A Kitty Story

She asked me to go to the animal shelter to help pick a cat for her new apartment. Apparently, the new apartment came with mice, in addition to free electric and a new refrigerator.

We drove out to Northshore Animal League, my three young children, my friend Rita, and I. How exciting! This was an excellent opportunity to help my children develop a love of animals and a spirit of compassion. Besides, Rita needed our collective wisdom in choosing the perfect de-mouser cat.

Having no intentions of owning a purrfectly pretty feline species, I found myself drawn to a precious little kitten. My children oohed and ahhed, venturing about the animal shelter. Rita was finding it hard to make a decision. I found myself smitten by a yellow-eyed small white kitten... who had weird black spots and a tiny pink nose.

As we headed back to my car, Rita had a big male gray cat in tow. My three youngsters and I had just adopted the petite golden-eyed kitty! What was I thinking? We had no litter box or litter, either! Oh, well- impulsivity had me by the.... shoulders.

What will we name her? Darlene? Princess? Eve? Hmmm... Ginger? Jeannie? I decided on Gina! So it was decided.

Gina knew where her litter box was! Fascinating! She found our apartment quite cozy and settled into our routine. Many long nights of meowing ensued; Gina was in heat. She got out the front door and ran up into a tree. Silly kitty, had no clue how to get down! Then there was the time the patio door slammed on her tail as she attempted a great outdoor adventure. Stripped of fur, her tail was frightening to my children and me- Gina didn't like it either.

Stumpy she was after the vet had to surgically repair her broken tail. He also declawed and sterilized Gina. No claws on my water bed! And no unwed kitties bringing unwanted babies into our apartment.

Many beautiful memories and years of loyal friendship, Gina was a staple in our home. She watched as the children grew up,  moved out, and had children of their own. We watched as her black spots became gray. She enjoyed her Princess status while we dwelled in the city then adapted to country living when we moved.

Yesterday, we buried Gina in a shallow grave in a sunny spot in the rear of our  property. She loved it out in the gardens chasing butterflies and climbing trees.  She was eighteen.

Thank you, Gina, for giving us the best years of your life. When we rescued you that day so long ago, you rescued me. I could not have asked for a more loving friend.

How Do I...

As a new arrival on PNN, I am fascinated by the beautiful pages that I have come across. I look at my pages and cringe. I have many questions but few answers. I am reaching out and hoping for some answers to my questions. I would like to improve the appearance of my blogs-

Question1: What is the most preferred font size and tupe? Verdana 12? Times New Roman 10? What do you use most?

Question 2: How do you get tabs on your pages? I notice that some have them and some do not.

Question 3: How do I make sections and are the sections completely separate from each other? If I want diffent themes got each section, is the color font and size going to affect the others pages?

Question 4: Is there a way to upload videos?

I have lots more questions but for now, please feel free to jump in and help this newbie out. Abundant gratitude in advance.

Signed,

Perplexed in New York

In Tune With Nature

   A  couple years back, the husband and I decided to purchase the property adjacent to ours. I was ecstatic because not only did this property offer new and wonderful acreage for me to plant more gardens, but it also had a pond!

   Little did I know that the pond was not a fish pond or a duck pond, as I had originally thought. Turns out that this lovely, serene little pond was home to an enormous family of frogs. Gazillions of them!

   There must have been five generations of these bug-eyed, slimy green monsters.

   Well, I told my darling husband that I didn't expect the frogs to be a problem for me and, in fact, the frogs would be a great teaching tool for my granddaughter. Afterall, didn't we all have the pleasure of learning about the evolution of frogs in school. From tadpole to monster frog? And, who can forget the long-awaited day in science class where we got to disect a frog!! I know I upchucked my lunch that day and never seemed to look at frogs the same since.

   One glorious spring morning I decided to run down to my favorite plant shop and buy some geraniums to plant in a new patch. Down on my knees with my gardening tools, soil, fertilizer and watering can I plopped all geared up to start a brand new beautiful garden.

   For this gardener, there is nothing better than having the warm springtime sun lightly caressing the back of my neck as I bend over to dig a hole for the next plant to go into. I usually work in my gardens with my headphones on, depending on my mood whatever genre is playing, the music is always loud.

   On this particular day, I was jamming to my favorite reggae artist, Bob Marley. My favorite song came on, Three Little Birds, so I turned the music up even louder and really got into it. I suppose one could say that I was in tune with Nature and it felt good.

   As I reached for the next geranium and proceeded to put it into the hole,  suddenly something moved. Well, at first I thought it was another green leafed plant that may have been touched by me or maybe the light wind had moved it. But, no! There in the hole that I had just finished digging were two of the biggest eyes I had ever seen staring up at me! It was a mammoth frog, the biggest, nastiest thing that I had ever laid my eyes on! I screamed and flung the dainty red geranium to the ground and bolted toward the house.

   In my haste to get to safety, about three feet from where I was planting, I nearly stepped on another frog!

