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Person of the Year

Congratulations to Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, who received Times Person of the Year!

After I read several times on Twitter through news sources that this was the 1st woman in 29 years I stopped, and I’m sure my expression read by my computer web cam told a story. Really? Twenty-nine years? This is most likely a reflection of society or management. Now, I’m not one to beg for equality; I do think it should be earned. I didn’t burn my bra years ago. Instead, I befriended people, both genders, and worked hard in the profession I chose at age 18.

Later I realized I was in a ‘woman’s’ profession and the term hand maiden was used frequently, mostly in jokes. I worked very hard, weekends, nights and holidays. I delivered patient care to very sick people, some died, some we revived, and others became my friend before they passed on to eternity. While doctors studied hard and longer, I did notice they were mostly men and most had female secretaries or office help.

They also made a lot more money. Money is power. They golfed on Wednesdays, drove fancy cars, had cell phones, pagers, and spent two or three minutes with their patient in the hospital. Yes, we nurses knew who took care of the sick patients and the patients did too. This was the way it was.

I almost went back to school to obtain a further degree as I hungered for more, not necessarily the monetary items, things of privilege, but I had knowledge and wanted to give more towards the input of treatment. It was a sixth sense, a real desire, and a caring attitude that governed my thoughts. I loved it actually but was limited. Several surgeons asked me to be their nurse beside them in the operating room. I was tempted but never did this. Then came family and the cards were dealt.

I would be a mom at age forty and if I couldn’t be a PA(physician’s assistant) or CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) as becoming a doctor was out of the question while I pushed forty, then a mom I would be. I knew I wanted that, too.

As I look into the world for role models for my teenage girls, I’m perplexed. Women faces don’t jump out at me. We have beautiful, talented actresses and singers, but everyone can not do that. Maybe that’s why there is so much reality TV as everyone wants to be a star.

Where are the women? I believe it’s my role to encourage my girls and to do this fairly. There is gender bias and women have been suppressed for so long that they have not caught up to men as yet. You simply can NOT do it all at once. Frankly, I can’t wait to find out more about Angela Merkel, her rise and power on a global scale.

Women and girls are equally important to men. I believe it’s not about outdoing each other but coexisting with mutual respect! Women have children and should be admired for this role in the universe … the mother or mom. I believe the time has come to create jobs or job share, so that we don’t have to put children aside away from mothers. We need more than three months to bond for a lifetime. Not all women want to be mothers, and likewise not all men want to father children.

Instead of sacrifices for the career, why not allow them to be home more? Home is a great environment for children and women could work half the time at their profession and stay home with children half the time. This way they keep moving up that professional ladder to receive promotions or increases in pay. Women could still maintain the bonds of parenting by being at home where the schedule is 24/7. Time is elemental to a child. Presence is important but so is doing something we are rewarded for or gives us independence and income. Full time work for women deprives them as a mother because they are too tired and have no ‘me’ time. Rewards for parenting are unique and too many to claim, including raising children who feel loved and protected.

This could be done in professions like doctors, lawyers, policemen or women; possibly everywhere we work. I know because I job shared with another Registered Nurse in the 1990’s in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit for a couple years. It was our idea and the hospital loved it. Maybe companies should look into career sharing as viable options for their work force and especially women who are mothers or even father’s who want to nurture and stay home more with children.

By Kim Troike

Editorial

Time.com

Google Images Credit

Tags: Angela Merkel, Careers, Gogle Images, Job Share, Time's Person of the Year, Women

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Happy Thanksgiving

26 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving to all my followers and anyone from around the globe who happens by. This is my favorite time of year and if you know me just a little by now, well, I’m not so serious. I love a good laugh. The movie Christmas Vacation always had us in stitches, especially the antics of the good-hearted character played by Chevy Chase. My father used to tell me, “You know Mike reminds me of Chevy Chase.” Mike, of course, is my husband. Yep, I had to agree with my Dad. So every time I see him in a movie I think of my husband. Thanks Dad, I’m grateful. I guess God knew I needed laughter in my life.

There’s something about Dads in our life. You go to them for those important conversations in your life. We save them for the big stuff and then we never talk about it again. Our mother’s are there for us every step of the way, and we even call them mommy when we are teens. Somehow this makes us feel good. Now I’m one to believe that these roles can be reversed, so you see I use this loosely. A father can be more motherly and vice versa. People give us different things in life, some gifts, some pleasure, some outright trouble, and then, the special ones give us love. And we keep going back for more of that, right!?

Please think about this on this special holiday celebrated in America. I believe the little ones want more of your love along with boundaries and restrictions. They don’t want to be told no and how awful they are. Try to lift your little ones up and give less put downs. Think about yourself and how you’d like to be treated. Families don’t live by each other anymore, so grandparents don’t get to be a big part of the little ones lives. One of the common threads for my husband and myself in our life was grandparents. We were especially close to them. They gave us unconditional love. Always. I think children lack this now a days. What do I know? My family life is not perfect, but I do keep trying and loving.

