PS ~ I love your illustrations! I understand the need to get your art "just so"! Back in the pre-AI day, I did photo shoots for presentations just to get the slides right, instead of using stock images!
Pamela, doing the illustrations is like getting a treat for finishing a chore, we love doing the pics, it makes it all come together for us and hopefully the readers as well. Blessings, Ollie
Unfortunately, most of the time I've taken offers that yielded more money, when deciding between two, and lived to regret my choices. I've wanted to be opportunistic and not fearful, but neglected that inner voice of caution (or wisdom) most of us are supposed to cultivate. Today, I still find myself jumping towards towards opportunity instead of being patient and praying through things just one more day. Slowly, I'm trying to learn. Thank you so much for sharing your memoir.
Pamela your very welcome! I am glad it rang true with you, I try to bring out my life’s stories so that maybe it will in someway help others. I need help even after writing some of the chapters. LOL. I hope you continue to enjoy some of the others. Their are some other stories that share some of the same issues I wrote in the last Issue. Enjoy! Blessings Ollie
I believe you did the right thing. I to would had done the same exact thing you did. I never would had been able to look myself in the eye if I would had sold out to them. You know parents aren't perfect but they brought you into this world and made you the person you are and for that alone you should honor them for that and if it means loosing a better paying job or greater opportunities you still owe it to them for being your parent. The minute you said it involved your dad I knew you would do the right thing and pass up on the offer bc your dad means so much to you. Good job Ollie
Your memoir is full of valuable life lessons. I can relate to the hard decision between money and freedom. I am glad you had the awareness of what mattered most for your well-being and life satisfaction. Thank you for another great episode of your memoirs, which was a delightful read for me.
Classic Ollie. I love it. This one is a little different, but it still follows the pattern of you getting into a sticky thicket with so much at stake that it boggles the mind. Then you think and think about it, and after stewing, you have your decision. And I always agree with you! You're a good person, Ollie, and through some messy growing-up years, you absolutely emerged as an ethical person who knows right from wrong. I admire your decision-making and, as always, I'm sitting here thinking... Well, what's next? Then what happened? Can't wait to read the next "chapter"!
Cindy, so sorry for the long delay in my reply to your wonderful note to me. I have to admit it did wonders for my soul. Also, your timing was perfect; for this I shall always be grateful. My life has been, let’s say, non-conventional if that is the right word. I can write for a long time coming, and I plan to do just that. Soon I will be able to introduce my best friend/wife/partner of 30 years. That will be part two. I just need to finish part one. I need a kick, Cindy, in the butt to get this stage one done. LOL. I had a very weird experience on Thursday as we parked the car. I got out to go into the grocery store, Joy waited, and I did the shop. Walking in the parking lot, crossing into the front of the store’s door, a speeding car had a near miss from hitting me head-on; then the gal honked and flipped me off. WOW. Like it was my fault; I never saw her coming. Then we went to the post office to drop off mail, and as I was walking into the store, a person backed up in the center of his car and hit me. As I slammed into the back of his car, he then enjoyed yelling at me. Yes, all true. So I thought I'd better get my reply out to you as soon as possible. OMG. I need to post my story that has been sitting in my drafts, just needing some photos; it has been done for 3 months. See what happened to me? This will be Chapter # 160, and I think it is a very interesting lesson for some to learn. I should’ve posted it long ago. So how are YOU? Working hard, caring for so many. Are you enjoying the summer, Cindy? We are here in Northern Ireland having a wonderful, clear summer, with near-zero rain; the skies are brighter than ever, almost like in the mid 90’s when I first came to the country. Everyone is enjoying it, and I hear that this Sunday, for a week-long festival, there is an Irish festival of daily music playing and all bars open, and over 800,000 people will show. This is the first time it has come to Belfast, N.I. Has always been in Dublin. Hoping to go. God Bless you , take care
Dear Ollie, it's wonderful to hear from you and, as always, you're still party to near-misses but all in one day! Unbelievable (and you being "blamed" both times)! Joy must be your lucky charm--in life and now in Ireland specifically--so keep her near at all times... you need all the help you can get.😏 I hope the two of you enjoy the music festival (with 800,000 of your closest friends [YIKES!]) and the glorious summer weather as the days begin their seasonal wind-down. Capture every moment. I'm looking forward to #160 and the beginning of Part II, but don't sweat the timing: live every moment of the N.I. chapter with your "Lucky Charm." 🙏
PS ~ I love your illustrations! I understand the need to get your art "just so"! Back in the pre-AI day, I did photo shoots for presentations just to get the slides right, instead of using stock images!
