moment of each day and making as many pleasant memories for others and myself as I can.

One of the traditions my oldest grandson, three-year old Thomas and I have created is that he asks me to be the one to carry him to the car at the end of his visits. It is usually dark when he and his family leave, and as I carry him I often ask, “Where’s the moon? Do you see the moon?” We search the sky and when the moon is visible whoever spots it first points at it and excitedly yells, “There it is!” When he was quite a bit younger he sometimes confused the glow from a  as the moon, but he soon learned the difference.

I often say or whisper to him, “Whenever I see the moon, I think of you!” Sometimes, instead, I ask, “Guess who I think of when I see the moon?” He either responds with great big smiles or yells, “ME!” I grin and say, “Yes! I think of you whenever I see the moon.” And it’s true.

I like to think that even if I die today he’ll always have these memories whenever he sees the moon. May they be filled with love and happiness.

I plan to create similar traditions with our twin grandsons, Zachary and Alexander. They’re about 2-1/2 years old. Their father (our son Brian) is in the USAF and is stationed thousands of miles away, but we’re still blessed to be able to see them three or four times per year for a week or two at a time. I also have a great love for both those grandsons and the rain and stars, so perhaps Zach and I will share the rain, and Alex and I the stars. Time will tell. If Time permits…

With Love,

Russ

Posted in Children, Family, Grandparenting & Grandkids, Love, Memories | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Waxing Poetic

Posted on February 3, 2016 by russtowne

I’ve been on a poetic roll these last few days. If you’d like to experience my poetry, please check out my blog devoted to it at http://agratefulmanspoetry.com.

A Grateful Man’s Poetry

The titles of some of my recent creations include:

“A Million Miles From Anywhere” (Genesis: The phrase “A million miles from anywhere” popped into my head this morning. I liked the sound and imagery of it and this poem quickly wrote itself. I’m blessed that it let me go along for the ride and that what it depicts is far from my reality.)

“Eternity”

“Role of a Lifetime”

“You”

With Love,

Russ

 

Posted in Adversity, Loneliness, Loss, Love, Pain & Grief, Poetry, Poetry I Wrote, Potential | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Roles

Posted on February 3, 2016 by russtowne

Roles

It saddens me to see many play silent roles, bit parts, and cameos in the movies of their lives; treating life as a dress rehearsal. Many choose victim roles rather than risk being the heroes they can be. Some follow scripts written by others rather than listening to the whispers in their own heart. Such movie plots often end in drama and tragedy.

I know too well about such things because I wasted much of my life in such roles.

But now, in the movie of my life I’ve been blessed by so many great supporting actors that I can’t help but feel like a star.

With Love,

Russ

Posted in Life, LIfe Lessons | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

A Beautiful Memory in the Making

Posted on January 31, 2016 by russtowne

It’s here! I just received a copy of A Berkshire Tale written by dear blogging friend and fellow author Claremary Sweeney! I sent this message to her and am sharing it with all of you because it reminded me of an earlier post where I attempted to describe the feelings I’d had in the magical place mentioned below.

Hi, Clare. Your beautiful book arrived yesterday but I just got and opened the mail today. Thank you for the kind and lovely inscription. I’m touched by it. Your book is gorgeous. I treasure the opportunity to experience your creation for the first time and am planning how best to savor it. It will be while I’m sitting alone outside near my tiny redwood and fern garden with rain falling all around. I love rain. We have an open but covered area that is perfect for savoring rain, nature, and other beautiful things. I’ve made many treasured memories there. It seems to me to be an ideal place to experience glimpses of your spirit though your writing.

—

Rain Magic and Memories

I write this while sitting outside in a heavy downpour. I sit in the open, just covered by the edge of an overhang, about as near the rain as one can be without getting soaked. Large drops splatter so close I feel the cool mist on my face. The intoxicating fragrance of the sweet freshness of rain falling on aromatic flowers tantalizes my nostrils and speaks to my spirit, promising life, growth, and abundance.

Raindrops caress silky petals, gifting them with nature’s pearls, sparkling with the radiance of diamonds. Enhanced by such elegant adornments each blossom seems to beam with pride.

Two wind chimes vie for my attention with moving melodies created in their timeless dance with the wind. One passionately proclaims of romantic young lovers; the other softly whispers of the precious love of couples who have made and shared a lifetime of memories.

For a moment, I’m tempted to stand in the downpour, reveling in the physical sensations it offers. Memories flow of such times. The staccato tapping on my head and shoulders, the way it caresses with cold fingers as it slides down my face, brings chills to my spine, and whispers ever so softly as it falls from my ears.

My sweet reverie is interrupted as the rain falls no more, but my smile and memories linger…

With Love,

Russ

 

Posted in Beauty, Memories, My Written Works Misc., Nature, Writing | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Thank You Tunisia Joylyn!

Posted on January 30, 2016 by russtowne

Thank you blogging friend Tunisia Jolyn for honoring me by nominating me for a blogging award. While I’m delighted that what I write resonates with you, Tunisia, due to time constraints and all the things one typically must do in order to accept such an award I reluctantly stopped accepting them some years back, but when time permits I often like to  return the honor by doing something for the person nominating me. In this case, I’m  happy to attempt answer your questions that came with the nomination.

I didn’t see a re-blog button so couldn’t reblog it but here is a way to check out Tunisia’s site:

http://www.tunisiajolyn.com/about/

Tunisia Jolyn

Here are Tunisia’s questions based on the five sections of her blog:
1. Are you inspired by any music artists for your creative works? If so, who are they?
2. What is one topic that you wish more people would talk about in society? And why?
3. What is the best piece of wisdom you have received in your life?
4. Name your top 3 TV shows ever.
5. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?