I think knowing you are loved is a primary gift we get in life and some kids don’t have that. I am grateful for my parents, all their love and support they gave me throughout the years. They were supposed to be here with my family this year and we are sorry they couldn’t be here. Instead they are with one of their children, my brother, who needs them more. That’s the kind of parents they have always been, supportive til the end of time at their own expense. We love you mom and dad, forever. Miss you, too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Now to lighten things up a bit. Have you ever heard of a turkey vulture? I hadn’t until I moved south many years ago. When you finally see one you will never forget them. They hang out in groups and love to perch themselves on the rooftops of homes or high in the trees. If you spot one or ten, then know that something big has died in your vicinity! Take a look.

By Kim Troike

Google Images Credit

Tags: Chevy Chase, Christmas Vacation, dads, love, moms, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Thanksgiving, Turkey Vultures

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Notre Dame de Paris

19 Nov

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris dates back to its opening in 1345 with the actual construction beginning in 1163. It is a historic Catholic Church with the meaning behind the words being ‘Our Lady of Paris’ in the French language. It was constructed during the Gothic period and the cathedral reflects it with sculptures and stained glass windows.

Because it took so long to construct, as in 300 years, it contains other styles during that time period. French Gothic dominates but the Renaissance along with a Naturalism complete the architectural styles.

Flying buttresses were added for support due to thin walls, and, of course, damage occurred throughout the last 660 years. The French Revolution in 1786 certainly played its part but was later restored. The grandeur of the Notre Dame cathedral attracts many different faiths which marvel at the uniqueness. It also stands upon an island in Paris.

Pope Pius X beatified Joan of Arc in 1909 at the Cathedral. Beatify means to make holy, or canonize, also bless. This allows a dead person to enter heaven and others who pray in her name to be helped. Joan of Arc told people she had visions from God and she used those to help the French defeat the English in battles. Later she was believed to be a heretic and was burned at the stake. In 1456 her name was cleared, thus she became a martyr.

The Cathedral in Paris is the home of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris. Mass is held three times a day and is open to the public.

The famous novel ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ written by Victor Hugo was published in 1831. This popular story contains the protagonist Esmeralda, and the setting is Paris during the reign of Louis XI (1461-1483) in the Middle Ages. This popular novel that centers on the architectural structure of the church was set to a more recent Disney animated movie. Previous movies have portrayed this novel in realistic terms.

Recently last Friday, the 13th of November, Paris came under attack by terrorism. More than 150 people died and hundreds were wounded in a bloody massacre at several different locations in the city. People enjoying themselves out on a Friday night were targeted. The radical group known as ISIS has claimed responsibility. Paris was in mourning for three days, lights out but not silent. The country responded immediately to the act of terrorism and countered ISIS with massive airstrikes. France has declared that they are at war with ISIS which has its hold in Syria.

Meanwhile the people of Paris were in shock, not only from being in the terrorists proclaimed war zone and experiencing the horror themselves, but also losing loved ones. What did they do? They picked themselves up and came out into the city. They united. They sang songs with candle light and hope. They placed flowers. And they brought their children out and explained to them the best they could. The hope is the children see their own grief, and that the power of song and flowers will protect their souls. That sounds like love.

~See video below for full report on the recent tragedy in Paris and singing near the Notre Dame Cathedral.

By Kim Troike

Photo Image by Thinkstock

Tags: Catholic Church, Disney, French Gothic, grief, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Joan of Arc, Notre Dame, Paris, Pope Pius, Victor Hugo

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Aviation Advances Into the Special Forces

23 Aug

Who doesn’t know that Orville and Wilbur Wright are known as the father’s of the 1st airplane, whereupon they took the first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina? Early in the 1900’s these two brothers from Dayton, Ohio were inventors and believers in their own vision. And they had quite the vision as others dismissed what they would later accomplish.

One can hardly believe it was only a hundred years ago. Have we who lived in those years seen the greatest inventions of all times? Certainly it must be noted as the century of invention.

Charles Lindbergh who flew The Spirit of Saint Louis across the ocean, the Atlantic to be exact, became known as the first soloist to do this in 1927 with no stops. It took almost 2,000 years since the kite was invented in China for man to fly himself up in the sky and conquer the ocean without getting wet. Fantastically, five years later a woman did the same thing. You see we are only a handful of years behind men in aviation or so it seems.

Amelia Earhart became the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic in May of 1932, landing in Northern Ireland, where a small memorial museum remains after the fourteen hour flight.

She was born July twenty-fourth in 1897 and later presumed dead after a tragic flight over the Pacific on July 2nd, 1937. Amelia was only thirty nine years old.

