Patricia Sands

Author

lifelong friendship

A roadtrip to Gourdon

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

My plan was to have you join me for a roadtrip to one of our favourite destinations when we had friends visiting. The perched village of Gourdon has, as the sign says, a “Panorama Grandiose” … say no more. The view is worth the drive and the drive is a treat in itself. There’s a great spot for the usual espresso stop while you enjoy the breathtaking vista with the hills of the Alpes-Maritimes tumbling down to the Côte D’Azur while the Mediterranean sparkles like a jewel on a perfect day.

You’ll find more information about the village and it’s 13thC castle that began as a Saracen fortress in the 9thC if you click here. Roman ruins indicate the area was well inhabited during those times. As well as a loved destination for tourists and locals alike, hiking and hang-gliding are also popular.

The roadtrip down from Gourdon brings us back to the coast ending with a sunset from our terrace in Antibes. The photos are all mine with the exception of the fantastic shot of the entire village which must have been taken from a plane (credit is given to cometofrance.com).

I’m late getting this post up for a couple of reasons but the most important is that as I was putting together my slideshow I received a very sad e-mail. A dear friend in London, England passed away yesterday after battling leukemia for several years. She was one of those people who make life better just by knowing her – and her husband, I might add. When I wrote him tonight I expressed how they always represented to me the best that a couple could be together. I hope you know someone like that too.

So if you are wondering why I have a Beatles song as the accompanying music for this French roadtrip, it’s because I’ve been thinking about my friend Adorée.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DkfHKJqkaU&feature=youtu.be

I’ve been looking after The Adorables this week (our youngest grandchildren, ages 2 and 4) as they’ve been home sick with a nasty virus. Consequently, I am SO far behind with writing and social media, it’s staggering! I won’t even bother going into the fact that I picked up their virus, just to add to the fun! I pride myself on never getting sick so that was definitely not on my agenda! So pardon my absence, fellow bloggers and dear readers, and things should be back to normal (whatever that is) very soon. How do you deal with the unexpected glitches life throws into your schedule?

A love letter to my Bridge Club

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As we roll into another year, I feel like sending a bit of cyberlove to the amazing friends who are my real life Bridge Club by retelling this story. This is old news for some of you who read my blog but many of you won’t know the story.

Along with some fine, steadfast BFF’s in my life, I have this special group that has shared friendship for over 45 years. There are ten of us in what we laughingly call the Bridge Club. We chuckle about it because, to be honest, cards have not played the most important role in our lives although we do enjoy the game.

We’re all the same age give or take a year and that is the most obvious thing we have in common. We have very diverse personalities, sizes, shapes, hairstyles, careers, bank accounts, and families. Yet, at the same time, we are one. The values we share are undeniable.

Like everyone on the planet, we each have our own story. Part of forging a strong friendship is accepting and understanding each other’s story, even if we’re not in accord with every aspect. Agreeing to disagree can be an important step in accepting differences and working through issues.

Becoming a valued part of each other’s story is a true sign of the quality of a friendship.

Our Bridge Club shares a history filled with memories that range from deliriously happy to devastatingly sad and encompass everything in between. It’s been quite a ride made all the more meaningful by knowing each one of us was “there” for whatever we needed. It hasn’t always been everyone responding at the same time but rather whoever had the best to offer the situation. No matter what, we are all in the loop and ready to bring what we could.

Some of the women in our group have known each other since kindergarten. Others came into the circle in our late teens and early twenties through school and university. From our days in the Psychedelic Sixties as hip, liberated “twenty-somethings”, or so we thought, to our present day status as “zoomers’”, our connection has been a constant.

Even though some of us are separated geographically now, we keep in touch. Six of us still get together frequently and we plan reunions with the others when we can. For the past twenty years, we have gathered for a major birthday celebration every five years and, trust me, we can still party!

September, 2010, we had an awesome week together on Vancouver Island. All ten of us laughed way too much, were organized into an impressive range of activities by the “planner” in the group, and, oh yes, played bridge. Did I mention we laughed way too much?

We piled into our vehicles one perfect morning – Bo driving 6 in the van, Barb with 4 in her car – to make the two-hour or so drive to Campbell River for lunch at Dick’s Fish and Chips. Nothing else would do!

The first scenic stop was at Qualicum Beach for a group photo. If you have visited Vancouver Island, I’m sure you will agree about the absolute unspoiled beauty of that part of the world particularly when the sun is shining and the temperature is just right.

Before I knew it, an unsuspecting guy relaxing on a nearby bench had been recruited. He continued to smile as he was handed several cameras and patiently completed the task.

