I've Got To Go Now.

I'm usually pretty good about starting and ending conversations, but I was a little off my game recently. You know how it is when you're chatting with a group of familiar people or just one person you know. When you're ready to move on, it's easy to say something like, "Okay. I'll talk to you later." or "Nice talking with you. I've got to get to the store." Then you move away. It goes smoothly and everything is cool.
Then this happened: on my way out of a room, I got into a conversation with a new person. Well, it wasn't a true conversation, because she did most of the talking. It started because I greeted her when she came into the room. She let me know she'd just returned from a trip out of the country. I replied, "I'll bet you took lots of pictures." That was my mistake. She pulled out her cell phone, walked over to me and proceeded to show me what seemed like one hundred pictures. She commented on each picture, and she kept talking when I made a response. My eyes started to cross from all the scrolling images. I wanted to be polite because she seemed to need attention and no one else in the room would talk to her. She was also a "close talker": when I moved back from her, she moved closer to me.  Finally, I could take it no more.  I said, "Thanks. Gotta go now." I got my things from the coat rack, waved goodbye to the others in the room, and and started to leave. I noticed that some of the others  smiled at me with understanding in their eyes as I walked out. Lesson learned.
How would you have handled the situation?
Smiles,
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Walking on the Mountaintop

When we humans get too "big for our britches" as my late father used to say, all we have to do is look at God's magnificent creations. This one is Table Mountain in South Africa. On a recent trip there, I and my fellow travelers were carried from the ground in a cable car up to the mountaintop. As we walked around and observed some of the wildlife and rock formations, I was impressed that I'd entered another piece of this vast creation called Earth. The air was different, more pure. It was tranquil, even with all the tourists. The sky and the mist that hovered over the top of the mountain was breathtaking.

The fact that Sylvia walked around the top of a mountain with no fear was amazing. I think I got so caught up with God's majestic creation that I forgot to be afraid.

Smiles,

Sylvia

www.sylviabrownroberts.com

A Real Live Magazine

The arrival of Spring inspired me to clear out many old magazines.  As a reader and writer, I have a hard time getting rid of print material, especially books and magazines. I must read each one thoroughly before I recycle it. Since my early career days, I've often had a subscription to Essence magazine. It was so rewarding back then to see women who looked like me on the cover of the monthly issues. (Shout out to Ebony and Jet, too.) A couple of years ago, however, I had such a backlog of magazines I needed to read that I stopped the subscriptions. Being an author now takes up a lot of my leisure reading time. Yet, I saved these 3 old issues to read. I enjoyed them so much that last week, I renewed my Essence for a year. Hope I can keep up with the reading. If not, I guess I'll have to read them on my tablet, but it's not the same experience for me as turning those real paper pages.

Smiles.

Sylvia

www.sylviabrownroberts.com

A Situation in the Soup Aisle

While at the market, I saw something that bothered me. I heard a man's angry voice when I turned down an aisle. It was a soft voice, but it was angry. I looked up from my shopping list when I heard the tone. I saw a senior man and a senior woman standing at a shopping cart in the soup aisle. The woman had a purse and a wallet in her hands.
"You do this every time! Look through everything in your purse. You always do this, Clara, every time we come out for groceries. What a dizzy wife you are! Next time, give me the credit card before we leave the friggin' house! You'd better find that credit card!"
I watched the senior woman search frantically in her purse. She was silent, her fingers moved all over her wallet. When he scolded her, she looked up at him while the words came out of his mouth, like she was trying to show she was paying attention to him. When he stopped fussing, she looked back down at her task.
I became angry, because it seemed to me the woman was being bullied.  I was about to step in, but thought, "Wait, did you assess this situation correctly, Sylvia?" I walked over to another aisle so I could settle down, and then address them with the right tone and spirit.  In less than a couple of minutes, I returned to the soup aisle. They were gone. I spent the rest of the afternoon wondering if I should have done more. 
Your thoughts?
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Bone Broth

I tried bone broth at a new restaurant. I think it's trending now, and I'm told that it's healthy. Isn't it interesting how some trendy practices and foods remind you of practices and foods from the elders in your family?

 The eatery specializes in ramen. Many of us know about ramen noodles from the days when we were poor college students, but this ramen is different, upscale and well presented. It's not the 4-pack that costs a dollar and has a powdered flavor pack. I ordered fresh noodles served with scallions, a slice of pork, and another veggie. There was chili paste on the side. The main thing, though, was the aromatic, dark bone marrow broth I mixed with the noodles and veggies. It had a good, earthy taste. It felt like it was good for my belly. It reminded me of the  the chicken bones used in the home made soups of my elders, who said the flavor in the bones made the soup good for you.
Getting hungry!
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Memories and Blogs

Pictures from one of  my early book signing tables. Not sure why the camera date stamp is 2008 since the novel was published in 2010. My first novel (Behind Church Doors)  and my first blog                                              http://www.nikolisthoughts.blogspot.com are on display on the vendor table at the event.
Although the nikolisthoughts blog has been inactive, it still has some thoughts that may catch you!  I created the sistersylvia blog to more clearly make a blog to author to novels connection.

I've since written two more novels and my second blog is live at
http://www.sistersylvia.blogspot.com

Please check out my blogs. It would be wonderful if you'd click to follow http://www.sistersylvia.blogspot.com

My blogs aren't long, but they are filling! Lol!
Thanks,
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Save Bookstores and Libraries

Classics Bookstore is another place where I got a chance to introduce and promote my first novel!  I think these pictures were taken June 12, 2010.  It was an exciting experience. I'm thankful for the opportunity and I still have contact with the bookstore. Eric at Classics Bookstore definitely supports local authors and the community.
Eric at Classics Books<book_cellar@mindspring.com
Today, I heard from a radio host how we need to give strong support to the libraries in our communities and to encourage children to visit them. I agree.  Many cities don't have as many libraries as they used to have. The same is true for bookstores. If you have one or more in your area, please support them and encourage children to do so. It's a good thing.
Happy reading!
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com