The Pulpwood Queen Presents Jamie Nance!

Dear Readers,
There is not a day that goes by that I don't reflect on what if this had happened to me when I think of Jamie Nance. Jamie was born with cerebral palsy. He also is the same age as my daughter Lainie.

Jamie's mom, Terri and I were pregnant at the same time. She had her baby prematurally but everything seemed okay at first. Since Jamie was a bit older than my Lainie when she was born, Terri would bring to me things that Jamie had outgrown, walkers, swings, playpens. Terri was very generous and kind to me. That was eighteen years ago and Terri tragically died when Jamie was very young. It hit me hard to lose such a friend and then to think of her husband Johnny who now had the daunting task of raising a toddler with cerebral palsy.

This past year as the kids all went to prom, I took photos, besides my daughter and her date, of Jamie and his date. They all looked as if they were having the time of their lives. So you can imagine the joy the article below brought me on hearing of Jamie's latest talent.

Enjoy the feature below on Jamie Nance and let his story be life affirming to you as it was for me. What a gift to have someone like Jamie Nance in our lives and what testimony this gives to me of parenthood of Johnny Nance and his wife Phyliss who seriously is an angel amongst us.

Tiara wearing and Book sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs
Beauty and the Book
608 North Polk Street
Jefferson, Texas 75657
903-665-7520
http://www.beautyandthebook.com/
http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/
P.S. This story was sent to me both my Jamie's mom, Phyliss and his aunt, Pulpwood Queen Wendy Looney of my East Texas chapter. To view photos of Jamie and his date at prom go back to April 28, 2008 post on this website.



Such a good story.






Click the following to access the sent link:



Blind Jefferson student finds passion in sewing*



He was born premature with cerebral palsy.






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*This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser.http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/featr/content/features/stories/2008/102608_WEB_Lifestyle_Nance.html

The Pulpwood Queen Singing the College Mom Blues!

Dear Readers,
I know you know I love books but did you know I love to sing too. I sing all the time. I sing to the radio driving to work. I know people think I am that crazy woman singing away in the car. I always start out the same way saying, "Today is the day the Lord has made, let me do GOOD WORKS!" Then I begin singing, "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!". Then I sing, "Crazy" or some Linda Ronstadt or Don Henley song.

But lately I have been singing a different tune, maybe you can help me. I have been belting out the College Mom Blues!

My oldest daughter has left the nest to go to college. I knew that I would miss her but all seemed well as I was so proud of her accomplishments, (see received 12 academic scholarships), and I know it's all because I read to her since she was a baby! If you read my blogs you all know we drove like a mad family a couple of weekends ago to see her jump out of a plane, her first skydiving adventure with the Outdoor Adventure Club at the University of Texas at Tyler. What a day! I still can't believe she did it and wants to do it again! Proud Mom! Strong Mom! Smiling to beat the band Mom!

Now my youngest has started high school and I am amazed that she gets up at 6:00 a.m. to get ready for school. Just last year she rolled out, threw on what ever was handy, and barreled out the door at 20 until 8 barely making that final bell. You see, my girls are growing up. One is spreading her wings and the other has taken off and is flying! So why am I so sad?

Where did the time go? Was my nose stuck into too many books? As much as I love my little birds testing the edge of the nest and flying away, I have been struck with crying jags. No, I do not mean a sniffle here and there. I mean down in the dumps boo hoo crying with snot flying everywhere. Lucky for you, this is in the privacy of my own home, but I am now feeling one step from the grave. What gives! I was never a cry baby! You would think running the largest "meeting and discussing" book club in the world, The PUlpwood Queens, would keep me busy and it does, but these debillatating sobbing hysterics are starting to wear me down.

So I am asking for advice from all of you mothers out there, and yes, dads too. How in the world did you cope with you children leaving the nest. Oh, believe you me, I read a good book, Haveh: The Story of Eve, and cried so hard at the end of the book that I felt as if I was having a nervous breakdown. Something uplifting perhaps? I swear I would cry over Curious George and the man with the yellow hat right now. I mean, where was Curious Georges poor mother.