Pamela, doing the illustrations is like getting a treat for finishing a chore, we love doing the pics, it makes it all come together for us and hopefully the readers as well. Blessings, Ollie
Unfortunately, most of the time I've taken offers that yielded more money, when deciding between two, and lived to regret my choices. I've wanted to be opportunistic and not fearful, but neglected that inner voice of caution (or wisdom) most of us are supposed to cultivate. Today, I still find myself jumping towards towards opportunity instead of being patient and praying through things just one more day. Slowly, I'm trying to learn. Thank you so much for sharing your memoir.
Pamela your very welcome! I am glad it rang true with you, I try to bring out my life’s stories so that maybe it will in someway help others. I need help even after writing some of the chapters. LOL. I hope you continue to enjoy some of the others. Their are some other stories that share some of the same issues I wrote in the last Issue. Enjoy! Blessings Ollie
I believe you did the right thing. I to would had done the same exact thing you did. I never would had been able to look myself in the eye if I would had sold out to them. You know parents aren't perfect but they brought you into this world and made you the person you are and for that alone you should honor them for that and if it means loosing a better paying job or greater opportunities you still owe it to them for being your parent. The minute you said it involved your dad I knew you would do the right thing and pass up on the offer bc your dad means so much to you. Good job Ollie
Your memoir is full of valuable life lessons. I can relate to the hard decision between money and freedom. I am glad you had the awareness of what mattered most for your well-being and life satisfaction. Thank you for another great episode of your memoirs, which was a delightful read for me.
Classic Ollie. I love it. This one is a little different, but it still follows the pattern of you getting into a sticky thicket with so much at stake that it boggles the mind. Then you think and think about it, and after stewing, you have your decision. And I always agree with you! You're a good person, Ollie, and through some messy growing-up years, you absolutely emerged as an ethical person who knows right from wrong. I admire your decision-making and, as always, I'm sitting here thinking... Well, what's next? Then what happened? Can't wait to read the next "chapter"!
Cindy, so sorry for the long delay in my reply to your wonderful note to me. I have to admit it did wonders for my soul. Also, your timing was perfect; for this I shall always be grateful. My life has been, let’s say, non-conventional if that is the right word. I can write for a long time coming, and I plan to do just that. Soon I will be able to introduce my best friend/wife/partner of 30 years. That will be part two. I just need to finish part one. I need a kick, Cindy, in the butt to get this stage one done. LOL. I had a very weird experience on Thursday as we parked the car. I got out to go into the grocery store, Joy waited, and I did the shop. Walking in the parking lot, crossing into the front of the store’s door, a speeding car had a near miss from hitting me head-on; then the gal honked and flipped me off. WOW. Like it was my fault; I never saw her coming. Then we went to the post office to drop off mail, and as I was walking into the store, a person backed up in the center of his car and hit me. As I slammed into the back of his car, he then enjoyed yelling at me. Yes, all true. So I thought I'd better get my reply out to you as soon as possible. OMG. I need to post my story that has been sitting in my drafts, just needing some photos; it has been done for 3 months. See what happened to me? This will be Chapter # 160, and I think it is a very interesting lesson for some to learn. I should’ve posted it long ago. So how are YOU? Working hard, caring for so many. Are you enjoying the summer, Cindy? We are here in Northern Ireland having a wonderful, clear summer, with near-zero rain; the skies are brighter than ever, almost like in the mid 90’s when I first came to the country. Everyone is enjoying it, and I hear that this Sunday, for a week-long festival, there is an Irish festival of daily music playing and all bars open, and over 800,000 people will show. This is the first time it has come to Belfast, N.I. Has always been in Dublin. Hoping to go. God Bless you , take care
Dear Ollie, it's wonderful to hear from you and, as always, you're still party to near-misses but all in one day! Unbelievable (and you being "blamed" both times)! Joy must be your lucky charm--in life and now in Ireland specifically--so keep her near at all times... you need all the help you can get.😏 I hope the two of you enjoy the music festival (with 800,000 of your closest friends [YIKES!]) and the glorious summer weather as the days begin their seasonal wind-down. Capture every moment. I'm looking forward to #160 and the beginning of Part II, but don't sweat the timing: live every moment of the N.I. chapter with your "Lucky Charm." 🙏