My December 2008 Newsletter


Vanessa A. Johnson Speaks


Greetings and Happy Holidays to you and your family. Let me begin by saying this is my first newsletter. Woohoo!

LITERARY NEWS

Woohoo! I'm writing again. Now, you may be wondering why the celebration. It's a celebration for me because my writing muse has been on an extended vacation. Writer's block, you ask? Nope, I just haven't felt like writing. The characters from my novels in progress have been speaking inside my head, but I've been ignoring them. But, no more! I'm putting my fingers to the keyboard, and I'm plucking away. This newsletter is evidence of that.

What I’m Reading
The Official Study Guide for the Louisiana Notary Examination

My Top 5 Favorite Reads of ‘08
1. Sweet Georgia Brown by Cheryl Robinson
2. Passin’ by Karen Q. Miller
3. An Eye For A Deadly Eye by John A. Wooden
4. In Bed With Her Boss by Brenda Jackson
5. Her Little Black Book by Brenda Jackson

*****
Local Happenings

LET IT SNOW!
In the words of Boys II Men, “Let it snow, let it snow...” It snowed here in Ama, Louisiana on Thursday, December 12th. What's the big deal? Well, if you are familiar with this part of the US (the deep south) we don't see snow too often. As a matter of fact, the last time we had snow here was on December 25, 2004. We got about 1-2 inches, while some other areas saw up to eight inches. And it was beautiful while it lasted, all 3 hours of it.

INSPIRATION

While this may be a happy and joyous time for many, there are many who find themselves sad, depressed, and lonely during this holiday season. For them I offer some words of encouragement, as well as some suggestions on how to handle grief during this holiday season, which are taken from my article, Grief Happens.

Grief, according to Webster's dictionary is defined as deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement; 2. A source of deep mental anguish; 3. Annoyance or frustration: Example: Trying to follow their directions was nothing but grief; 4. Trouble or difficulty: Example: the grief of trying to meet a deadline. *

Grief is our response to that loss or change. Everyone reacts to things differently, and it is the same with grief. There are many factors that will determine our reaction to grief; factors such as our personality, age, the relationship we had with our deceased loved one(s), our culture, and our spiritual beliefs and upbringing.

There are five steps to the grief process, Disbelief, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Everyone may not experience all the steps of the grief process, just as everyone doesn’t experience them in the same order.

There is no right way or wrong way to grieve, and misconceptions about a right or wrong way in the grief process can make the bereaved person question their feelings in relation to the deceased or their sanity if their grief doesn’t happen in neat orderly fashions as society dictates or it doesn’t happen in a timely manner, or we don’t accept the loss when others think we should. I can’t count the many times I’ve heard people say, “Oh you should be over your grief by now.”

Understanding what grief can be like; finding ways to safely express those emotions, and coming up with coping strategies can help the bereaved person endure the pain of their loss or the change in their environment.

Grief includes a wide range of emotions that include, but are not limited to: anger, anxiety, change in worldview, confusion, depression, despair, drop in self-esteem, fear of going insane, feeling unable to cope, guilt and remorse, helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, questioning your value and belief system, relief, shock and disbelief.

Losing a loved one or being faced with a change in your normal environment can be life-shattering events that affect you emotionally, physically and spiritually. So it is important that you try to look after yourself in order to help you move along in the grief process, and not become stagnant in one or more of the steps of the grief process.

Some suggestions that might help you progress through grief are:

•Diet and exercise – grief’s impact on the body can cause symptoms including sleeplessness, anxiety, restlessness that can affect your internal system as well. Taking care of you by paying attention to diet and getting regular exercise can help to alleviate many, if not all of these problems.

•Relaxation - schedule some time every day to wind down, using whichever methods that work for you, i.e., meditation, taking long baths, playing sports, reading, doing hobbies such as cooking/baking, doing puzzles, surfing the internet or listening to music.

•Avoid chemical stimulants - try to avoid turning to drugs such as cigarettes, alcohol or antidepressants to help you manage your grief. They won't ease your pain. They can cause other health problems and in some cases can assist in prolonging your grief.