So for all of you out there, please, advise me on the empty nest syndrome. My oldest came in Monday night for a quick haircut, watch Dancing with the Stars, a little family time to leave at 6:00 a.m. the next morning to get to her first class. It was pitch dark as I helped her in the freezing cold load her dad's mountain bike, (for that Outdoor Adventure Club as they were going mountain biking), in the back of her truck. I hugged her goodbye and kept it together until I got her younger high school sister off to school. When I got back home I bawled like a big ole baby. I mean I'm 52 for goodness sake. Kathy get a grip!

Do all mothers feel this way? So here is my plea and hopefully you will answer my prayers. I look forward to hearing your replies!

"Since my baby left me,
I have found a new place to dwell.
It's down at the end of Lonely Street called Heartbreak Hotel!"

Tiara wearing, book sharing, mascara smearing!
Kathy L. Patrick
Helaina and Madeleine's mom
Beauty and the Book
608 North Polk Street
Jefferson, Texas 75657
http://www.beautyandthebook.com/
http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/
http://www.jeffersonrotaryclub.blogspot.com/, (I'm President of our local Rotary International chapter and see what all we did at the Marion County Fair)!

Meet the gypsy, Madame Josephina a.k.a. The Pulpwood Queen!

Dear Readers,

I just finished being Madame Josephina, the gypsy fortune teller/ storyteller at our church's Pumpkin Patch for all the Headstart and Kindergarten classes here in Jefferson. I read "Pumpkin Circle - The story of a garden" and "Five Little Pumpkins to all the children. I also made the prediction each child would receive a munchkin pumpkin and that prediction came TRUE!

Enjoy the photos as our church sells pumpkins for our fall fundraiser for mission and outreach! And you know I would never miss an opportunity to promote literacy and reading!

Happy Halloweenie from Madame Josephina a.k.a. The Pulpwood Queen!

Kathy L. Patrick

www.beautyandthebook.com

www.pulpwoodqueen.com

www.jeffersonfumc.com

P.S. Coming soon October 29th, Wednesday night, our TRUNK OR TREAT and Fall Festival at the Church and then our big author, book, and music Festival, Books Alive!, January 7th - 9th, 2008. Email me for brochure and registration. Please register as all that do are guaranteed to receive a FREE BOOK!

Kathy L. Patrick back at Newgate Mission in Longview, Texas!

Dear Readers,

Once a month I drive over to Newgate Mission in Longview, Texas to lead a class on life writing. This week, Pulpwood Queen Wendy Looney, (far left) traveled with me to go to the class. The mission was packed as they were just finishing up serving lunch. The previous month I had brought tons of penny candy, the kind you use to get at the grocery store or five and dime, to spur childhood memories. Candy like Good n'Plenty, Sugar Babies, Jolly Ranchers, Necco, Smarties, Chick O'Stick, Tootsie Pops and was the response tremendous. You know the five senses help stimulate memories that you would never believe. Pop a Jolly Rancher Sour Apple in my mouth and I'm 9 years old bike riding my purple Schwinn bike with my best friend, Debbie Teegardin, with my little dog Pepper running as fast as he can to keep up with us.

This time I had brought music because I can hear a song and suddenly I'm that five year old again, like Elvis Presley's "Teddybear", or at ten years old hearing "Wipe-Out" and dancing myself into a frenzy, or anything by The Beatles. Hearing The Eagles "Take it to the Limit", I'm suddenly back singing along with my friends in a bar in Aggieville during my college days at Kansas State University. I could go on and on.