Certainly advancements were made before, during and after WWII as far as aviation is concerned. Recently, women have made another leap in their abilities to coexist, be like men or participate in the same opportunities. The US Army Rangers announced on August 21st, 2015 that two females had passed the school for Rangers. What is a Ranger?

The 75th Ranger Regiment is a volunteer group of elite individuals who pass a rigorous two month program at specified training sites. They follow five principles that guide their philosophies for hands on combat. The five principles are: marksmanship, physical training, medical training, small unit tactics, and mobility. Ranger school is tough! Soldiers volunteer for this with training being two months long. They use close combat as a primary mission with training inclusive of mountains, oceans, and rivers with physical and mental toughness assessed right from the get-go. Early on they assisted in wars and special operations; presently the global war on terror is a fixture. Maybe you’ve seen the tan beret, it stands for ‘proven warrior.’

Two women and 94 men accomplished the goal of making it through Ranger school this August. All of them went through the same rigorous mental and physical tests. This is not about men being better than women or letting women off the hook. Neither is it about women besting men, rather it is about catching up and giving opportunities to those who might qualify. Yes, the army is on top of the gender situation. Ranger school opened in 1950 and 77,000 have earned the title of a US Ranger. Wow. What an accomplishment! 2014 saw 4,057 soldiers who tried to make it with 1609 achieving the title to help the United States of America in its Ranger endeavors. One out of three make it, that’s elite.

1st Lt. Shaye L. Haver was one of the women to graduate this August as a Ranger and Capt. Kristen M. Griest was the other. Both are West Point Graduates and now Ranger school graduates from Fort Benning, Georgia.

Haver is an AH-64 Apache pilot and has wanted this training so she can lead a platoon. She wants to lead and knows this elite schooling can help her accomplish that goal. Haver wants to use her aviation “and go as far as she can!” Griest is interested in something like civil affairs and/or Special Forces.

Both women are now leaders and role models for doing what no other female had yet done. Congratulations to them both. May they keep setting goals and furthering women along on their pathway.

My novel Into the Vines is on Amazon for purchase. In September and October it will be FREE on selected dates (every Friday). Aviation is one of the special themes presented in this novel of fiction. My heroes come in all genders and ages, because we should all have opportunities in this global world called Earth. And, of course, I have more than one pilot because I think flying is one of those brave acts not everybody can do. They are the elite.

Into the Vines

Click on Amazon

An excerpt from ‘Into the Vines’ …

“What’s up, Daniela?” Brie asked upon seeing her puzzled expression.
“There are children playing outside. I know Marie has twins, but I’m counting about seven or eight now. I wonder if they’re all Marie’s.”
“I have no idea,” Brie said, after taking a peek out the window. “Come, let’s wear sundresses today! I’m feeling Parisian.” Brie pulled out her dresses, which she had purchased from some of the finest shops in Savannah. She, of course, had the shoes to match, as well as the handbags.
“Fabulous! Milady!” Daniela pulled out a floral sundress of her own and a pair of golden leather sandals but then looked up at Brie. “But how will I cook in this?” Daniela laughed at the idea but then decided she didn’t really care.
When they were dressed, Daniela and Brie walked to the main house, and along the way they noticed the children again. This time, she saw they were pointing up to the sky, where she saw a small airplane performing flying maneuvers, a loop de loop, overhead. She knew a little about flying from reading and talking with her uncle about her parents. “Maybe the kids know the pilot,” Daniela shouted over the sound of the airplane.
“They are certainly excited!” Brie added. “Goodness, we are late, let’s hurry up, Daniela!” When they were finished with their morning class, Marie informed her students that they would be having lunch outside on the patio with a special guest who’d just arrived. The patio itself was covered with a pergola that was wisteria entrenched, though it had already bloomed. Daniela noticed lights were strung up all around the outside, under the trees, and across the dance floor, which was situated off to the corner.
Lunch consisted of a starter with prosciutto ham and farmer’s cheese on homemade croissants, followed by a simple salad of greens from the garden and a quiche using the eggs from the hen house, all of which had been made or collected by the class. Brie had made the drink today which was a favorite of hers from the South, consisting of half lemonade and half sweet tea. “Oh, Daniela, what will we do when we have to leave and go back to meals at home?” Brie said with a laugh.
Before Daniela could respond, seven or eight little ones came out the back door with plates in their hands to join the class. Three of them called Marie, Aunt Marie, while the rest gave a nod or half smile.
“Here he comes!” shouted a little boy. He pointed to the sky, where a plane was descending down below a few trees in the opposite direction of the river.
“Momma, can we go see him before lunch? Please! Please!” The twins asked of Marie.

Olivier is a pilot who performs rescue operations around the globe, privately, through the assistance of the special forces on a global scale titled, “ANGIE.” Angie refers to all nations global initiative endeavor, a fictitious organization from my novel “Into the Vines.”

