Some Reflection on My New Book

On Wednesday, this week, I received an advance copy of my newest book. It is really an update - new edition - of one I've worked on 2 times before, but it takes almost as much time as writing a full book. The joy of seeing your work in print is almost indescribable. It's a surge of pride, of a job well done, of knowing that someone else will read what you have written - even if it is by assignment from an instructor. It makes up a little for the hours and hours of really hard work of finding, writing, editing, looking for photos, case studies, sidebars and the like. But the real joy is in the writing, no matter how hard it is and whether anyone reads it or not.

I am just starting on another book and I've been a little slow getting going, but receiving this book in the mail has really encouraged me. I'm ready to start writing, organizing, outlining, talking, writing memos (a format I use to get to thoughts). However, the book I just received is special. It was written by a friend and colleague who died about 8 years ago and I was asked to take over the book by the publisher. I selected two great colleagues to work with me, one of which has moved on to other projects, and now we are in our 3rd edition. It was a lot of work moving it from a very traditional format to a newer and more current and contemporary format and content.

Beginning with the last edition I began to include photos and material from our family. For instance my sister, she and her husband are big NASCAR fans, wrote me a first person experience of attending a NASCAR race. In this edition it was moved to be the very first piece anyone reads - it sets the stage for the recreation experience. I also asked our newest daughter-in-law to write a piece on Why I like to write and I turned it into a case study.

In the last edition I had photos of family and of trips I have taken. For example, I asked Jeni to take photos of her children at the water playground near their old home in Aurora, CO and included it. It also included the 2 oldest children of Donna. Some of the photos are shown here. The one to the right not only was used in the book, but also in our large wall mural at Indiana State University as a recruitment for the program.

I've tried to mix it up a little, but not always able to use just family photos. They need to look good and they need to fit the topic. In this edition I had a chance to work on the history chapters and knew I had just the perfect photo as I wrote about families, recreation, and children. This photo of my mother reading "Child's Life" is of a girl I never knew and yet I wish I had. I will talk more about that later. The photo has evoked such strong feelings in me that I struggle to understand them and at the same time feel like I'm seeing my mother in a different way for the very first time. Writing does cause introspection and reflection. I enjoy doing both.

Finally, I've been able to include a couple of my favorite photos, one of which I took below at a convent at a mountain side castle near Sparta, Greece. I was entranced by the scene, serenity, and beauty.

Thanks for allowing me to share some of my experiences in writing. I need to do more of this.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday Jennifer

Jennifer. On this your 39th birthday I thought I would begin something different. I would find key moments in the lives of our children and talk about them on their birthday. It seems such an appropriate time to do so, and while you are not the first child, you are the first birthday every year. This year I thought I would focus on your mission. I have been busy reading your mission letters home and I have carefully culled them to select some wonderful moments. Happy Birthday Daughter - We Love You!

"Dear Brother and Sister McLean. We are pleased to inform you that your daughter has arrived safely in the Italy Rome Mission. We are so thankful for her and her decision to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary. President R. H. Favero." (4/13/1993)

"I've been transferred .... My district leader said I've brought this district together so quick. He is sad I'm going, but I've done my work here and now it is time to move on." (11/2/1993)

"Rome is huge! Friday night we were looking for an inactive family. We rode the bus for an hour. It finally came to the end of the line. We thought it would go further. We got out and waited 15 minutes for the next bus, rode it for a long time and still didn't get to the family's home. It was 9 pm and we had to turn around and go home." (11/16/1993)

And then her boyfriend ditched her... "I got the nicest letter from Suzanne yesterday. Actually, it was a little package - A get happy package. This is what she put in it: 1) 2 dark red rose petals. They are from the rose Mom gave me for my 16th birthday; 2) The LOVE painted wood piece I did one year at Girl's camp. I just wanted you to know how much I love you; 3) Ribbon and a rose from Donna's wedding. It symbolizes forever! Things can last forever; 4) The Jack's country dancing coupon. I've been country dancing and listen to country music sometimes. That is a happy memory; 5) Yellow conference schedule. It reminds me how important Church is to me and that it should be #1 in my life; 6) The doll means to me peace and love; 7) The colored picture of the trains side by side means the Lord is with you always, if you let him; 8) The tape which is church based so I can listen to it. This tape of friends helps me to be at ease with myself and the world and reminds me of you." (1/12/1994)