   I clumsily dropped my headphones to the ground and then was startled by a chorus of frogs. They were everywhere I turned;  to the right in the vegetable patch, to the left in my daisies, and straight ahead on the deck!

   Good God, how dare these frogs disturb my serenity! Hubby, half awake and quite disturbed by my piercing screams, came running from the house to see what had happened.

   "Where's the bear or is it a snake?" he inquired.

   I shrieked, "Honey! There's a frog over there!! And, look! They're everywhere! Do something!"

   The look that my spouse gave me was even worse than the grimace that the King  frog had given me. My husband frowned and said, "you've got to be kiddin me!"

   Then proceeded to go back into the house. I was left to fend for myself, to rid my beautiful yard of the attacking, hopping, noisey, nasty frightening creatures.

©by Miriam L. Jacobs.

All rights reserved. No republication of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.

I No Longer Color My Hair

Miriam L. Jacobs was born in Flushing, New York in March 1960. The fourth of five children, she excelled in school using her talent for writing as a way to cope with a difficult life, dysfunctional family, and social stresses. The compiler of the notable and empowering Ferris Wheel Series has dedicated her life to reaching out her hand to help others through her literary endeavors. Her first published poem was in 1978 in the Jabberwocky Literary Magazine when a senior in high school.

She began writing to raise public awareness when her first grandchild, Candace Chantel Battiste, was born in 1999 with a rare skin condition known as Giant Congenital Nevus. Author Jacobs wrote My Name is Not Monkey Girl, first released in June 2007, as a tool to promote compassion, and tolerance, as well as to raise awareness and funds for her granddaughter's continuing facial reconstructive surgeries.

In 2008, Author Jacobs released her debut novel, The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine, a deeply haunting, fast-paced psychological thriller. She is currently writing part one of her memoir, I No Longer Color My Hair, expected for release in late 2009.

Dare to dream, and dream big! 

Kema Corless' Amazing Weight Loss Story

  When I first met Kemalani Corless I was struck with a bolt of inspiration. Never in my life had I met a woman as strong, courageous, and determined to shed weight before. My heart was moved, my soul was stirred, and I knew that I had to ask for her story.

   Women posess a tenacious spirit and never give up until we have reached the goal, grabbed the prize, and declared victory. Kema is a winner and a survivor. She knows the depths of hell having lived through many turbulent times as an overweight youth  suffering with multiple physical ailments. Raised without the love of her mother, she was raised by her elderly maternal grandparents who showered her with love and fed her food to compensate for her mother's absence.

   Kemalani grew into a self-conscious, sensitive, obese woman who had violent and frequent seizures, difficulty walking, and the nability to lose and keep the pounds off. During the better part of her life, her struggle was continuous and extremely painful - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

   Before considering having surgery to improve her health that would also assist in the weight loss, Kema was blessed to meet and marry the love of her life. He stood by her side and helped her through the worst of times. Love is blind, so the adage goes. Kema's knight in shining armor saw into her beautiful eyes, her loving spirit, and her warm heart, proposed and married.

   Kema Corless and The Ferris Wheel

   Mrs. Corless is as bright and bubbly as a tall glass of sparkling cider. Her temperment rivals that of a calm and patient Golden Retriever. When asked to share a chapter in the inspirational ten-volume series, How to Jump From a Ferris Wheel and Land on Your Feet, Vol. IV, she was grateful and excited for the opportunity.

   I love Kema Corless! We will meet in her hometown in Hawaii when we do an author meet and greet with other phenomenal women from the Ferris Wheel series.

   Whatever the cards that life deals us, we must learn how to take action to turn it into a winning hand. As I have stated often, if prunes is the only fruit we have, make pastries!

Candalyse Publishing 2009

Sad Eyes

I see the sadness in her eyes.
My heart breaks when her eyes cry.
Wanting for nothing more than love
yet chilling when others run from her.
A child with a heart as bright as gold;
One who loves to share her soul.
But, children fear what they don't know..
Her eyes share sadness, stories untold.
Even in school, momentary stares
Behind her back whispers and glares..
Mood swings abound, as she strives
to remain empowered.
Do adults lie?

We tell her that she's beautiful,
Smart, amazing
Yet, children say she wears
Ugliness like a dress.
I say beauty comes from within..
Radiate that beauty to those around
Let them rise to her level, inquiring
About her sad eyes and her frown.

Perhaps, then, others can learn
a thing or two about tolerance
From a child who has seen
Far too much ugliness
from children whose parents
Failed to teach that you and she
are just like thee.
Hearts and lungs...
Fingers and toes
Eyes and ears, mouth and nose..
We are all the same deep inside

Please, my child, never run and hide
Because children fear what
They don't understand.
Spread your light throughout the land!
God made her in His image.
Who are we to judge and tease her?

Let those eyes smile, dry up sad tears
for in good time the heart will reveal
That they had unjustified fears
Then they'll know that
Nothing is as it appears!
If you could walk a day in her shoes
You could not handle the constant abuse!
Make a truce and reintroduce
Patience and tolerance to those little feet
Who seem so happy and so carefree

Let them know it could have been thee
Born with a difference just like she.
We as adults, are the appointees
to raise compassionate, loving babies.
Teach our children what truly matters
and that staring and comparing
is how hearts and souls shatter.