Editorial

By Kim Troike

Tags: Amelia Earhart, Aviation, Captain Kristen M. Griest, Charles Lindbergh, Fort Benning, Into the Vines, Kim Troike, Kitty Hawk, Lt.Shaye L. Haver, Orville & Wilbur Wright, Ranger school, Rangers, Special Forces, The Spirit of St. Louis, USArmyRangers

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Visiting The Louvre in Paris

22 Jul

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The Louvre has almost 10 million people visiting a year, a museum which is dedicated to informative education and the preservation of art and history for generations to come. The Louvre is open daily with the exception of Tuesdays from nine am until six pm. Extended hours are until nine forty-five pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. The museum closes only three days of the year, that being January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th. Tickets may be purchased online.

Jean-Luc Martinez is the director of this vast museum which extends beyond its walls out into gardens called The Tuileries. French kings have resided in the Louvre before it became a museum in 1793. Thirty five thousand pieces of artwork are displayed and some are centuries old. One in fact is over 7,000 years old. Eight departments of keeping heritage exist: Egyptian Antiquities, Roman Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiquities, Islamic Antiquities, Paintings, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, and Prints or Drawings.

The Tuileries Garden which is next to the museum is the oldest garden in Paris. It is also the largest public park. Settled right in the heart of the city tours take place on Saturdays and Sundays, including public holidays beginning in April and go through October. The Arc de Triomphe is the starting point. On a special note, a new museum is set to open in the Middle East in 2015. This is called the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The French museum is contributing to the project.

Louvre history begins back in the late 12th century out on the cities west side. Paris saw The Louvre begin as a fortress which later held Francois I and Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King. The fortress built on the banks of the Seine became prominent to defend this largest city in Europe known as Paris. What’s left from Medieval times is the Salle Bosse, a hall which historians are not even sure what function it may have provided. Later in the 1300’s the Louvre was transformed by Raymond du Temple, an architect for Charles V, into a royal residence. Further on into the 1500’s, the Medieval Louvre transformed into a Renaissance palace when Francois became a resident of Paris.

A young king at nine years old, Louis XIII, began work fifteen years later at age 24 and it was completed by Louis XIV. This classical period would allow us to see The Louvre we see today, yet, something nearby, notably Versailles, would place this Louvre into the low interest category by royals. In 1674, Louis XIV, went to Versailles and work at the Louvre was halted. By 1699, exhibitions began to be held at The Louvre and these shows were called or known as “Salon.” Almost a hundred years later “The Museum Central des Arts” was formed. Artists, painters, and architects could view collections from royals of the French aristocrats. The general public was welcome on the weekends.

For a short while Austria, Italy, and other nations had art shown there. Paintings from the Vatican and Venice were displayed, too. In 1803 it was actually called Musee` Napolean and the entrance contained a bust of the emperor. When the empire fell in 1815, the nations reclaimed their stolen treasures.

Jean-Francois Champollion discovered ideas of hieroglyphics and published articles pertaining to the Rosetta Stone, housed in London at the British Museum. Jean-Francois became the museums 1st curator in the department of Egyptian Antiquities. This occurred on May 15th, 1826. He had articles published on transcribing hieroglyphics into Greek.

A Spanish gallery was formed under Louis-Phillipe in 1837-1848, later these 400 paintings were sold to London. A Mexican display was created along with Algerian and other exotic crafts and folk arts. Ceilings were painted, new buildings added, extensions of existing wings, courtyards added, and a connection built for The Tuileries and The Louvre. After the Paris Commune in May 1871, The Tuileries, which were a symbol for monarchy were demolished. This marked a beginning after the end. The Louvre was re-birthed and became a cultural provision.

In 1922 the 1st Islamic gallery was opened due to generosities from Baroness Delort de Gleon. During WWII the contents of The Louvre were housed at Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley, and also dispersed to other chateaus. The Cubist painter, Georges Braque, produced three ceiling paintings of birds in 1953.

Under French President, Jacques Chirac, the tribal and aboriginal art museums were created. The Pavillion des Sessions house masterpieces from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania which opened in 2006. And, of course, there is the Mona Lisa.

The Louvre by Kim Troike

GoogleImages

Louvre.france

Tags: art, History, I.M.Pei, Jean-Luc Martinez, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, museums, Paris, Seine, The Louvre, The Tullieries, Versailles

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Sacre-Coeur Basilica

12 Jun

The Sacre-Coeur Basilica is a Roman Catholic Church in Paris, France. The official address 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France sits atop a hill high in Montmartre. This church opened in 1914 and the architectural style is Ancient Roman-Byzantine. Can you imagine what it might look like?

Tourist Maker

The familiar landmark in Paris rests on the highest point in Montmartre with panoramic views of Paris below. History has it, Saint Denis, back in the 3rd century was beheaded here and this is only the beginning of blood that has been shed on this hill. Apparently, this basilica was built to appease Frances loss in the Franco-Prussian war.