Wondering who we were, some of us chatted for a few minutes. Barb took a photo of the rest of us with him and someone handed him a postcard about my novel, The Bridge Club. I should mention here that this was just a month after publication and the bridge club ladies were being the best promoters a writer could hope for!

But then again, as they constantly reminded me with grins, the novel is their story … with the lines blurred here and there to make it fiction. And that’s the truth, I could never have written the book without the history we have shared nor without their permission and whole-hearted approval.

Two days after I returned home to Toronto, a polite e-mail (address from my website on the postcard) arrived from the Qualicum Beach ‘photographer’ asking if it was ok to contact me. I was impressed by his thoughtful courtesy, agreed, and thanked him again for taking the great photo. Two days passed and this arrived to my inbox.

Inspired by sun, sand and blue mountains    Laughter and joy, the bridge club’s gift.

    An aging gypsy, a beach-side moment,

    lovely women, fellow travelers.

    A snap shot in time, joined for an instant.

 

   Each alone yet connected,

   through joys, sorrows and inner callings,

   visions from the “psychedelic sixties”.

   Honesty and truth, service to a common good

   forged in the fires of friendship.

   

    For me, silence and solitude,

   meditation halls and prayer.

   Birthed in the sixties

   nurtured for decades

   blossoming in the moment.

 Brother and sisters… same goal , different pathways.

 All the best 

He had obviously read the blurb about The Bridge Club history on the postcard and on my website and penned this just for us. This unknown Qualicum Beach ‘photographer’ made our brief stop that morning a very special memory forever.

It’s memories that weave the threads of our story together – the good and the bad, the “stuff” of life. We have choices to make every day and the more we are able to ensure they are affirmative and beneficial, the better our story becomes. When our story is authentic, value-based, and strong everyone connected to us benefits as well. It’s our own personal way of paying it forward.

Having true friendship in your life can only add positives to your journey in every way. The giving is equally as satisfying as the receiving.

The most important lesson we’ve learned from each other? To have a good friend, you must be a good friend.

I wish the same for you.

Take a minute today to let your friends know how much they mean to you. To all of you who take the time to drop by my blog, I’d like to think we are developing a friendship of sorts as well. I want to tell you how much I appreciate your visits. You have no idea how motivating and inspiring it is to know you’ve stopped in. Thanks!

 

Women – It’s Your Choice

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Sunday, January 22, 2012 marks the 39th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion throughout the United States. As a result, generations of women have had the right to safe and legal reproductive choices.  Anti-choice forces and politicians never quite working to overturn this decision and to pass laws and regulations that make abortion more difficult to obtain.

PRO CHOICE PIN BUTTON BADGE LOT FEMINIST RIOT GRRL GIRL - eBay (item...

PRO CHOICE PIN BUTTON BADGE LOT FEMINIST RIOT GRRL GIRL – eBay (item… (clipped to polyvore.com)

In Canada the Roe Vs. Wade decision inspired Dr. Henry Morgentaler to openly challenge the Canadian abortion law by publicly announcing in 1973 that he had performed more than 5000 abortions at his Montreal clinic. This caused Morgentaler to be subjected to a long judicial process that finally ended when the Supreme Court of Canada declared the abortion law invalid in 1988.

In 2012 abortion access is relatively good across Canada, but some provincial governments have tried unsuccessfully to obstruct efforts to establish abortion clinics.

The court decisions in the US and Canada have optimized maternal health, protected women’s health, eliminated the dangers of illegal abortion, and increased the well-being of children. For every woman who cares about these issues, it’s vital to speak out and support these gains to ensure they are not lost.

For every important cause, voices must be heard!

If you support Pro-Choice, make your voice heard. Women deserve the right to choose. Mutual respect between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice supporters is the answer. It’s personal.

Writers and sun signs … what do you say?

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Do you believe in Astrology? Do you check your daily horoscope and then make a decision whether to get out of bed or pull the covers back over your head?

Last September my sun signs were reviewed by the lovely and talented Shaz, the resident astrologer for the fabulous collection of authors and reader/reviewers belonging to LoveAHappyEnding.com.  I did tweet this interview then and put it on Facebook but for some reason I missed sharing it on my blog … I’m sure that forgetfulness has something to do with where the moon and stars were aligned on that particular date … I’ll have to check with Shaz!

Shaz’s Stars talks to Patricia Sands

Category: Shaz’ Stars

Shaz’s Stars – Welcome to the regular feature on ‘The Buzz’ of Shaz’s Stars

Using sun sign astrology I have been interviewing loveahappyending.com Authors to see how the traits of their sun sign affect their craft.
Authors share with us how they’ve used positive characteristics as well as advice on how they’ve overcome negative ones.
I hope you enjoy getting to know our new Authors as much as I’ve enjoyed interviewing them.