•Be realistic - try to be kind and gentle to yourself. Accept that you need to grieve in the ways that feel natural to you. Don't judge or criticize yourself for not coping as well as you think you should or how others think you should.

Some coping strategies to help you through grief include:

•Crying - Some people feel that crying isn't appropriate or else they're afraid that once they start crying, the tears won't stop. If you feel the need to cry, do it. Crying is our normal human response to many of life’s heartaches. However, if there are no tears, it does not mean that there is no grief. As I’ve said before, everyone grieves differently. Crying is cleansing and good for the soul.

•Spend time alone - schedule time alone every day to focus on your feelings and express them in whichever way feels natural to you. For example, you may choose to study the word of God and praying, or write a diary or journal. Computers can simplify the journaling process for you, as there are many uses with them. Computers come loaded with writing programs already installed on them, i.e., Word, Word Perfect, and if you have access to the Internet, there’s the world of Blogging.

A Blog, short for weblog, is defined as a personal or noncommercial web site that uses a dated log format (usually with the most recent addition at the top of the page) and may contains links to other web sites along with commentary about those sites.**

There are many free online sites that provide the place and space for you to create an online. Some are:
•MyDearDiary.com
•OpenDiary.com
•Deardiary.net
•My-Diary.org
•Livejournal.com
•www.thoughts.com
•Your computer should have some type of Microsoft software already installed on your computer, i.e., Word, Word Perfect, Notes, etc. Using this alternative, no one can view your journal unless you want them to do so.

The following website is also a good resource for finding online diaries and journals: http://dir.yahoo.com/Social_Science/Communications/Writing/Journals_and_Diaries/Online_Journals_and_Diaries/. Or you can simply Google the words, online journal or online diaries, for additional options that may be best suited for your needs.

Other forms of coping strategies are:

•Spending time with your family - schedule time to grieve as a family if possible. This time could include talking about the deceased, crying together and sharing your feelings together.

•Pampering yourself - include activities in your daily or weekly schedule that you enjoy, i.e., a massage, a spa treatment, getting manicures and/or pedicures, or hair done.

•Developing a Support system (if you don’t already have one) - actively seek out support from others. This could include friends, co-workers, doctors, community health centers, bereavement support groups or professional counselors. Talking is helpful in just about every situation life presents. Talking can keep those involved from feeling isolated. The right words spoken from the right person at the right time can make all the difference in the world to the bereaved. Don't be ashamed to discuss your feelings that may arise from any situation that may cause you grief.

In addition to interacting with a support system physically, there are online groups that offer support as well. Some online support groups are:
•http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Grief_Group
•http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/grief_support
•http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LIVING_WITH_GRIEF
•http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheBereavementJourney
•http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/healingheartshaven

There are hundreds, if not thousands more groups like these. If you have Internet access, you can perform a search using key words such as grief, grief groups, or grief support to find one that’s suitable for you.

•Create a memorial – If may like to write letters to your loved one, plant a memorial tree, put together a special photo album, or commemorate their life in whichever ways feel meaningful to you and your family. Again, the Internet can be a nice source for creating an online web site or displaying and sharing photos with others. If you have Internet connections, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may provide capabilities for doing this. Some free Websites that allow you to create memorial sites for your loved ones are:
www.last-memories.com
www.memory-of.com
www.christianmemorials.com
www.gonetoosoon.org
www.muchloved.com
www.sympathytree.com

•Seek Professional help - see your family physician for help and referral if you feel out of control and regardless of what you do, you can’t progress through one or more of the steps of the grief process.

Remember, healing is the end result of the steps of grief. By healing, I mean coming to terms and accepting the loss. While many, if not all of the emotions associated with grief seem to come and go, it is important to feel them and accept them. There is no quick fix or magic pill that will suddenly make these feelings and emotions disappear overnight, or in days, weeks or even months, especially with loss through death, but grief can be short-lived for some things that cause you grief.

With the passage of time, patience, and compassion from yourself and others, you will eventually be able to find your center again. You will feel restored and you will be able to adapt to your new ‘normal’. Also remember that time does heal all wounds. The End.