The architect & designer was Paul Abadie who won the contest. The triple arched front is ensconced by two massive bronze equestrian statues ridden by Frances saints, Joan of Arc & King Saint Louis IX, both designed by Hippolyte Lefebvre. The bell, or Savagarde, is one of the worlds heaviest bells. It weighs 19 tons. The stone used to build the basilica is Chateau-Landon or Seine-et-Marne stone. This is a frost free travertine which bleaches as it ages becoming more white. Bronze doors open which contain foliage designs.

Joan of Arc is an enigma herself and history is probably not correct in the exactness of her dilemma and outcome. In memory for her and her name I give you the BLUE OCEAN which no one can deny.

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The Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris is open from 6 am until 11 pm.

Once inside you can climb to the top and from the dome see all of Paris. This is 271 feet above Monmartre. A crypt has statues of the saintly kind and some believe the relic contained is the very sacred Heart of Christ. Am I to believe what I just typed? After all sacre-coeur literally means sacred heart. Gardens and a fountain are out back.

This white castle commissioned by the French government in 1873 symbolized confidence for the people and was finally finished around WWI. In 1922 Luc-Olivier Merson created an inside master piece which sits above the choir. Christ in Majesty is a mosaic display of Christ with a golden heart and outstretched arms. Christ is accompanied by none other than his mother, the Virgin Mary and yes, Joan of Arc!

A clear blue sky as a backdrop for the church is spectacular or come at dusk when a pink sky dances with the basilica lights. The views of Paris are extraordinaire and second in height only to the Eiffel Tower.

The Montmartre hill has been a sacred site for a long time. Druids (Celtic people of education & class from Ireland, Britain and Gaul) worshiped here and the Romans worshiped Mars and Mercury from temples they built. The first bishop, St. Denis, of Paris was memorialized with a Christian chapel around 475 AD.

Monmartre became associated with Christian martyrs and this became a destination during the middle ages, thus pilgrimages for worship. An abbey surrounding the chapel was destroyed during the French revolution in 1792. The Abbess was executed. Furthering the bloody body count in 1871, Paris Commune Members hid in chalk mines. The government blasted the exits with dynamite, thus they were killed.

The painting below belongs to the Fitz William Museum and is Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s rendition of Joan of Arc.

Why would ones own government dynamite an exit, except to destroy & kill? What was the commune?

The Paris Commune occurred in 1871 from March 18th to May 28th. France had been victorious in the Franco-German war and Napoleon III’s Second Empire had collapsed. Republican Parisians feared a restoration of the monarchy. Quickly communes formed in France but were suppressed. Paris faced the government of Versailles alone. Twenty thousand were killed by government troops in “la semaine sanglante.” Thirty eight thousand were arrested and thousands more deported. History definitely supplants any singular meaning for this historical landmark in Paris.

By Kim Troike

Google Images

Wikimedia Images

Britannica.com

Fodors.com

SacredDestinations.com

Traveltips.usatoday.com

***I have been asked to give credit (I gladly give) for the picture of the Sacre Coeur Basilica. Thank you for contacting me after three years. I always try to use my own or give credit. Since I have not visited Paris or France, then that is impossible!

Credit: TouristMaker

Tags: Basilica, Bronze Equestrian Statues, Fodors, France, Joan of Arc, Luc-Olivier Merson, Monmartre, Paris, Paris Commune, Paul Abadie, Roman Catholic Church, Sacre-Coeur Basilica, Sacre-Couer, St. Denis, USAToday

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A Wonderful Decision

27 May

“Did you talk to Dad about getting my belly button pierced?” she asked. My raised eyebrows and stunned look didn’t tell her a thing. She smiled back at me and said, “After all, I passed Math.”

Yes, it’s absolutely true the issues of parenting get larger with increased age, but take a deep breath as you can handle anything you tell yourself. You will have had years of tests, read hundreds of articles, and called your mother a few times to get the age old wisdom no book can deliver as well as her. Let’s go back to the beginning where it all starts.

As a mother of three adopted children I’m experienced but no expert on parenting just like most of the world . When I look back it was a daunting process which didn’t go smoothly, kind of like the infertility issues my husband and I were treated for. Many people, mostly couples, give up right then and there, and don’t go any further. They decide they’ve had enough. You are on your own to decipher which advice you will take. Will you take your friends advice who heard it through the grapevine of other friends who did this or that? When you finally trust someone, or an agency, will they deliver? Will you be super lucky and get twins?

