What I love:
You know what I love about having my very own weekly newsletter?
It can be any length
It can be about any subject
It can be with or without images
It can be with or without subtitles
And the subject line can be as long or as short as I choose
For those who know me well, it will come as no surprise that I like doing “my own thing.”
What does that entail?
When it comes to good deeds, I like giving back, but I do so in non-traditional ways:
The side pocket of the driver’s side of my SUV is stocked with cans of V-8 juice, which I hand out generously whenever I come upon a person walking the intersections of my city, beseeching drivers for food.
I donate many of my hand-knitted pouches, packed with individually wrapped peppermints, to assisted and independent living facilities around the holidays to bring cheer to those shut in.
Early in Covid-19, I fashioned face masks out of yarmulkes (Jewish skullcaps) and distributed them in gift bags to all of my neighbors within a two-block area.
What I like:
I like changing things up. Being creative. Innovative. Different. In fact, one of the most consistent comments I get about my weekly newsletter is that readers “expect the unexpected.”
What I do:
This year, I find myself way too often looking around my house in search of projects to de-clutter and re-design my living space. I often quip that “I am organizing my life, not living it.”
I decide to tackle the ridiculously large number of books gracing every crevice of every book shelf in my home – threatening to surround me like this poor woman above! I start pulling out volumes I am emotionally ready to part with. This results in a ridiculously large number of books stacked up on both sides of my two-car garage.
My favorite librarian at a quaint little library nearby tells me the local libraries aren’t accepting book donations during Covid. Oh no. I donate to the Salvation Army instead.
There are still many bags of books left in my garage. I sell some to the used bookstore near the university.
I wrack my brain for an innovative, meaningful way to dispose of the remainder of the books – before I waver from my good intentions and place them back on my still over-crowded shelves.
Inspiration strikes. And I hit on an idea:
A BOOK GIVEAWAY FOR MY READERS!
If you’d like one of the books listed below, simply E-mail me at irisruthpastor@gmail.com, request a specific title and include your address. If you are the first to select that title, I will send it right out to you. Free of charge! It’s my way of participating in holiday giving.
Here’s the list of novels in alphabetical order by author:
My Husband’s Sweetheart
by Bridget Asher
Umberlina
by Helen Barololini
The Embers
by Hyatt Bass
Mystery Ride
by Robert Boswell
The Inheritance of Loss
by Kiran Desai
Siracusa
by Delia Ephron
All That I Am
by Anna Funder
The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells
by Andrew Sean Greer
New Year’s Eve
by Lisa Grunwald
Lilah
by Marek Halter
The Museum of Extraordinary Things
by Alice Hoffman
Someone Else’s Love Story
by Joshlyn Jackson
The Journey of the Fottoumo
by Naguib Mahfouz
The Lakeshore Limited
by Sue Miller
And We Are Called to Rise
by Laura McBride
The Winter People
by Jennifer McMahon
The Member of the Wedding
by Carson McCullers
Run
by Ann Patchett
The Tiger’s Wife
by Tea Obreht
Wild December
by Edna O’Brien
After Anna
by Lisa Scottoline
Thera
by Zeruya Shalev
Almost Missed You
by Jessica Strawser
Ashes in the Wind
by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Small Blessings
by Martha Woodroof
Happy Reading,
Keep Preserving Your Bloom,
And let me know how YOU give back,
Iris Ruth Pastor
P.S. A week from today I’m giving a one hour “pep talk” on how to lead the life you crave – especially during Covid!
Below is the link to sign up and a video describing my talk.
https://san-diego.oasiseverywhere.org/product/wisdom-to-live-the-life-you-crave/