To Dad, “You’ve always sent so many beautiful cards. I finally found one that I like enough to send to you! I don’t tell you often enough how much I love you. Remember when we were younger and after we prayed you’d have us all tell one another that we loved them: 'I love you Dad! I love you Mom! I love you Donna!...' What a beautiful thing that was. What a great principle it taught. LOVE! Love is such a neat thing. It breaks all barriers. I’ve found so many people on my mission that had a need for love. When I gave them my love - they changed! People do that when you love them. It fives me such a sense of belonging. They feel loved. Thanks so much for instilling that principle in me. I’ll be eternally grateful. Hopefully I will be able to pass it on to my kids! :-)” (3/15/1994) [I think she has passed it on to her kids - DDM]

"I'm doing good here in Cagliari (CALYERI). That's for you Dad." (5/19/1994)

"Dear Brother and Sister McLean. It is my pleasure to extend an honorable release to your daughter who has successfully completed her mission in the Italy Rome Mission. She has served well and touched for good the lives of many of the wonderful people of Italy. Her influence will long be felt here.” (7/15/1994)

The things I do for Ed, the Business Warrior

Peer pressure has finally gotten to me and so I'm putting a pitch in for Ed, the Business Warrior. A great little comic written by my son. I only read two comics and Ed is one of them. I'm not telling the other. The best part of reading Ed is it helps me to get into Michael's head (I think). He is having a contest and so you should go to it here. Read and enjoy it.

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Teaser

I'm feeling a little tired this Sunday evening, so I just thought I would share a little teaser from Thanksgiving. We had a great time with the Bradley gang. On Monday evening, following Family Home Evening the kids got some double-stuff peppermint Oreos. I thoroughly enjoyed watching how each of the children approached eating their Oreo. Chas clearly didn't quite understand why it wasn't white; Bonnie didn't much care as long as she could eat it; and Charlotte looks like she still hasn't quite figured out how to eat the center. In her case it was scrape it off with a finger, not the teeth. It was fun and it is always great to have grandchildren visiting ... and their parents.

There's oatmeal, then there is OATMEAL!

Motivated by my latest visit to my doctor I'm moving towards a higher fiber diet. Tuesday when I got up, finished my exercises, watched the snow fall, dawdled, and realized there was no movement from the bedroom I decided to make myself oatmeal. How hard can it be? Water... oatmeal... salt... brown sugar... and milk. I followed the directions to the letter - boiled the water, stirred in the oatmeal (1/2 cup), cooked for 5 minutes ... then a little longer, added the brown sugar and milk (yes, I added the salt). Somehow it didn't look the same as when JoAnn does it. Granted, I've never watched her - in fact I made an effort not to watch. I like it when it just appears in front of me. It's sort of like finding clean clothes - not sure where they come from, but when I get up in the morning there they are.

By the time I got through my yummy (and a little lumpy) oatmeal and was about ready to leave my spouse was up and ready for a little oatmeal. I thought I would watch and see what she does different. The water and oatmeal went in together - not at all what the directions say - and were brought to a boil, then simmered for 3 minutes, added a pinch of salt .... At this point I couldn't take it any more. I asked, "Don't you follow the directions?" The response was, "I've always done it this way." I knew instantly I was clearly out of my depth. However, all is not lost. At some point I will be ready to cook oatmeal again - maybe the next time it snows in Las Vegas - and I will have been taught by the expert.

It just goes to prove that there is oatmeal, then there is OATMEAL! And everyone know which one I make.

Wordless Wednesday

Good Morning Las Vegas! It must be January...

One thing consistent about Las Vegas is its weather: Sunny, warm, and dry. Well, that's usually the case, but this winter it has been wet and cloudy. We keep thinking we could live in Indiana and it would be no different - except of course for the snow. That was before this morning. I was out late (around 6 am) for my morning walk and as I left I noticed a skiff of snow on the roof of my car. By the time I got home it had started snowing and they were big wet drops.

The cat and I went out back to investigate and take a photo. I loved it, but the cat decided she had seen enough and couldn't wait to get back inside. To make it a real snowstorm, however, you need school closing, road closings and lots of accidents. Pharump, about 60 miles from here has closed their schools and the highway west out of Las Vegas is closed as well as a portion of the beltway near our home. And accidents - wholly cow - they are everywhere. You would think these folks had never seen snow before.

I finally thought it was time to get JoAnn up so she could see the snow and we took this photo from the kitchen window.

Now we realize for you northerners and easterners this doesn't hardly count, but come on, every 700 or so days we get one of these and we really don't know what to do with it. The TV announcer suggested everyone keep 5 to 8 car lengths apart. We looked at each other and asked, "What planet is he from?" When you are in a community that can barely handle rain, snow is a disaster of biblical proportions.

Oh yes, I'm working from my home desk today. I'm not venturing out on the roads with all of those fools ... at least not for a while.