7. May 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

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29. April 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

This is to wish a quick recovery to any and all of my readers who have lost loved ones or have been affected in any way by the recent tornado activity.  Never has it been more evident that we mortals cannot control the will of the wind. Bless all of you in your struggles to regain a normal life, and it will happen if you maintain a positive attitude.

 Sincere regards,

 Marie 

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11. April 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

This morning while showering, I indulged in some personal comtemplation regarding the amazing human body and all its parts and appendages. If you ask what this has to do with writing or painting, please indulge me and read on.

My husband was an ophthalmologist and from his patients he often heard the phrase, “I only have two eyes.” In spite of their astute awareness, and much to his dismay, they occasionally failed to follow his orders, thereby placing their gift of sight in jeopardy. We also only have two ears, two legs, two arms, two kidneys, two breasts, two lungs, etc. Isn’t it nice that we have a spare to fall back on should the need arise? What if this weren’t true? Could our family of parts look out for each other and share the duties necessary for survival?

If we had to choose, would we rather be deaf than blind? How terrible to never see a beautiful sunset or sunrise, see the sparkle in a beloved’s eyes, or read the words in a piece of excellent writing. Which would be preferable, to see the blue of the ocean or to hear the hypnotic sounds of the ebb and flow of the surf? Would it be easier to donate a kidney to your child or to donate a cornea, a lung, or your bone marrow? If we never have to make such decisions, we are fortunate indeed.

The human body is a magnificent work of art. Yet most of the time we go about our busy lives with no thought of how our various parts perform their tasks. It amazes me that our arms are just long enough to reach all our other parts. We’re so well-equipped and self’sufficient. As nice as it is to have another person wash our back, we don’t really require their help to survive. The problem is that we don’t fully appreciate the continuing function of our various parts until their use is compromised by accident or disease. We have our cars, our boats and air-conditioners periodically checked to ward off future problems. However, we often neglect our most precious and irreplaceable asset - our physical body. We can’t tolerate a dented car fender but we ignore the blemish on our skin that could be a melanoma. We spend our money on a new sofa or expensive jewelry and neglect the persistent cough that could destroy not only one lung but also the “spare” one.

The gifts of sight and hearing are precious, but so are the sense of feel and taste; they contribute immeasurably to our happiness and pleasure. What is most important to you - the sound of your child’s laughter, the whistle of a far-away train, or the sound of your husband or wife’s car entering the garage after a long day? Look around you; could you live in a world of darkness? Would you miss seeing the books in your library or the golf ball soaring for a hole-in-one under a postcard blue sky? I would be sad never again to hear Claire de Lune played on a Steinway, or view magnificent works of art. What would I do if I couldn’t paint or write? I would listen to music and maybe try a new art form like sculpture. With practice, would my hands and the sense of touch be able to take over the function of my eyes?

Most of these questions are too difficult to answer, but perhaps they will make us aware of our mental blindness and encourage us to become more successful “parts managers”.  If we should find ourselves with damaged parts; we may have to learn to see with our souls.    

Until next time -  Marie

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10. April 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

My latest book, LIFE INTERRUPTED, is a personal memoir (When the Doctor Becomes the Patient). It is a story of living, loving, learning, and accepting that which cannot be changed in one’s life. It’s also a story of a man dedicated to excellence in the medical world and having his vision blocked by personal heartbreak and ill health. Having once made the blind to see, how would he and the woman who loved him deal with this interrupted life? How would you ?

It is also my story as I walked the rocky path by his side and grew stronger with each step. I have known great love, great joy, and great sorrow. Follow my path with this remarkable man and be reassured that true love can survive life’s unexpected interruptions. Having learned that I could not control or conquer the will of the wind, I remained on board for the ride and learned what it meant to endure.

My purpose for writing this memoir is to inform and inspire anyone who is a spouse or parent in similar circumstances that their strength is immeasurable and that they are not alone.

 I truly hope this book will help you, the reader, on your own personal journey.

Available through Authorhouse.com, your local retailer, Amazon.com and other on-line booksellers. Paperback, Hardcover, and as E-book. For autographed copies, please contact me through this website, or at MariePin001@comcast.net

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22. March 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.”

