My dad played in a jazz band while I was growing up, so we spent many weekend afternoons at “jam sessions”.  I felt right at home when I visited a church in Sacramento today that had a jazz band instead of an organ. 


Cool.

I had to laugh to myself. 
Hmmm… Trumpets?


But being new in town, I was grateful just to be there, and was sure she was as comfortable with her preferences as I am with mine. All I could say was…


“Would you look at that pie!”

I love it when even the mountains are smiling!  

On the way to my first California Writers Club meeting I noticed a brand new pale blue convertible driving in front of me.  It was a shiny, top down Volkswagon EOS convertible.  On its perfect bumper, a bumper sticker said “You’d be smiling too if you were going to Heaven.”  


I didn’t know quite what to think.  Is this a self-cancelling bumper sticker?  Does it mean the person is smiling, living a good, generous life, and that he or she is content in the knowledge that Heaven awaits? Or does it mean, when it says “you’d be smiling, too”, that therefore you must not be smiling, and must not be quite as good as the driver of a shiny new convertible? Is it actually self-deprecatingly ironic? Does the driver of the car know that? What did the writer of that bumper sticker intend?


Then I remembered a favorite quote:

The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think. ~ Dr. Edwin Schlossberg, author of eleven books at last count, and member of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.

I’m thinking 🙂

I love books.  I was that dorky kid walking to school reading an open book, my feet remembering the way over sidewalk cracks, around tree roots, up curbs, while my mind traveled with the main character along Plum Creek. Sometimes I slowed down before the corner where I met my friends, just to read a little bit more before the greetings.

I trade books with friends and family, give bookstore certificates as gifts, and usually have a stack of books next to the bed, chair, and even in my car.  You never know when an unanticipated traffic jam will provide the gift of a few minutes’ reading! But here’s one way that books can give joy that I hadn’t discovered until this morning – click–> A previously undiscovered joy of books!

This little guy never fails to  make me smile 🙂

I previously posted a link to this family, and just saw another video of baby Micah that I had to share.  If you need a smile, here you go:  A joyful noise!


My silver linings theme is apparently shared by others. I just love that about people.


Sometimes the most innocuous, perhaps even mortifying moments, can end in giggles for all involved. 🙂

Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you’re doomed. ~ Ray Bradbury.


It came to me when I was lying in the middle of the intersection. I’d been pedaling my bike in the bike lane toward a coffee shop, when I caught a glimpse of a car’s speeding front wheel out of the corner of my eye. 


I can’t believe that car’s really going to hit me… 


It did. It knocked me, flying, right toward the middle of the intersection where cars speed up to get onto the freeway. I braced, holding the handlebars tightly, pushing the bike toward the road so the seat and handlebars hit the pavement before I did, absorbing some of the impact.  I ended up on my back, with my right leg twisted under the bike.


I caught my breath, tried to rise to a sitting position, then fell back, realizing that I might be seriously injured. But a thought raced through my mind: I might get run over by a car, to boot. I took three deep breaths, quieting my racing heart, then opened my eyes and lifted my head. And that’s when it hit me, (pardon the expression.)


This was not the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. corridor. Nobody was honking a horn. Not one car was trying to inch around me.  The driver of the car that had hit me had pulled over and was dialing 911. A tall man was rushing toward me.


A nice witness carefully untangled me from my bike and rolled it to the sidewalk, while a blonde nurse walked me to the curb. I felt badly about slowing everyone down.


“Don’t worry, this is the best excuse I’ve ever had for being late.” 


People called out kind words. I turned down the ambulance ride and the firemen who’d been summoned. I turned to push my mangled bike, leaning on the torn seat for support, toward our temporary little home, ice and Advil. 


The blonde called out, with a wry, apologetic smile, “Welcome to Sacramento!”


I had a bruise the size of Mainland China down my right side by the time I got home, and a dent in my leg where the pedal had dug in.  But, think of it: I ended up walking away from being hit by a car!   


My husband and friends couldn’t believe it.

• You aren’t going to sue? 
• Stopping after hitting someone isn’t “responsible,” it’s required! 
• What do you mean it was a good experience? 

And that’s when I came up with the title for this blog. I’ve been keeping the postings elsewhere, but they all had the same theme: 

Melinda’s (Never) Mind…(A)Musing Observations of a Pathological Optimist. 

I share it now in case it brings you enjoyment, amusement, or just, in the spirit of Mr. Bradbury, a compelling reason for me to write, write, write.


I won’t win the beautiful legs competition this week, but it’s OK, I wasn’t planning to enter, anyway.  🙂 And I’m headed back to Maryland in a week for book readings, releases, and the Blackbird Poetry Festival. Complete with new material. So far Sacramento has provided ample inspiration!

This morning I saw Marcus McArthur and his baby, Micah, on the Today Show giving the best demonstration of silver linings I’ve seen in a long time!  

This concept is great – how much time are you spending providing tech support to your parents?


Did you know that Google has created some quick lessons on how to do everything on your computer from increasing the text size on your screen, to starting a blog? This introductory video cracked me up!

I hope they’ve upgraded the fill-in-the-blank note that accompanies the lesson by now.  The humorous tone was a little condescending, I thought, to send to my fairly computer-competent dad. But the lessons are wonderful, and my father really appreciated the mini-tutorials.  


As I scanned the topics, I have to admit I found a couple I could use myself! Here are some of the choices: http://www.teachparentstech.org/watch  I’ve sent Google a note about the tone of the notes, and will be checking back to see if it’s improved. Okay, and to see if there are any new tips I didn’t already know.

I read so many books that I have little book pyramids all over the house, and even in  my car!  I’m usually reading a novel in each room, a professional book or two, and something funny.


At first I tried keeping an updated list on this site of everything I’m reading, a mini-review, and 1-5 stars.  That didn’t leave much time for writing.


So I decided to take Mom’s advice – if I don’t have something nice to say, I don’t say anything at all. I’m just listing books that I learned from, or enjoyed.  If you have a question, a comment, or a book recommendation, send me a note!


Disclaimer ~ my taste in literature is much like my taste in music: I enjoy all genres that are written and performed by talented, creative people.


 Steig Larsson: The Millenium Series: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; The Girl Who Played With Fire; and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.
I don’t usually read books with violence against women, and this series is extremely graphic. But Larsson’s protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, is a complex, highly intelligent character who has no plans to remain a victim. Not for those with a weak stomach or tender sensibilities. But you’d want the quirky, genius Lisbeth on your team if pitted against the bad guys in this story.


Randy Pausch – The Last Lecture. Autobiographical story from Carnegie Mellon professor, with humor, wisdom, and heart.

I just visited an older family member who, over the past few years, we’ve gone from supporting as he needed help at his home, then in our home, then, finally, just in the past few weeks, in the dementia unit of a nursing home outside of Washington, D.C.