Q: Are you inspired by any music artists for your creative works? If so, who are they?

A: Simon and Garfunkel. I find their lyrics poetic and beautiful.

Q: What is one topic that you wish more people would talk about in society? And why?

A: Great question! I’m a believer that when all is said and done, far more is said than done (I wish I could claim credit for being the first to state that great truth but alas I was born too late for that! ;-D!) Talking is great if it leads to better understanding and just and lasting peace, but there is so much poverty, injustice, greed, starvation, apathy, pain, sorrow, and misery in the world, that I’d simply love to continue to see more kindness (love in action) done than discussed.

Q: What is the best piece of wisdom you have received in your life?

A: Wow! Tough question. I’ve been blessed with exposure to wisdom from a great many people (including from my beloved blogging community!) and many things come to mind. I’ve condensed a bunch of them down to this mantra for my life: “Do what you love with those you love, and be unconditionally grateful and kind.” I too often fall short of being unconditionally grateful and kind, but believe I am becoming more of both, and I’ve never been happier, more fulfilled, or content.

Q: Name your top 3 TV shows ever.

A: Another tough one! I’ve watched much more TV that I’d like to admit. Some of my favorite TV shows as a kid were Rin-Tin-Tin, Daniel Boone, and Cheyenne. More recently I’ve enjoyed Chuck and Eureka. Goofy and entertaining escapism with humor and quirky characters. I tend to like shows with happy endings, where love prevails, and the “good guys” despite all their flaws and internal conflicts win over the “bad guys.” If I want experience drama, bad endings, heartbreak, darkness, pain, grief, etc, I can watch the news, so I look for something different in the TV shows I watch.

Q: Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?

A: If I have a hidden talent, it’s still hidden from me. I look forward to experiencing it! I’ve only recently discovered passions for writing songs, stories, fiction, non-fiction, creating anthologies with other writers, and poetry. I’m already successful because I’m doing what I love with those I love. My creations must first resonate with me. I believe “talent” is the extent to which they resonate with others.

With Love,

Russ

Posted in Awards: Sharing The Love | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

worth the century-long year wait.

Posted on January 30, 2016 by russtowne

Beth’s fun post reminded me that In my latest book, Purple Fox and the Heebie Jeebies, co-writer Josh Friedman and I honored Beatrix Potter and Dr. Seuss by including parts of their names in the names of the musical instruments the Heebie Jeebies play: Be-potter-rum-pums and a Triseussamaphone.
With Love,
Russ

beth's avatarI didn't have my glasses on....

Unknown

100 Years Later,

Beatrix Potter’s Tale Of A Fanciful Feline To Be Published

At long-lost Beatrix Potter book, The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots, is set to be released this fall, 150 years after the beloved author’s birth.

The tale about a sharply dressed feline has “all the hallmarks of Potter’s best works,” editor Jo Hanks, who stumbled upon the story, says in an interview with Penguin U.K., which will publish the book.

At the time Potter was writing Kitty-in-Boots in 1914, she told her publisher that the story was centered on “a well-behaved prime black Kitty cat, who leads rather a double life.”

Hanks says she “stumbled on an out-of-print collection of her writings” and saw that reference to the story in a letter from Potter to her publisher.

This led her to the publisher’s archive, where she says she found “three manuscripts, two handwritten in children’s school notebooks and one…

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Children’s Book Review Bonanza

Posted on January 29, 2016 by russtowne

Thank you for reviewing two more of my books, Pamela. I’m glad you enjoyed them!

Pamela Beckford's avatarPoetry by Pamela

You know how much I love children’s picture books. Here are a few I have just received that I wanted to review.

Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

3 stars

I was hoping that this would be a book about friends with some emphasis on the shapes as characters. It wasn’t. It was, however, a clever collection of things friends do for each other. I can use the book to explain about each of the shapes though as I read through it. I think it could have been better though.

Misty Zebracorn by Russ Towne, illustrated by Jessica Catarino

5 stars

A cute story about a zebra/unicorn at the beach. I love the rhyming and the illustrations. Just one more book by Russ Towne for children that is delightful to read and provides ample opportunities for a picture walk.

T-Bone’s Traveling Circus by Janice Virant

5 stars

Great…

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News to Share

Posted on January 29, 2016 by russtowne

Wahoo! I’m delighted by your update on this important project to improve childhood literacy while giving children and their loved ones learn about new children’s book authors. Way to go, Pamela!

Pamela Beckford's avatarPoetry by Pamela

A few months ago I created a new website for a project at work. Part of that project was that Blossom (our reading mascot) would read some children’s books. I was able to secure the video rights from several indie children’s authors and we recorded Blossom reading the books.

But I was having trouble (a mental block I think) posting the videos in a way that I wanted. So, I have spent a couple of hours this week finally making it the way I wanted (mostly).

I’m getting ready to record another batch of books so I wanted the first ones done right. I think I will feature one video a month on the top level page, but they will all be available.

I want to thank the authors who have agreed to let me use their books. And, I would like to invite any other children’s authors to participate…

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wind.

Posted on January 8, 2016 by russtowne

Good point. It sounds like the difference between attempting to maintain the status quo (walls) and achieving progress (wind mills). Each has it place however. The walls of my house come in mighty handy on a really windy day. ;-D!

With Love,
Russ

beth's avatarI didn't have my glasses on....

gardening_activities_for_kids_windmills

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image credit: partyideasinabox

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My Focus and Wish

Posted on January 1, 2016 by russtowne

To do what I love with those I love, be grateful for everything, foster connection and ease suffering, and help people see the greatness and goodness within themselves and others.

May your New Year be filled with blessings.

With Love,

Russ

Posted in Blessings, Connection/Connecting, Focus, Following Your Passion, Gratitude, Suffering | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments