Musings – Page 3 – Sonja Danielson

It’s Your Turn!

Send me questions or comments on things you want to know!

You can use this site or my email (sonjadanielson@gmail.com).

I want to hear from you! Sonja

#fathersday

Moms had their day in May; now it’s time for the Dads!

First celebrated in 1910 on the third Sunday of June, this day is set aside for dads and anyone with paternal bonds. It became an official holiday in the United States in 1966, thanks to a bill signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Catholic Europe celebrated fatherhood as far back as the 1500s-in March. Before that, the Catholic Church observed it on St. Joseph’s Day. This goes back to the late 1300s or early 1400s.

How did it get to the Americas? It was The tradition was brought to the Americas by the Spanish and Portugese. Thank you to those explorers and settlers!

Different countries hold the celebrations throughout the year, from February to December, with the bulk of the countries observing Father’s Day in June. The earliest is Russia and Belarus. They also celebrate the men and women who served in the Russian Armed Forces. December is the month that Thailand celebrates fathers and also the birthday of the king. In every village, they will wear yellow, light candles, and listen to the king’s annual speech.

The say was originally spelled “Fathers’ Day,” but by 1913 the apostrophe had moved to make it “Father’s Day” in a bill during the first attempt to make it a holiday. This spelling is still in use today.

Happy Father’s Day to all those with paternal bonds! Sonja

Don’t Judge…

One of my favorite philosophies is: You never know what someone is going through, so be nice.

I also like the idea that “unless you walk in someone else’s shoes, you can’t understand what they’re going through.”

I try to keep those in mind whenever I run across someone. If they’re happy, sad, angry, despondent, etc. it’s important to approach with love.

I can remember how it felt to be judged without that person knowing what was going on in my life, and inside my head.

I remember being the one judging. It makes me cringe and I want to find those people to apologize to them.

I think I’m this retrospective because I’m writing Lady Zepherine’s story. She’s going through a lot that I went through and it can be difficult to open those doors. I’ve been very successful in locking up those memories, especially from high school, and now I am taking a key to those rusty locks.

It’s not as traumatic as other people’s experiences, but it was a lot to handle when I was a young teenager. Wait, aren’t all teenagers the same age? Chronologically, yes. But I was young, emotionally and physically. Which can be difficult when you’re in middle and high school.

I can’t wait for you to read Lady Zepherine’s story! Sonja

#cancersurvivorsday

Today is the day to celebrate anyone in your family who has survived cancer. According to the NCSD website, this applies to any living person who has overcome cancer-from diagnosis to today. NCSD is observed on the first Sunday of June worldwide.

It’s a day to celebrate life, in a month set aside to recognize these survivors. The website highlights words such as celebration, inspiration, support, and outreach.

There are events in many locations around the world to recognize those who have beaten the ‘Big C.’

These days, since we shouldn’t gather in large groups, you can connect online. I recommend doing an Internet search for an event that works for you.

Today, there are more than 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States (according to the NCSD.org website). They are supported by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, which is a nonprofit that collects information for cancer survivors. The Foundation “works to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors by raising awareness of the ongoing challenges of cancer survivorship.”

So, if you have someone in your life who has survived cancer (I have many!), today is the day to recognize their amazing battle and recovery!

Take care of yourself and others, Sonja

It’s Nice To Be Noticed!

Sunflowers are not wallflowers. I mean, look at her! She faces you and demands attention.

As a writer, it’s difficult to do that. We are, by nature, solitary beings but it’s important to seek recognition. Especially when you’re not on the New York Times Best Sellers list…yet.

The hard part is exposing your work. That can be difficult. Good writing shows a soft, mushy part of your psyche, something you may not want to revisit or have anyone else see.

Writing the Fairies of Carlow series is cathartic for me. I can take all those angsty moments of growing up and put them into the story. Then I get to say what I should have said back then, or done what would have made things better. (Such as, standing up to those bullies, or not taking myself too seriously.)