If you went through infertility treatments and they worked, well, you are blessed! But if it didn’t work, you are left again to figure it all out if you have the energy, time and money leftover. At this point you wish someone would take your hand and lead you through the maze. This happened for myself after my husband and I stood in our kitchen and he said, “I just can’t do anymore.” He had stood beside me all those years of trying, and I had truly felt his encouragement and desire for kids. If we didn’t go any further I would not be a mom. For some reason I felt destined to be a mother all my life. I could not figure out why God would keep this from me. I said the prayers and asked the question “why” over and over?

Friends and one fellow co-worker responded back with “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” So, I held onto the window theory for quite awhile. Then one day while working in a post-anesthesia care unit at my local hospital my patient woke up. She was a young girl from India and she stared into my eyes. I hadn’t even spoken yet when she said, “Are you a mother?”

I replied, “No. Why do you ask?”

She looked and smiled at me. She said, “Because you should be one.”

Of course I said, “Yes, I know.” This was not the time or place to express the longings of becoming a mother and God forbid the unanswered whys.

Very happily she said, “I’m adopted and it’s the best thing. I love it. I have the best parents in the world.” She went on and on and on. That was my first angel I met.

And the second one came when I called an agency, run by two ladies who had been there done that. The fee was 500 bucks and it became the best money I’d ever spent on our trials and tribulations of becoming parents. They met with you and together came up with five or so agencies that fit your budget and criteria. Details like did you want a newborn, a toddler, siblings, health concerns, maternal drug use, etc., etc.? It’s a scary world out there and you have to come up with your comfort zone. You have to figure out what you can do. Can you take care of special needs? This is realism to the core, honesty and a test, yet again. You get to know yourself very well through this process.

Honestly, I thought maybe it was over for me as I approached the big 4-0. One of my angels I had just met on the phone asked me when that birthday was and I replied, “November.”

I heard her on the other end counting out the months from March. Then she said, “We can do this. It’s possible!” These words gave me hope and my earthly angels were going to look out for me. They understood the pain, the anguish of a basic need … the need to nurture and love. There are no words to describe the feeling when someone believes in you, and wants to help you after everything you’ve endured. This agency called Adoption Information Services did set us up with another wonderful agency called Gift of Life. Both can be found online thanks to the wonderful internet.

Before Gift of Life was able to provide to us our lovely twin daughters, another gift came our way. Our son arrived via what I call the domino effect. Someone who knew someone, who knew another someone who knew our friend, that had told them about us, became our adoption reality. It really does work like that, as they tell you to tell friends and family you want adoption in your life. We were able to be in the delivery room with the birth-mother after only meeting her two weeks before. By the way I turned forty two days later. What a blessing!

Why do I write about something so personal, so revealing? Because now is the time in my life I am prepared to write these human interest stories, stories of love and brave acts. It’s time we treat these birth mother’s with the respect and dignity they deserve. They are carrying the life and love of a family for which they are brave enough to sacrifice themselves. This is not rejection but the unconditional love we all long for in life. If we can respect these women that decide this fate, then maybe the children who already love their new families can rest their minds knowing society is behind them and the woman who sacrifices. These are good women who give birth to life and a soul the future.

Adoption was a wonderful decision I made back in 1997. My husband thanked me (when our son was born) for continuing the process when he had had enough turbulence with infertility.

Kim Troike is a writer, mother and nurse from Atlanta, Georgia. Her latest novel is “Into the Vines” and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She blogs about themes like this one(adoption) present in her contemporary novel of fiction onto theivorytide.com. See her Amazon page here.

By Kim Troike

Cupids Pic Credit by Kim

Google Images Credit

Adoption.com

AdoptionInformationServices

Homestudies

GiftofLifeAdoptions.com

Parenting.com

Tags: Adoption, Adoption Information Services, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, belly button piercing, Fertility, Gift of Life, Home Studies, Infertility, Into the Vines, Kim Troike, Parenting, theivorytide.com

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Congratulation Graduates

20 May

Graduations of all sorts are upon the United States and beyond. From high school diplomas to baccalaureate degrees and, of course, all the undergraduate milestone achievements. In Georgia we even celebrate graduation from Pre-K, albeit its the wee ones on stage in all their cuteness with a big decorated cake to follow. Smiles from parents are the prequel to the dream that begins!

What if though the dream never began? What does one look forward to or aspire? I’m no economics major, just an older and wiser individual (forget I said that), well, sometimes we all doubt our intelligence when kids challenge us. But let’s give them aspirations, not just dreams of money and glamor. There are other more worthy attributes with which to cling to.

Driving the teens to school this morning the talk in the car was about the future, the immediate with finals looming in math and chemistry, and the foreseeable future as signs around the neighborhoods boast of who’s who, and where they are headed for the next segment in their lives.

Our own neighborhood has two graduates with one headed to the United States Air Force Academy. Wow. This gave me the opportunity to tell my child about this important achievement and what a prestigious direction to be headed in for them. This aspiration or goal may not be my daughters but its good that she knows others want to also achieve. I believe this helps to set them on a good path. I could be wrong, but for now as a parent, I’m believing in the idea that I have some influence over their possible futures. Maybe, maybe not. Some kids will do their own thing, or maybe just take more time getting there. I’ll be waiting with a smile and a kind heart to help them, too.