I began with playing someone I discovered this past book tour while in Memphis, I put on a Rufus Thomas CD. As everyone in attendance tried to guess the artist, I passed around the Cd case. Everybody started talking, the conversation was lively and by the time I got to the Across the Universe film CD of new renditions of The Beatles music, everybody was signing along, especially to "Let It Be". We listened to Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, and then my personal favorite, Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow". Music can take you places that just remembering can't. I believe a lot of memories were brought forth that day and judging by the smiles on every one's face, happy memories.

As we listened to the music, people would tell me a story. I would say write it down. I had even myself forgotten that during the 60's some of the best memories were listening to the radio play over the speakers as I swam at the city pool. One gentlemen remarked that's because I was white. His memory was sitting on the other side of the fence watching all the white kids swim. I told him, I want to read that story. Please write it.

Some stories make you sad, others make you yearn for those good old days. Listening to music is just another way to bring a new experience and memory to our stories. I hope to read those stories next month as I travel back to visit all my new friends at Newgate. I think I learn more from them than they learn from me. What I do know is that reading and stories help connect people in ways that no other way can. We get to walk in someone else's shoes for a while and makes us understand other people better. I have no idea where my trips to Newgate may lead me but I am enjoying the walk and enjoying the talk. And it's just like I always say, like the old adage, "Life is not so much about the end of your journey, but the ride that gets you there."

Thanks for joining me again on my daily literary musings. Please comment and pass the word.

Next month I plan on bringing my new friends from Newgate Mission over for our Books Alive, Christian and Inspirational Author, Book, and Music Festival, November 7 -9th, at the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson, Texas. Email me at kathy@beautyandthebook.com and I will send you the brochure and registration slip. Won't you all joining us on the life long journey through reading!

Now I'm off to get ready to dress as this Gypsy Fortuneteller to story tell to the children of our Headstart Program here in Jefferson at my church, The First United Methodist, as they come to visit our Pumpkin Patch. There is nothing I love more than reading to children, except maybe reading to pre-teen, teenagers, and adults, ha ha ha! I may not ever get rich, but I am the richest person in the world because I am a reader. Everyday is a gift and as Joan Rivers always said,"That's why they call this the present!"

Tiara wearing and Book sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

Founder of the Pulpwood Queens and author of "The Pulpwood Queen's Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life"

Beauty and the Book

608 North Polk Street

Jefferson, Texas 75657

903-665-7520

www.beautyandthebook.com

www.pulpwoodqueen.com

P.S. Enjoy the photos of all my new friends at Newgate. My life has been blessed getting to know these amazing people!

News from The Pulpwood Queens of Anchorage, Alaska!

Dear Readers,

Just in from The Pulpwood Queens of Anchorage, Alaska! YOU GO GIRLS!

Here is their message below!

Tiara wearing and Book sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

The Pulpwood Queen

kathy@beautyandthebook.com

Back row, left to right:Linda Julian, Pam Andrews, Mary Grove (Queen Mother), Cindy Emery, Catherine PollardFront row, left to right:Kirsten Andrews, Celeste Garcia, Joy Kucisnki, Lisa Tibbets

Here we are at the Alaska Aces annual Paint the Rink Pink fundraiser game against South Carolina. The boys play on pink ice and wear special pink hockey jerseys. Last year's event raised over $100,000 in two nights for various cancer charities. This year's figure has not been announced yet. I am one of the sponsors of the event.The Pulpwood Queens of Anchorage, Alaska are commited to the American Cancer Society as one of their chosen charities. In addition to Paint the Rink, we plan to have a team at Relay for Life 2009. Two of us have already chaired the event over the years, so it's nice just to be a team. Thought you'd like to see our motley crew. Our two other members are Donna Quirk and Arlene Frost who were unable to attend that night, but are active PQ's just the same.

Queen Mary

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!

Dear Readers,

When my oldest daughter who is now in college was born, I read to her books. I read to her before she was born, I read to her, shoot, the other day. One day after a storyhour when she was three, she began to play with her blocks. As she was playing I started doing the wash. I would check on her between loads, fold them, them return to my tasks at hand. She was really into working at building this sculpture. Finally, as I lugged the last load into the living room to start folding on the couch, she hollared, "Ta Da, I'm finished."