Sometimes, as I’m writing a scene based on something that really happened to me, I cringe at the memories. Once the story’s finished, I feel better about it, but getting there is a slog through the emotional swamp.

In my new Fairies of Carlow book, based upon Lady Zepherine, I’m taking a look at the bullies who made me miserable during middle school and high school. Oh, it’s hard to look back on those people (both male and female) and remember what I had to endure! But there’s plenty of material! Silver lining? Hopefully!

Pressing on that sensitive nerve ending, Sonja

#sundayfunday

It’s Sunday. That means it’s a day for fun!

It doesn’t matter what your preference is for your free time (hiking, sitting by a river, soaking in a tub, reading, writing). Just remember to protect others by following social distancing and wearing a mask.

It isn’t just for your health, but for those who are around you.

I plan to spend the day writing and reading. Those are my preferences. I am scheduled for a bit of surgery on Tuesday, so I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I lose function in my wrist (that’s where the surgery will be).

I’ll be in a cast, so using the laptop will be difficult. I plan to try, though. I don’t think I can go weeks without writing. It makes me happy.

What makes you happy? Let me know. Sonja

Lucy the Wonder Dog

Much of the focus of the Guinness the Therapy Dog series is on–Guinness the Therapy Dog. As it should be. But did you know that he has a companion/older sister?

She is Lucy the Wonder Dog. She is very shy and is happy to leave the spotlight to Guinness.

Lucy lives with us, too. She was, I think, significantly abused when she was a puppy and bears the emotional scars to this day. Lucy has lived with us for seven years, but cannot move past her suspicion of everyone and everything. She is on anti-anxiety medication (CBD tincture), which does a tolerable job but doesn’t completely eliminate her fears.

She is also a genetic mess. She suffers from permanent dislocations of both back kneecaps, her front legs are shorter than her back legs, and one of her front legs is shorter than the other causing a limp. She also has an impressive underbite. Even bulldogs are, like, “DUDE!”

But Lucy is a sweet girl and asks for attention-but, only from me. She doesn’t like men, hats, or loud noises.

Guinness loves her and they rely on each other for support. When I take Guinness for a walk (not her, she can’t go on walks longer than 50 yards because of pain), she waits by the door and talks to him when he returns. It’s a sweet relationship.

Lucy didn’t make me write this! Sonja

Snakes

I don’t like them. I do pet the rainbow boa constrictor at the zoo, but it takes a lot of self-talk to get up the nerve.

I think it’s because they don’t have legs. I have a thing for legs. I like ’em on my animals. I also don’t like slimy things. Yes, I know that doesn’t apply to snakes, but there are legged things that are slimy that I don’t appreciate–slimy looking lizards, for example. We had a large hatching here at the house of slimy looking lizards and they kinda freak me out.

I do like frogs. They’re slimy, but also cute. Slimy lizards are not cute.

Anyway, the other day I saw just the tail of something go between the food bins of Guinness the Therapy Dog and Lucy the Wonder Dog (their bins are outside). It was a banded, pointed tail and I didn’t know if it was a snake or a lizard. Nope, not going out there. I got my courageous husband to look, but the pointy tailed thing had already gone its secretive way. We are pretty sure it was a lizard, not a Gila Monster (not the right tail shape) or a snake (we would have seen a snake that was that big and long).

Our lizards are big, like the Collared Lizards and the Common Brown Lizards. And boy, can they run fast when the dogs chase them!

Any close encounters of animals in your world? Sonja

Weekly Quote

(c) 2020
Photo by Alessandro Bianchi on Unsplash

I completely subscribe to this idea. I think you need to push yourself to a level where failure is a huge possibility to really succeed.

Edison succeeded after a lot of failure.

So can you. So can I.

When I was on a ski team, my coach told me that if I didn’t fall sometimes, I was being too careful. I’ve had some spectacular falls! I’ve also found amazing success after those falls.

Don’t be afraid of the bruises! Sonja