Shaz

Twitter @shazjera: http://bit.ly/m4lPE2
Website: http://jerasjamboree.wordpress.com

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome Patricia Sands!

Hello Patricia, thank you for letting us have a peek behind the scenes. Your sun sign is LEO.

Q. A typical Leo loves glamorous locations and adventure. Have you ever researched an idea on holiday? Or taken a trip purely for research?

That’s a timely question Shaz! Are you psychic as well? As we speak, I’m spending 4 months in the south of France where I’m writing my next novel. A good portion of the story is set in this area. My husband and I arrived in Antibes on May 15 and we will be here until the end of September when we’ll return to our home in Toronto. I’m having a wonderful time feeling like I actually live here and if it weren’t for missing our family (particularly adorable grandchildren), we would stay forever!

Q. Leonine people set themselves high standards. When you edit your writing, can this become a problem and cause you frustration?

You’re right about that! I do set high standards in everything I do and sometimes need to be reminded to ease up. As a former schoolteacher, grammar is a major issue with me and I have radar that can spot a typo or a spelling error a mile away. I always like to have a proper editor go through my work as well and find the process extremely worthwhile.

Q. Leo’s love drama. A typical Leo will dislike safety. Do you take risks in your writing projects?

I’m not sure about the drama part ( I love to watch it!) but I am a risk-taker. I do have a comfort zone when it comes to the topics about which I write but within those topics I’m prepared to push the limits. In the final chapter of my novel, The Bridge Club, I address a topic that is controversial as well as current. I was initially concerned that some readers might be offended but I felt so strongly about the subject matter that I knew I had to write about it. I’ve received very positive feedback about it and book clubs have enjoyed the discussion it generates. It’s always nice to discover that the risk was worth it!

Q. Leo energy generally expresses itself as positive thinking – positive thinking attracts opportunities. Are you a positive thinker? Can you share with us a time when positive thinking brought a blessing?

I am a positive thinker through and through. One of my alter egos is Pollyanna Patty and I’m often teased about it! I’m thankful to my Leo energy for this and although I can’t pinpoint a specific example, I feel that I have been blessed through my life as the result of an optimistic attitude. I was widowed at 43 and gained an ever more positive outlook through that devastating experience. I truly believe that every day is a gift to appreciate and give as much to as we possibly can.

Q. In romance, Leo’s have high aspirations and are idealistic. Do any of your lead characters fulfil these expectations?

In The Bridge Club several of the characters had experienced very different dimensions of romance in their relationships but that wasn’t the main focus of any of their stories. In my next novel, still untitled, romance is very much at the forefront (spoiler alert) and the main character realizes she is only just discovering romance for the first time in her fifties. At the beginning of the story she thinks her life is pretty much over in many ways and subsequently discovers it is only just beginning. It’s never too late for romance!

Q. Smaller problems are not an issue for those ruled by the Sun which enables them to see the bigger picture. Are you able to focus on your writing projects as a whole? Does this help when you find things may not be going so well?

I tend to be a “pantser” in my writing, rather than a planner but even so I generally have a clear idea of the bigger picture. Part of the fun of writing is seeing where the characters lead you as they begin to take on lives of their own. I’m often very surprised to discover twists and turns in the story. If things aren’t going well, I step away from my writing and go for a walk or play a game of golf. When I sit down at the computer again I’m usually ready to get right back to it.

Q. The Sun, your ruler, bestows life and light to all. Leo’s get an inordinate amount of pleasure from helping others enjoy life as much as they do. Leo’s love to be in the spotlight and to shine! Do you think this energy motivates your ambition to write?

I’ve been a storyteller all my life through photography. So in that regard, I like to put others in the spotlight but my ego is constantly patting me on the back for the brilliant photo. Does that sound like a Leo? My family and my friends are the most important things in my life and making sure we are all happy and enjoying life to the fullest is what drives me. I’m really not sure what motivates me to write. What I do know is that I love the experience! (An unexpected side benefit to this adventure of being a writer is the amazing global community of writers that one meets. The amount of information sharing is without measure and the wonderful connections made are priceless.)

A perfect example is the fact that I’m sitting here with you! Thanks so much for inviting me over, Shaz, it’s been great fun!

Hop on over to Shaz’s website. This multi-talented lady is also a Reiki Master who is currently studying for a crystal healing diploma. She also teaches literacy to children with dyslexia. Pretty awesome!

What is your astrological sign? Have you ever had a reading to see how your sign impacts your personality and the choices you make? Were you surprised by what you learned or do you tend to ignore the zodiac and its implications? Let’s hear about it!