Glenn R. McLaughlin

This is the more serious side of a two volume memoir, "Oops." being the other half. It is an effort, in case I am not around, to describe me for my granddaughter through my view of others. This collection of essays, poems and short prose explores family, people I have met or just noticed, people whose lives inspire mine, people whose lives have taught me how to be a better caring person in a world that all too often seems not to care. Mine is not a life that has known abuse, addiction, prison, violence or poverty. Similarly, I have not known grand material wealth though I have always been rich. I have been the beneficiary of love and sacrifice, the comfort of family, the dedication of friends. There has been disappointment to be sure, as well as sickness and loss but these are normal, parts of the life we all lead. This book is an effort to understand the gifts I have been given, and continue to receive, and to give my thanks for them.

By same author
The Land I Am Given

A memoir in essay, poem and reflection left for a granddaughter by her grandfather so that she could know him by.....

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T'was the Night Before Christmas... 

 (With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, may he forgive my doggerel...)

...and all through the shop,
all we minions were working,
   until ready to drop.

The ebooks were flying,
the covers were spare,
The edits were crazy,
   with "one more thing I must share!"

We waited for Santa,
'Cuz we love old Saint Nick,
But Hitch made us work,
   Waving 'round an old stick!

So slave we all did,
And made all your books,
So that Hitch would say now,
   that we're off the hook.

Come today we're off,
to rest up our fingers,
Our hats we will doff,
   No books they do linger.

But we'll all be back,
Don't give it a thought,
for like all wage slaves,
   we're easily bought.

We'll be back on the fifth,
all eager and fresh,
All ready for you,
   after a well-deserved rest.

So Hitch wants to say,
very strongly and loud,
THANKS ALL YOU GUYS,
  you're the best type of crowd.

Indy and Len and Hitch and the gang,
will be back on the 5th,
to do books with a BANG!

In the meantime don't worry,
if you're in a hurry,
'cuz some poor guy got stuck
   sitting here like a duck.

Your emails we'll receive,
so no need to grieve.
We'll be a bit slow,
but we're raring to go.

Your books will be worked on,
your edits still made,
we're just resting a bit,
   before we all fade.

So please excuse the delays;
It won't be for days;
we'll jump on your queries,
   for your wondrous new series.

We waited for Santa,
'Cuz we love old St. Nick,
And sure 'nuff he came,
   It wasn't a trick.

And as he rode off,
into the night,
I could swear I heard Hitch yell,
   "That Edit's Not Right!"

~~~~~~~~~~

We'll be back on the morning of January 5th; we'll be here parttime between now and then, thanks.