I am reminded of that old saying, not sure where it comes from, “What ever you do in life, do it well!”

This brings me to the cities trying to help their poor, those living in poverty. Los Angeles has endorsed an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020. This is double the wage now. Will this offer more people the incentive to work and provide for their families? Seattle and San Francisco recently did the same with Chicago to reach $13 an hour. The Mayor of New York City hopes to do the same with $15 an hour being the lowest wage of a city worker. Certainly the recent-past recession, poverty, immigration and our economics in the global arena are all factors for success or not.

They call this the living wage and when we read about wages or incomes from around the world we get mortified. How do people live on such low wages? How do they eat? Maybe they don’t. It makes us glad to live in America, the place so many have come to live and love.

Will raising the minimum wage cause employers to cut hours and offer less benefits to cover those costs and still maintain profits? We definitely need all types of workers as fast food lines are jammed. I have read that ‘experiment’ is the word used about this new wage increase. They are not sure it will work, but we all know that no one should work full time and live in poverty. Depressing.

Now back to education, graduation and my trip to school this morning. I graduated with a diploma in nursing back in 1979 (took the same test as BSN’s), worked 20 plus years as a Registered Nurse. Now, that’s not good enough. I can’t seem to find employment in a field that has a shortage with the need expected to grow. This is tremendously disappointing, especially for women who stay home for a period of years to take care of children. Then when they return they are told to take an RN re-entry course which costs thousands of dollars. I did that. My recent employment ended in February and now the prospects are slim. I have decided to get the necessary letters behind my name, namely a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, which may make it easier to get hired. I always thought experience was the big deal. We nurses gave our heart and soul to this profession as we sacrificed lunch breaks, worked long hours, weekends, nights, holidays and were called the hand maidens of doctors. Seriously, I lived through this. That’s another article.

Times have changed. It’s still a worthy and necessary profession but I’ve been encouraging my daughter to be more, look at a better title in the medical profession with more respect and pay. Obviously, I didn’t want her to work so hard and sacrifice. She told me she might like to work hospice and I melted right there in the car. My angel wants to work with people who are dying. Immediately, I refracted and corrected myself. I told her that some of us older nurses are a bit weathered, and please understand that hopefully things have changed. After all, I want the best for her.

And then it hit me just like that … If I lay dying in hospice, I would absolutely, unequivocally love to listen to the the soft voice of an angel comforting me; then I would look into those sweet eyes from heaven before I died and leave this world with a smile.

This would be important work, not done for the money, but fulfilling to the heart and soul which calls those special people, men or women in life to comfort our being.

Whatever choices your graduate has made best wishes to them. They made the best choice by seeking out a better life through education or completion from our encouragements through the years. Cheers to the contributions they’ll make to this world. Congratulations to all the graduates the world over! Let’s encourage their futures from Pre-K to Young Adults.

My novel Into the Vines has a character named Daniela who is a young nurse with dreams. Currently I am writing novels of fiction with relative experiences I’ve encountered. Available on Amazon and other sites. Into the Vines by Kim Troike.

Opinion-Ed

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By Kim Troike

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Tags: Amazon, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN, Diploma, Dreams, Graduates, high school diplomas, Hospice, Into the Vines, Kim Troike, Minimum Wage, Nursing, Pre-K, Registered Nurses, RN Re-entry Program, United States Air Force Academy

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Vineyards in Georgia

13 May

You can explore North Georgia wineries and vineyards after a short drive from Atlanta. Among some of the well known vineyards, there are also places to get away and stay overnight.

Tiger Mountain Vineyards has Cabernet Franc and Malbec (my favorite as of late) wines from Rabun County, while Crane Creek is near Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia. Habersham is popular due to its vicinity near Helen, the alpine village reminiscent of a European Swiss town. Tours and tasting are available at most vineyards.

Wolf Mountain Vineyard and Winery in Dahlonega has a delicious Sunday brunch, served buffet style and lunches too on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. For the Italian meal visit Monteluce winery and Estates, which I did a while back with friends. Next on my list are Chateau Elan and Three Sisters, which I’ve been to before I wrote my novel “Into the Vines.”

