First Shameless Plug
Some of you may know, some of you may not. My mother is an independent publisher who helps Maine authors and poets publish their works. The books she publishes include poems, non-fiction and a selection of a few fiction pieces. Essentially, the offerings represent a cross section of Maine culture. Check out her website at http://www.jstwrite.com.
Second Shameless Plug
One of my mother's authors is H. R. Coursen, a nationally-recognized Shakespearean scholar, writer, teacher and poet. You can experience a taste of his work at his newly started blog, http://hrcoursen.blogspot.com. His writing is at times thought-provoking, enjoyable and far-reaching in scope.
So since I started writing the earlier post this morning, watched some financial news program on TV. How does anyone know what to believe when they watch TV, read the paper or listen to the radio? But that's another blog. Someone asked the question, what would happen if the bailout doesn't go through? The answer given by this man was that companies would stop lending money, which would lead to companies not making payroll, which would lead to more layoffs. Is this really the world we live in? Use news to incite fear and allow our chosen representatives to potentially bankrupt our country and future generations? I'd like to know why our Congress people can't put aside their partisan politics to come up with workable, financially-sound solutions. Is this asking too much?
So this $700 billion dollar bailout that is currently being debated in Congress... What? Debated? How is this plan even given the justification of being debated! Shelve it! And amazingly enough, it appears to be something that most Americans you meet on the street agree with. No corporate bailouts!
I had an idea a few weeks ago and then recently I've heard financial analysts discussing. If we're going to spend the money, come up with a program that allows owner-occupants who are in danger of losing their homes to refinance into a mortgage that they can afford the monthly payments. Lower the interest rate, extend the length of the mortgage. Whatever necessary to allow people to keep their homes. This serves several purposes:
1. Potential foreclosures will go down.
2. Debts will not be defaulted, and payments will be made.
3. Fewer homes will fall into disrepair and neglect because people live there, helping to maintain property values.
My eyes are gummy as I fight the urge to shut them again. It's almost as if there are magnets on each lid, attracting each other. Slowly and grudgingly, I role to one side in preparation to sit up. Through bleary vision, I attempt to read the glowing, red letters on the alarm clock. 2:00 PM! Shocked, there is no longer a need to fight sleep. Panic has set in and, strangely, I feel no need to languish in bed. Jumping up, I stumble to the dresser, off balance from the quick movement. My body hasn't quite caught up to the commands of my brain. MOVE! Scrambling through the drawers for clothes that hopefully match when I put them on. Thank God, it's Saturday and not a week day. No work to miss, but all my plans for the day. Laundry, shopping, bike ride and more! I know I turned off the lights at 11:00 last night. How could I have slept for fifteen hours?
I check my phone for any messages and strangely there are none. Odd, since I usually hear from family and friends on Saturdays. They know it's the best day to reach me. Resigned, I hop in the shower and fly through my typical morning routine. Hair, face, body. Spin, spin, spin. Should have practiced the "Airborne Shower" more in college.
After dressing, I check the phone again. No messages. Maybe it's not so bad. Feed the cat. Gather the laundry. Pull together my cycling gear. One last look around the house and I open the door.
Darkness greets me through the door frame. Confused, I gaze down on the deserted parking lot. One high street light throws illumination between my building and the one opposite. This isn't right. Closing the door, I check my phone one more time. With a growing unease I read the time with a fully alert gaze. 2 AM! Back to sleep I go.
A woman waits for a knock at the door, unsure what to expect. Trying to stay calm, her gaze drifted to her surroundings, not settling for any length of time before moving to the next point of interest. The small room gives the impression that someone took some effort to make the space seem comfortable. Softly patterned wallpaper covers the walls with a picture frame located on the one opposite her perch. A pastel, watercolor-style print depicts a beach scene from a house porch. Carpet and soft seating complete the impression of a cozy corner appropriate for chatting or reading. Along one wall, a sterile counter covered with small jars and boxes stands in stark contrast to the rest of the room. It would be difficult to feel fully at ease after viewing the implements laid out within easy reach. This is not a place for chatting or reading.
From the hall, she hears hushed voices and the swish of clothes as people walk by her door. Every time someone pauses, she holds her breath, waiting for the sound that said she would be joined. She shivers slightly from a combination of chills and anticipation. Her mind races, jumping from one possible scenario to another, before she forces herself to examine her surroundings again.
A light tap on the door indicates her doctor has returned. Whether the news is good or bad, her life will change irrecoverably.
It was as if reality blurred. For one moment, the image of a castle super-imposed itself over the splintered stump. Spiked turrets and high walls separated it from the surrounding landscape.
The foreboding structure was softened by the greenery spilling over every surface. It is easy to imagine sunlight caressing the slender figures of elves as they make their way through their city.
The image blurs again, leaving the overgrown stump highlighted by sunlight coming through the trees above.
