Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
It’s been a rough week. My husband’s father broke his hip a few weeks ago, and things have crashed downhill from there. Six of the eight siblings have gathered to show love and support and try to figure out next steps. Two parents who both will need constant medical care + eight adult children (but only two who live locally) + unclear diagnoses and prognoses = 1 ton of grief, anxiety, and uncertainty. Randy flew down to Atlanta Sunday morning after getting a “come now” phone call, and we’re now in a surreal state of having no idea what’s coming next. Good thoughts for his parents and family would be greatly appreciated. Thank you <3
[Updated Thursday, 11/18/21, to say that my father-in-law passed away in his sleep last night. I’m sad at his passing, and incredibly thankful to have won the lottery of in-laws. I’m also so grateful that he was surrounded by most of his children and grandchildren showering him with love (and being a final audience for all his funny stories) in his last week on earth. I’m also grateful that he was such a loving and wonderful example to his kids of being a great husband and father. I’m lucky for the lessons of generosity and humor that my husband Randy learned from his dad.]
I shared a gratitude poem for Thanksgiving on Wednesday, and it’s my Poetry Friday poem for this week, too. Is that cheating? Maybe, but it’s all I can manage at the moment. You can read my poem “Finally” here.
Also, my spring 2022 rhyming picture book, We Belong, is available in digital review copies on Netgalley, if you’re a member there. You can learn more about it on the Lerner site, here. And if there are any Poetry Friday bloggers who think it looks intriguing and who might want to blog about it, I also have just a few f&gs. Please contact me through my website by clicking the peach envelope icon at the top of the screen if you’re interested. Let me know who you are and what your snail mail address is. I’ll send out f&gs as soon as possible until I run out. Or let me know if there’s someone else you think I should send an f&g to. Thanks, friends.
For a harvest of amazing poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with poet-educator Carol Varsalona, who’s unveiling her latest communal gallery, Bedecked in Autumn. It’s sure to be stunning.
I am sending love and hugs to you and your family. I’m so sorry for your loss. Your father-in-law sounds like a wonderful man.
Congratulations on your new book. I can’t wait to read it! Let us know when we can preorder!
Dear Laura, I am sorry to read your post and the loss of your wonderful father-in-law. What a loving post you’ve written for him, for Randy, and all the family. Sending my hugs to you, knowing you’re wishing that time stayed still a little longer.I’ll check on your thankful poem next & look in on Net Galley. I am grateful for your sharing.
Dear Laura, so sorry for the loss of your father in law. Hugs to you and Randy and the family… it’s tough to lose a parent. Looking forward to your new book. xo
I’m so sorry for your loss, Laura. My you find peace in your many wonderful memories.
Looking forward to your upcoming book!
I am so sorry for your loss, Laura. Light and love to you and yours as you grief your FIL loss. Your ‘Finally’ poem hits just the right kid-centric note on Thanksgiving. 🙂
I’m sorry for your loss Laura. Your words in the update really moved me.
Congratulations on your upcoming book! I see you’re using NetGalley. I’m using (well…more like experimenting with) BookFunnel. Any thoughts on NetGalley? I’m not married to BookFunnel and keeping an eye out for what’s out there.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Tim. Lerner has always used NetGalley to share ARCs of my books. So I don’t know what the results are, really. I just share the news…I do use NetGalley as a reader, but mostly of novels, not kids’ books. I almost always review the books I read through NG so that I can keep my ratings high. I don’t know anything about Book Funnel, other than I just bought an audiobook from an indie author using Book Funnel. I HATE that I have yet another app on my phone to use for listening. Between Audible, Overdrive–now Libby, NetGalley Shelf…it’s getting way too easy for me to lose track of the books I have waiting for me to listen to or read. Ugh. As a reader/reviewer, I like NetGalley for reading digital ARCs b/c it sends them to my Kindle. When there’s an ARC that’s only in pdf, I usually delete it unread and notify NG that I won’t be reviewing it.
Laura, I am so sorry for your family’s loss. It is so difficult to get a phone call about parents’ health. May your memories remain strong. I will raise your family up in prayer. Thanks for sharing your poem. i left you a comment at your Wednesday post.I want to read your poem to the girls. I cannot find the link up to ask to be on your book review list but count me in for sure. I will look forward to reading your f&g. May peace surround you.
Hi Carol, I’d be happy to send you an f&g–could you send me a note through my site? Just go here: https://laurasalas.com/contact/ That helps with the logistics of having all the requests in the same place :>) Thanks for your kind words and prayers.
Laura, I would like to add your Thankful poem to my gallery, if that is okay with you.
Sure, Carol–if it’s not too late. Sorry–I’m behind on reading comments…
So sorry about all the turmoil lately. I hope things will calm down a bit for you now as you remember and grieve. I am thankful for you! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Congratulations on the upcoming book, Laura! I am so sorry to read about your father-in-law. I was close with my mother-in-law until her death last year. Wonderful in-laws are a gift in our lives. I’ll be thinking of you and your family.
Laura, I am so sorry for your loss. The equation you shared could have easily applied to me from the weeks of Sept. 11th – November 6th, when my mom was hospitalized and came close to death. She is home again, only because we believe it was not her time to go. It is so difficult to loose a loved one. I hope your memories will give you some peace. I appreciate you still taking time to write this week and share your newest endeavor with us all. Take care, Carol
So glad your mom is recovering, Carol. <3
Thank you!
Thank you so much. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Laura!
Oh, Laura, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Sending hugs to you and your family.
Your poem “Finally” is a lovely, childlike reminder to all of us to cherish all the little things, all the time. Looking forward, with everyone else, to your new book.