Holidays bring up tons
of emotions. With childhood memories come mental pictures of those we've lost. Holidays
with them are emblazoned on our hearts and seem to flash brighter this time of
year. Missing means loving. Missing means having been loved.
But there is the
present which is an opportunity to make new memories instead of only looking
back to the past. My husband and I thought we'd be alone for Thanksgiving
this year. We even considered going to a casino for a while since it
would be a nice drive about an hour away and a bit of fun. Movie theaters
were another option but they are usually crowded on the holiday. Considering
friends I knew who didn't have families in the area, I reached out to
another couple and discovered they were just going out for dinner because their
family was across the country. I invited them for dinner on Thanksgiving
day. I'm looking forward to it.
I've found the best
way to handle missing is to give to someone who needs kindness. It can be
as simple as a phone conversation or a card in the mail. It can be an
invitation to dinner or sending a meal to an elderly neighbor.
The holidays can still
be sweet if we realize life changes every day. We can't stop it. But we
can appreciate each person in our life right now.
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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 91st novel will be released in 2016.
Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below.
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