*****

WHAT'S BAKING :)

Here are some of my favorite cookie recipes that I make and share with family and friends during the holidays. Instead of buying some gifts, these make perfect gifts

WHISKEY/RUM BALLS

1 Large Package vanilla wafers
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup pecans
1 1/2 tsp cocoa
2 Tbsp white Karo syrup
1/4 cup whiskey or rum

Grind pecans and vanilla wafers. Mix all ingredients and roll into balls the size of a small marble and then roll in powdered sugar. Place balls in an airtight container. For added zest, lightly sprinkle a little more rum or whiskey on top of balls before closing. Enjoy!

MINIATURE PECAN PIES
CRUST: 3/4 stick butter, 3 oz Philadelphia cream cheese, 1 cup flour. Combine ingredients and refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour.

Pecan Mix: 1/2 stick butter, 1 egg, 1 cup pecans, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup Karo syrup and 1 tsp vanilla. Remove crust from refrigerator and roll into individual small balls. Press into small muffin pans. Add amount of desired pecan mix. Bake at 325 degree for 30 minutes.

ROCK COOKIES
3 1/2 cup flour, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cup sugar, 2 sticks butter, 3 eggs (beaten), 1 tsp baking soda (dissolved in 2 tsp water) 2 cups pecans (chopped and floured).

Mix together. Mixture will be thick. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. Makes 8 dozens.

As you can see, I love baking, and I love short recipes when I do so. I also love collecting recipes, and now I'm in the process of writing down some of my family's recipes that I may eventually put together in a cookbook. So if there's something you're craving for and need a recipe for it, nine times out of ten, I'll have it in my collection or my head. Hit me up at vjohns1@bellsouth.net. I'd be happy to share it with you.

*****

Next month I'll share an excerpt of one of my novels that I'm rewriting. In addition, I'll share my experience regarding my trip to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration festivities. That's right, my daughter, Alexis and I will be trekking to our nation's capitol.

This is my first newsletter and I know it won't be the last one. But for now, I'd like to take this time to wish you and yours a very safe and happy holiday season. Most importantly, let us all remember the REASON for the SEASON. In closing, I'd like to share a poem titled, Not Even Hurricane Katrina Could Cancel Christmas in New Orleans, taken from my poetry collection (unpublished) titled, Creole Talking, Ramblings of A Creole Country Girl:

Not Even Hurricane Katrina could Cancel Christmas in New Orleans

Since that faithful day in the year of our Lord 2005, on Monday, August Twenty-ninth,
When a girl named Katrina, so life-like, spewed it’s fury, oh my what a sight,
As it blew in over several of the South’s Gulf States,
Claiming lives, destroying property and changing everyone’s fate.

Many people were left homeless and scattered about,
With only the clothes on their backs, that left little doubt,
About their present situations, their futures, with the holidays looming,
Many residents were left near their breaking points, fuming.

Homes that weren’t destroyed sported blue plastic paper that covered damaged roofs,
Public Officials warned, ‘no fireworks’ to keep those blue roofs from going poof,
That didn’t make it easy for St. Nick to maneuver through the darkened city,
For you see, many areas still have no electricity, a quiet eerie, what a shame and a pity.

The people of this great city didn’t let Katrina dampen their holiday spirit,
They strung lights, and other Christmas decorations determined to overcome it,
As gumbos simmered, stuffing prepared as their butterballs were basting,
“Ain’t got time for this foolishness,” they said, “time’s a wasting.”

St. Nick managed to bring a smile to many faces,
Temporarily replacing the despair in the hearts of all races,
And Christmas went on with very few hitches,
Didn’t cause much fanfare, despite all the obvious glitches.

Hopefully soon the ghost of Hurricane Katrina will be a distant memory,
And Christmas Future will present a completely different and festive story.

THAT'S All FOLKS! See you in '09

Love & Peace,
Vanessa A. Johnson
www.vanessaajohnson.com
http://vanessaspeaks.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/vanessaajohnson