As I snapped a towel and folded I inquired, "Tell me about what you have building?"

"I am calling my piece" , I swear she said this, "The Eagle has landed!"

"Wow, honey, that's amazing. Now what else are you going to build?"

"No, mommy, see this is it. I glued the pieces together. Don't you love it?"

As I gritted my teeth, I smiled, and exclaimed, "I love it honey!" As I mentally calculated I had spent around $60 for those blocks at an architectural specialty store in Chicago across from the Chicago Art Institute. Hugging her, I went to get a marker and wrote on the bottom of her sculpture, "The Eagle has landed! by Helaina Amethyst Patrick, Age 3".

Little did I know then how that small piece of sculture about a foot high would grow into even bigger dreams.

Flashforward to this past Sunday, Lainie had come home to join the family as we had tickets to go see "Greater Tuna" at the Jefferson Playhouse. She informed me she was going to spend the night but she had to leave at the crack of dawn as Sunday morning the Outdoor Adventure Club at the University of Texas in Tyler was going skydiving and Lainie had signed up to jump!

I seized my heart as it jumped I swear a foot in my chest. Skydiving, good Lord, why did she tell me. Her dad seemed excited by the idea. In fact, he was thinking about going over. Lainie had to check and called us bright and early Sunday morning and told us to come on over if we liked, but to hurry. She wasn't sure what time she would be going up.

Now Madeleine had had a slumber party the night before so we woke the girls and asked them who wanted to go see Lainie jump out of a plane. Everybody scrambled to get dressed. I drove as fast as the speed limit would allow to the Gladewater airport while Jay got the videocamera ready. We arrived at the airport and found the hangar where they were training fairly easily. It was the one with all the college kids hanging out front. Already a girl was parachuting down, we stood amazed by her bravery as she descended then landed. She was euphoric and her mother was there too smiling to beat the band. I could do this. I could do this.

Lainie ended up being next to last to jump as one student went up at a time with a pilot, another jumper who was to videocam the event, and the instructer who actually rides on the back of the jumper. We all spent the day getting to know the kids and the good people at the airport. Suddenly it was time for Lainie to get in her gear. All I can say from this point is enjoy the photos. She landed sound and safe and looks forward to doing it again.

I have always told my girls try everything and see if it is something you like. Now I put my foot down on adopting a ferret, though Madeleine is still pleading for octopii.

I never knew how much the sculpture, "The Eagle has landed!" would mean until this past Sunday. The University of Texas at Tyler's mascot is the Eagle, how apropos, don't you think! The Eagle has indeed landed and I have the feeling my little girl will be testing her wings more in the future too! She's already signed up for the trip to Colorado to go snowboarding with canoe trips, mountain biking, all in the days ahead. Pray for her momma!

Tiara wearing and Book sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club and author of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life"

Beauty and the Book

608 North Polk Street

Jefferson, Texas 75657

903-665-7520

http://www.beautyandthebook.com/

www.pulpwoodqueen.com

Kathy L. Patrick speaks to Longview Jr. Literary Book Club!

Dear Readers!

I was invited to speak at the Longview Jr. Literary Club at the Summit Club in Longview, Texas yesterday and I have to tell you this was one of the most enjoyable book club meetings I have ever attended. These women could be the poster children for "southern hospitality, as their hospitality went way beyond the call.

Upon arrival I was personally introduced to everybody, offered refreshments, and even personally walked to the ladies room arm in arm with the lovely Joyce. Many of these women use to bring their grandchildren to Barron's Books when I was the children's buyer and manger there years ago. In fact, Eva Jean Blount was one of those women and personally helped initiatee my being invited in the first place. I can tell you I was treated like a true Queen!

Afterwards, several of the ladies insisted I join them for lunch and was that one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had. The Summit Club's sumptious food was divine. I was told the Salmon Provencal was the best and were they ever right. I don't even like seafood but I can tell you, this was one of the best meals I have ever tasted.

