THANKSGIVING

 "Hard times do not change you, son. They reveal you."

- Samuel Clemens

You ever talk to your characters? I do. 

All the time ... especially during this season of homelessness.

Mark Twain cuts me no slack ... but he does make me smile ... laughing is too hard these days,

"Why did you lose your home, Roland? 

So that you can find a new one. 

So that you can see the concept "HOME"  with new eyes and extra colors.  

And the people around you will be seen differently, too. 

Coming back from a loss is not the same as never having lost ... 

it is the caterpillar blinking its eyes as it emerges from the cocoon." 

- Mark Twain

Wherever you find yourselves, my friends, during this holiday season ...

May the colors, sounds, and "little" blessings come more alive for you.

STILL ALIVE; STILL LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE

 

You're reading a very insecure 

writer right now!

I do not know how much longer

my blood center will let me stay.

They have been gracious 

to let me stay this long.

Poor Midnight is still being boarded.

Every apartment I check is still being renovated.

Those about to become available

are charging $1800 a month for a 1 bedroom, 

sometimes that much for a studio!

Except for those in crack neighborhoods!

The rent controlled units, 

still being repaired, 

insist I make no more 

than $29,000 a year GROSS.

(Including my Social Security)

If I lose my job,

then with only my S.S.

I would not make the 

minimum required.

Sigh.

Say a prayer for me, will you?

HOMELESS BUT STILL A FRIEND

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LSR8HSD/

Being homeless makes 

it near impossible

for me to market 

my own audio book

about to come out.

But Heather is 

a good friend, 

and 

I just have to help 

as best I can.

Amazon bullocked 

her pre-order --

releasing her new

book NOW --

so Heather

has now offered 

the novella that

 launched this

whole series 

for only 99 cents!

How neat is that?

Would you consider

buying both books

now?

IF YOU WERE WONDERING

 

As you know from my last post. 

I was alone at the center 

when Delta hit.

When the power went out that night, the generator kicked on, but did not feed power into the center.

I called the Safe-in-Shreveport Generator Supervisor to inform him of the situation.

He asked me to climb the storm wall one-handed with a flashlight in the other, fighting 96-110 mph winds, 

Take off the middle panel one handed, 

put my hand into a running generator as torrential rains poured into it through the open panel,

and turn the Toggle Switch, whatever the heck that is, 

from Auto to Run, while standing on top of the storm wall, 

trying not to be flung off the slippery stone by the tremendous winds.

"Trust me," he said.

He said that three other times in other suicidal orders during the weekend.

I politely refused each time any of his orders seemed hazardous to my health.

An inspection group is coming this Wednesday to inspect our center, 

whose head took a week's vacation during the hurricane, 

leaving me alone to handle situations for which I was not trained.

The team may have words for me, and I may not be here Thursday ... 

but I will be alive ... 

and out on the streets.

Say a prayer for me, will you?

LAST MAN STANDING

 

I feel a bit like Gordon at Khartoum ...

though it happens to be hurricane winds and water surging towards me.

Or more like HOME ALONE!

Since I had nowhere to go, 

my blood center graciously

allowed me to ride

out the storm here.

The flood walls are up,

and I am safely inside ...

unless the storm surge is higher

than they are!

Say a prayer for me and Midnight, 

will you?

Once again we are

separated.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8VMMYD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=french+quarter+requiem+audio&qid=1597932635&sr=8-1

My excellent narrator,

Scott O'Dell,

deserves to be heard 

and appreciated.

I am privileged 

to have an award-winning

talent doing my book!

Would you consider

buying his and my

audio book?

If I survive,

I would like him

to feel appreciated enough

to do its sequel.

ONCE AGAIN in the path of a Killer HURRICANE

 

 

Heck of a birthday present 

for the 9th!

I could use a prayer or two.

I have nowhere to run to.

If the city is ordered to evacuate,

Midnight will be expulsed 

from the vet!

What to do then?

Lifeshare will not 

accept him with me.

I AM TIRED OF HURRICANES.

WARZONE Living

 

Life is still a war-zone affair.

Lake Charles is not quite as bad 

as the city of which I wrote

in the above book unless ...

You are out after curfew 

and look like you have more 

than the homeless predator 

who spies you alone.

I am down but not out.

Still apartment-less, 

Midnight-less.

He's boarded at the

vet's now ...

for as long as I can

afford it.

He had to get a complete

check-up and get caught

up on all his shots

before the vet would

take him.

I don't know what hurt more,

Midnight's bottom

or my wallet!

But what is within my ability, I do:

I deliver needed blood to those 

who desperately need it ...

like my supervisor 

still fighting for his life,

though just out of the
intensive care unit.

Covid-19 is a true hazard

for rare blood couriers ...

And you can catch it twice!

We do not know how precariously our lives 

are balanced on the razor's edge ...

until life removes the support 

we took for granted.

Appreciate the blessings 

around you, my friends.