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22. March 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

April is fast approaching and, like most busy people, I wonder what happened to March - until I look at my calendar. It has been a busy time, tying up the loose ends to my memoir publication, and fulfilling other obligations. I’m now told it has gone “live”, meaning it is available for purchase by AuthorHouse.com. It will be in the hands of other book sellers and on the internet shortly. As was true of my three novels, I’m feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension about its release. We always think we fall short of our goal, and fret about how it will be received by the public.

This post is supposed to be about LOVE, however. Of course, there are so many different kinds of love - love of others, love of reading, painting, teaching, selling, and a myriad of other activities. Love is a difficult word to pen down the meaning.

I received an e-mail forward today listing some answers by children when asked “What does love mean?” Their answers are so much more to the point than ones we adults come up with - we tend to try too hard for an explanation instead of saying what is in our heart.

One answer I particularly liked was by six year old Tommy: “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” There is something to be said for hanging in there and allowing a love to grow stronger.

Another was by Elaine, age five: “Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Elaine is going to grow up to be an unselfish woman, and isn’t she lucky to have such parents?

A four year old whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the boy went into the man’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”  Often silence is golden, as in this case. Perhaps we should talk less, listen more, and just be available to help our friends cry. 

And now a description of romantic love by Karen, age seven: “When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” What an image. I wouldn’t be surprised if Karen becomes a writer of romance novels.

I hope you’ve all found a love that puts stars in your eyes and joy in your heart. If you’re still waiting, don’t lose hope; cupid is extremely clever.

Unsure about the definition of true love? Read my novels and let me know if they helped.

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22. March 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

I just finished reading OF FLESH & BLOOD, by Daniel Kalla. This is another medically based story covering a century of love, loss and healing between two families brought together by the establishment of a renowned hospital and medical center. As in all families there was a great interest in maintaining the prestige of the operation as well as a few who did not feel bound by a familial interest. The conflict and personal stories of the characters kept this reader’s attention to the end. As in real life, circumstances altered loyalties and personalities of the main players. I recommend it to anyone interested in this type of family intrigue.

I also found RUSSIAN WINTER by Daphne Kalotay an interesting read in spite of being quite wordy. A mysterious jewel holds a life-changing secret in this tale of love and art (ballet), betrayal and the ever important redemption.

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26. February 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

“Every grain of experience is food for the greedy, growing soul of the artist”.  This is a quote by a British author, Anthony Burgess.

 I don’t know about you, dear readers, but I’m bone tired. Yet, this artist/writer is greedy to learn more, do more, and continue to grow. I wonder if this is unique with artists. We never reach a point where we’re totally satisfied with our knowledge of the painting  or writing process. We always think we can do better and chronically search for new ways of doing things. Our heads are full of images, words, subject matter, and new ways to bring our thoughts to fruition. My latest book, a memoir, is about to be tossed out to the world, and I should feel energized. Instead, I’m mentally tired and emotionally ambivalant about how it will be perceived. But, like Hemingway, “my aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way”.  Tonight, I will shut down the computer in my brain, get a refreshing night’s sleep, and with the morning sunrise rise to accomplish the tasks of another day.

The state of our world is no doubt another reason for my present and hopefully temporary frame of mind. We’re bombarded with depressing news reports of world wide unrest, natural catastrophies, stories of children being abused and often killed, and seemingly few authority figures doing anything about it. Perhaps we’ve all become too complacent, too accepting of every kind of behavior known to man. It is unrealistic to think we, as individuals, can change the world stage. However, we can start a ripple in the stream within our own families and communities by playing a bit part in the world drama, while encouraging the stars to give us their best performance.

Thank you for allowing me to bare my soul to some degree and always remember, the thoughts and feelings of the moment will disappear because change is inevitable and more often than not, change is a good thing.  

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21. February 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

Do you take your friendships seriously, cherishing the part they play in your life? Have you thought how you’d feel if some strangers voice answered your eventual call?