While at the Summit Club luncheon I ran into some familiar faces and old friends. Dr. Jeannie Scott from Panola College days and the Phillip Smith, grabbed me by the arm to whisk me off to the back room to introduce myself to the President of one of Longview- Greggton Rotary Clubs. Gene Robertson emailed me later to invite me to speak on literacy to that club this coming January so will keep you all posted on the date. Being the President of Jefferson's Rotary Club, I was thrilled for the invitation and I have to tell you, I can't wait for the meal. Have they secured the perfect venue and no wonder that have such a large attendance. More on that event later...

Before I departed, all the ladies and I chatted about coming for a visit to my shop. I can see many days ahead where this incredible book club graces my doors.

Special note: The Longview Jr. Literary Book Club formed in 1958 and these ladies have been meeting ever since. I can tell you I was so inspired by their cheerful nature and sunny dispositions that I am increasing my ardor for promoting literacy. I do believe I learned more from this visit than they did from me.

So enjoy the photos of some of the finest women I have ever met and what great mentors they can be! I plan to include them in my next book, "The Pulpwood Queens' Guide to Reading for a Higher Purpose" because not only have books inspired me to do good works, it looks like book clubs have too!

Tiara wearing and Book sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs and author of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing, Guide to Life", Grand Central Publishing

Beauty and the Book

608 North Polk Street

Jefferson, Texas 75657

903-665-7520

http://www.beautyandthebook.com/

http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/

Pulpwood Queen Speaking in Longview, Texas!

Dear Readers,

Tomorrow morning I will be headed to Longview, Texas to speak to the Jr. Literary Book Club at the Summit Club. As it's Homecoming in Jefferson, that afternoon I will be attending the big Pep Rally then game as the Jefferson Rotary Club is helping cook hamburgers and I'm President, so better be there! As the Rotarians always say, "Service Above Self".

Back in the shop on Saturday and really excited as that night my family and friends are going to see "Greater Tuna" at the Jefferson Playhouse.

Don't forget Sunday, is Fred McKenzie's 90th Birthday Party and for more on that event, see below.

Also just got this in from the good folks at Music City Texas:

George Jones To Perform at Music City Texas Theater

Dear Patrons and Friends of MCTT, Please join us at Music City Texas Theater for a truly unforgettable evening of entertainment as Country Music Legend George Jones takes the stage Sunday November 30 for a special 6 pm Matinee Concert. Come celebrate with our fellow Texan as he prepares to attend the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. on December 6 in recognition of his lifetime achievement in country music. This show is sure to sell out in record time, so make plans to get your tickets early. Tickets go on sale October 20 to Patrons and October 27 to the Public and may be purchased at the Theater Box Office Mon.- Fri. 10am to 3pm or by phone at 903-756-9934. Ticket prices are $225-$135. Doors open at 4:30 and Showtime is 6:00. We will have more information on this and other upcoming shows soon. Visit the links below to hear music from George Jones' new CD and information about the Kennedy Center Honors.
MCT Theater and Staff

http://www.georgejones.com/home/
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/
http://www.musiccitytexas.org

Don't say we don't have a lot happening here in East Texas so come for a visit! I'll leave the hair dryer on for ya! But call first, 903-665-7520, as doing a whole lot of outside speaking engagements. If you come all the way here, I just want to make sure I'm here to great YOU!

Tiara wearing and Book and ARTS sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

The Pulpwood Queen

http://www.beautyandthebook.com/

http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/

P.S. At my house for Halloween, we always have a visit from the BAT FAIRY! And guess what? He always brings books so check out the great first edition signed book selection I have at my shop including, Ron Rash's "Serena", Joe Nick Patoski's Willie Nelson, and many, many more! I spend a great deal of time selecting the books on my shelves and have we got some great reads and signed to boot!