I’m thinking of checking with them on doing a book signing. Maybe they will let me sell my books and they serve lunch! A couple of the vineyards are mentioned in my book so this sounds like a win-win situation. Surreal. I’ll be sure to bring you pictures and stories of these vineyards as I visit them this summer or early fall. Can’t wait!

~~~

Monteluce Winery and Estates

This winery is located ten minutes from Dahlonega at 946 Via Monteluce, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533. Phone number is 706-867-4060.

The property consists of 400 acres and from the Tuscan Villa setting atop the endless vistas can be seen from every direction, including the mountains to the north. The 25,000 square foot winery and restaurant serves award wining wines from 10 different grape varieties. There is a tasting room and the Le Vigne Restaurant offers food grown locally and organically.

Brunch, Lunch and Dinner are served, indoors or outdoors, with venues for weddings and honeymoons, too, as they have villas available for rent. All this is close to 400, the main highway out of Atlanta.

I shared a special lunch with friends after a quick drive from the suburbs. We caught up via chatter then enjoyed the delicious lunch and wine tasting, of course, while surrounded by the lavish vine filled hillsides. I believe its time for another trip to Monteluce!

Click below on ExploreGeorgia.org for all the finite details of these wineries mentioned. Purchase my novel Into the Vines by clicking on the above cover, and join us for lunch and a book signing at one of these vineyards. More to come!

By Kim Troike

exploregeorgia.org

photography by Kim Troike

pictures at Monteluce Vineyards & Estates

Tags: Dahlonega, Georgia, Into the Vines, Kim Troike, Le Vigne Restaurant, Monteluce, North Georgia Vineyards, Wine Tasting

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Cinco de Mayo

5 May

Today is the fifth of May, and when I Googled this two separate topics arose. First, let me tell you about one I never ever heard of before. Lets say, I was not taught about all the women who were so important in history. Have you ever heard of Nellie Bly, an American journalist? Good if you have, but somehow, I missed that lady information. Most likely because more recently in the 1990’s significant women’s contributions have been heralded. Great! I was just a bit late and already out of school.

Nelly Bly, or Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman was an investigative journalist born on May 5th, 1864. Besides being a journalist who went around the world, she took on a secretive assignment and faked being insane for ten days, exposing the criteria for the mental wards of yesteryear. Changes and money poured in to revise these mental health wards for women. Later she married a man 42 years older and inherited his factory when he died. She became an industrialist and inventor by remaking or reinventing a milk container. She holds two patents. Nelly, her name she used to write for the papers, died January 27th, 1922 at the age of 57. I’m impressed there were leaders, women all along that were equivalent to male counterparts, maybe just fewer of them as children kept them busy.

Nellie Bly or Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman has a stamp!

And now for the margaritas and celebrations with flags of Mexico! Do you know the truth about Cinco de Mayo? Mexico defeated France, yes, in the battle of Puebla. Mexico’s real Independence Day is September 16th. Spain, Great Britain and France all invaded Mexico but the 1st two pulled out, and so when the small Mexican army defeated the larger French one in the town of Puebla, it became notable indeed on May 5th 1862.

Traditionally, in America it was a big deal out west, and gradually became known throughout America for pride in their home country. Marketing certainly has much to do with this Spring drinking holiday. Is it due to margaritas or beer, possibly the tacos, nachos, burritos or even the mariachi bands?

Whatever … it is festive! Shall I mention Taco Bell and how many times have you made a run for the border? Don’t forget the guacamole.

Before I get down to the serious information about Mexico, I’m serving you up two recipes that sound good, not tried by me as I just discovered them. Let me know. Here ya go:

Frozen Lemon-Berry Margaritas Recipe … You’ll need 4 lime wedges, 2 Tbs. coarse sugar, 2/3 cup thawed lemonade concentrate, 1 cup frozen raspberries, 2 cups ice cubes, 2 packages frozen sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1 Tbsp sugar, plus 1/2 cup tequila or more to taste. (My own idea would be fresh fruit could substitute). Use lime to go round the rims, then dip into coarse sugar, set aside. Blend lemonade, raspberries and leave seeds in bottom, discard seeds. Return mixture to blender and add ice, strawberries, blueberries, sugar and tequila. Then pour and serve. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Homemade Guacamole … You’ll need 3 medium avocados, peeled, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, 2 Tbsp lime juice, pinch salt. Mash avocados, add onion, cilantro and lime, salt, too. Serve.

The Mexican flag is a tricolor flag with green, white and red. The coat of arms is in the center which is based upon an Aztec symbol for Mexico City, previously Tenochtitian. There is an eagle with a serpent on top of the prickly pear cactus. In addition, the cactus sits on a rock out over a lake. Legend has it the gods told them to build a city where they could see this.

The Mexican flag is similar to the Italian flag, and one can also see that eagles were an important symbol in Mexico as well as America.

Mexico has such a diverse ecosystem with beaches, rainforests, deserts, coral reefs, mountains and don’t forget the tequila! In my own family three of us have either been married there or honey mooned in Mexico. My parents went to Acapulco years ago (I’ve seen the video!) and my husband and I set down in Cancun for fun and sun. Finally, seven years ago my sister and her husband married in Riviera Maya, near Cancun in a little chapel out by the sea. I wrote a book about that. See here.