I waited, carelessly, and this week, I lost a friend of many years. The news was shocking and I realized I wasn’t ready to let her go. A year or more had gone by since we’d seen each other. She lived a thousand miles away, but was that an excuse for the lack of contact?

Our last meeting was in my home town. I had moved away and she had stayed. We met for lunch and immediately the years disappeared as we quickly picked up where we had left off. The wonderful feeling of connectedness sprang up from the basement where it had been placed for safe keeping. We talked, laughed, reminded each other of the many moments of craziness in our past, talked of our spouses and how lucky we were to have found them, and how neither of us felt whole after having lost them. My friend and I lost track of time and only after many cups of coffee, and the waiters preparing for the early bird diners did we reluctantly look at our watches. The years had fallen away and we had once again been young adults dealing with infatuations, jobs, bosses, and the peculiarities of those with whom we had daily contact. It was good to look back and laugh at life’s absurdities, so important at the time, but now seeming so trivial. Our adult lives had taken different paths but memories of those years had traveled the same highway, hand in hand.

During our luncheon, my friend informed me that when she died she wanted a New Orleans Jazz funeral with a band playing the song, When the Saints Go Marching In. Her daughter informed me by phone that her wishes would be carried out on Tuesday. I won’t be there when she is laid to rest, but I will think of her and perhaps play an Al Hirt or Pete Fountain CD in her honor.  I will also have a box of tissues handy.

Friends, new and old, are crucial to a life of happiness and fulfillment. Our friends are not always perfect, but neither are we, but we love and support each other anyway. One has to reach out the hand of friendship in order to establish close and lasting relationships. Others may be too shy or intimidated by the persona we put forth to make the first move. We must take the high road and offer that first smile, or lend an ear to their concerns. It could be the beginning of a lifelong association, if we’re lucky, that will bring smiles when the wiles of youth become a thing of our past.

Contact your friends often; they may be your most valuable asset and your best recipe for happiness. Don’t put it off, like I did; there may not be another chance to hear that voice or share another precious moment as you travel down memory lane. Nurture the friendships you now have and invite new ones into your fold. They need you as much as you need them.

Until next time, here’s to friendships without regrets.

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1. February 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

Ah! February, a time when our fancies turn to thoughts of Love. Let’s make a promise to each other, wherever we are in cyberspace, to allow ourselves to love each other this February. Surely we can do this for one month. We may find it brings such happiness, we’ll continue throughout the year.

 Kahlil Gibran said LOVE “is to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s estasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and then sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.” Sounds like paradise, doesn’t it?

 There are too many interpretations of the word to list here; it’s quicker to list what love isn’t: hate, disgust, comtempt, repulsion, loathe, detest. At the highest level, love is a synonym of God. If we can erase these negative words from our vocabulary, as well as our psyche, then we are capable of great love. Whether romantic love, familial love, love of nature, love of friends, etc., we are blessed to be able to have these feelings. Not only will we live longer (hate is much more draining than love) but our lives will be filled with joy regardless of our situations. Love may not move mountains but it can help us climb the highest peaks and return safely to a valley of contentment.

Plan ahead for this Valentine’s Day instead of rushing by a flower stand at the last moment, or picking up a box of chocolates from the drug store on your way home.  Those of you fortunate enough to have a significant other, think of what attracted you in the first place. Put aside the petty grievances and think of him/her with tenderness and respect - even if they are less than perfect. An unexpected kiss on the cheek or a simple “I understand” can sometimes level that mountain of hurt or disillusionment. If something happens to either of you, it will be the small, kind and loving things you will remember most.

I think you will all agree that most of the turmoil, unrest, fighting and destruction in the world is due to hate and dislike for others who have different passions than our own. This is often also true in disfunctional families; a lack of consideration for the feelings of others, a lack of respect for our differences and opinions, a disrespect for authority, or a need to feel superior and always right. 

“I love you” are powerful words - to give or receive. However, they are just words unless they are backed up by action. Allow yourself to show those around you that you love them, do it with kindness and sincerity, and it will be returned beyond your wildest dream.

 If you haven’t already done so, read my books; they’re all about LOVE.

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