Copyright 2007 by Miriam Mimi Jacobs
All Rights Reserved

Dedicated to Candace Chantel Battiste

Embracing Candace: Anthology One (Released 2007)

How to Jump From a Ferris Wheel and Land on Your Feet

Ferris Wheel III

The third volume in the inspirational ten volume series, How to Jump From a Ferris Wheel and Land on Your Feet, was released in late September 2008.

The Foreword was written by Tawana Williams, world renowned Motivational Speaker, Mentor, Life Coach, and Author of Unarmed But Dangerous.

Amongst the real life stories shared in this volume are ten chapters written by women who have lived and survived extreme adversities.

Facing Adversity Head On
Born with no arms, Tawana Williams never let this minor detail stop her from accomplishing goals of enormous magnitudes. Standing only 4'6" tall, Tawana Williams is bigger than life!

Embracing Candace Anthology Raises Funds for Surgery

BETHEL, NY- June 18, 2007- Author/poet Miriam L. Jacobs has recently published an anthology dedicated to raise awareness to a disorder that her eldest granddaughter was born with. Giant Congenital Nevus

Her granddaughter, Candace, who celebrates her 8th birthday today, June 18, was born with Giant Congenital Nevus. The delivery room fell silent on that notable date in 1999. Even the delivering doctor did not know what was covering two-thirds of the tiny baby's face.

After some research, Mrs. Jacobs determined that the public at large needed to be educated and has written numerous editorials and articles to this end sharing about this potentially malignant, socially unacceptable skin condition.

In May 2007, published through Lulu.com, Mrs. Jacobs wrote, My Name is Not Monkey Girl, to help promote tolerance and compassion for children who are born with physical differences who are often the victims of stares, finger pointing, taunts, whispering and name calling.

The title of this inspirational children's story is significant in that one youngster called Candace a monkey girl while Candace attempted to play with her.

According to the author, "I decided then and there that parents need to educate their children on how to be tolerant of others who look different from them!  Giant Congenital Nevus is a rare skin disorder which affects hundreds of babies each year, yet few people have ever heard of it. I knew that I would someday write a book called, My Name is Not Monkey Girl, and I thank God for giving me the strength and wherewithal to do it!"

An Attitude of Gratitude

   Living life with a positive attitude and a spirit of gratitude is critical to personal empowerment. Oftentimes, we go through life with a dark cloud of doom and gloom hanging over our heads. This keeps us living in a darkened world filled with negative thoughts, emotions, and actions - and inaction.

   In order to obtain a spirit of gratitude, use a journal to record all of the things that you are grateful for. It is amazing how much we take for granted!

   Keeping the company of others who are moving forward in a positive direction will encourage positivity and action. Setting sensible, attainable goals goes a very long way in keeping us encouraged and grateful.

   As we move through life, making each day count is essential to fulfilling our purpose. Initiate, meditate, and dedicate yourself to your goals. Believe in yourself and tell yourself that you are a winner amongst winners!

   If you believe that you will succeed, you will!

Copyright 2009 by Miriam L. Jacobs

Poetry

Thinking of Aaron

Spent the morning remembering
Your life, your joys, your trials
Your life seemed to mirror mine
I remember them with smiles

It was not always easy
Seeing you go through pain
But one thing that I learned
From you is no pain, no gain

Today, you would be fifty
Had the Lord spared your life
So, brother, here's to remembering you,
Your precious girls, and your wife

So long ago you and I were
Like twins; two peas in a pod
We were like bread and butter;
You got in trouble, and so did I

Today, as I think of you and
The painful way you died
I need to tell you, Brother,
That happy tears I cried

When after years of wondering
Why God took you away
Today I know your death was
My catalyst for change

It is your hearty laughter
That I hear in the breeze
Your peaceful smile, your inner spirit
That is worth remembering

Today I choose to celebrate
Not mourn, not sit and cry
Today I live a life of joy
And here is the reason why

On the day the dreadful fire
Took away your life
In His infinite wisdom
The Lord handed me mine

At first, I didn't appreciate it
Opting to suffer in a drunken haze
But had it not been for you
I would not have changed my ways

So, Aaron, know that I love you
I always have and I always will
Know that someday we will meet again
Up high on a heavenly hill

We'll run, we'll frolic, and we'll dance
We'll laugh, we'll sing, and cry
We'll share about the good old days
And how in vain you did not die

Thank you for loving me
Thank you for sharing my life
Thank you for giving me three nieces
Thank you for your lovely wife

He took you all as a family
Ending the sadness, the trials, the strife
Today, as I remember you
I thank God you were in my life!

Happy birthday, my brother
Aaron Eleazar Stephens
November 18, 1958- September 18, 1987

copyright 2008 by Miriam L. Jacobs