Sat, 23 Dec 2023 16:31:17 -0800WeeblySat, 23 Dec 2023 23:07:00 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/resume-elf-patricia-g-kay-2019-i-was-promoted-from-an-evening-staff-nurse-to-the-night-supervisor-at-childrens-hospital-forty-years-ago-i-remember-smilSat, 23 Dec 2023 23:02:16 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/resume-elf-patricia-g-kay-2019-i-was-promoted-from-an-evening-staff-nurse-to-the-night-supervisor-at-childrens-hospital-forty-years-ago-i-remember-smil6515014
                        
 
I was promoted from an evening staff nurse to the night supervisor at Children’s Hospital forty years ago. I remember smiling at the Director of Nursing’s positive feedback that included increased pay. Her final words were, “You are a true self, “which I later discovered was “You truly are an elf.” These words resonated weeks later when, at one o’clock Christmas morning, I met our Santa Claus at the hospital. For twenty six years, he had kept alive the tradition of trading in his black, professional suit to morph into Santa.
A parade of volunteers stood still, like a team of reindeer, transporting utility carts filled with pink and blue Christmas stockings that bulged with wrapped toys. Annually, donated toys from the community were divided into age-appropriate packages for all the hospitalized children.
And I, the once-in-a-life-time elf, was going to deliver stockings with none other than Santa. Now I ask, who could add “Elf” to their professional work resume.
We walked toward the preemie intensive care unit, where, in dimmed lights, parents hummed softly as they rocked their children in bright red blankets, shadowy figures, appearing as if they were a medical nativity scene. Whispering “Merry Christmas” to each baby, he laid a Christmas stocking on top of each incubator.
We took the elevator to the oncology unit. Rooms were filled with bald-headed patients who wore Christmas light head bands, colorful scarves, or baseball hats turned backwards. Welcoming squeals and shouts greeted him in a jungle of hanging intravenous tubing. Some rooms had plates of cookies, and Christmas letters scribbled on black-lined nurse charting notes.
Santa stood outside one closed door, the window blinds closed, and looked at me. I whispered, “She just died. The family is praying with the hospital chaplain.” He hung a pink stocking on the door knob, pressing his hand on the door. Without speaking, I think we both realized that heaven was welcoming their newest Christmas angel.
Like a rubber band, he would step toward the sleepy children who smiled in awe, their lips forming circles of wonder but would step back quickly if their eyes tightened, their faces flushed, or they wailed in fright.
As we wove through the clutter of the equipment on the rehabilitation unit, wheel chairs parked outside of rooms, crutches leaning against doors, teenagers shouted to Santa they did not believe in him, but they still wanted a stocking.
Hearing a respirator, Santa walked into the next room where a paralyzed teenager lay. I whispered, “She is alert she responds by blinking her eyes.” He brushed aside a brown curl that had fallen over her eye. “Now young lady, if you want me to leave you a stocking, say yes, if you believe in Christmas.” Her eyes fluttered in an overindulgent flirtation, never taking her eyes from Santa’s.
I still wonder why so many children were awake, why this Santa was so dedicated, and why I had been the chosen elf that year.
 
(Remembering Phil Smart, owner of Seattle Mercedes Benz)

]]>Wed, 06 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/after-walla-walla-wine-tastingMy year  as my fortune cookie read, "you will continue to be persistent".  A forever learner . I continue zoom classes with Writers Digest, author readings at Village Books in Bellingham, attended the Association of Writers and Poets at the Summit Conference Center in Seattle and a member of Pacific Northwest Writers Association. Published in Whatcom Reads 2023 Between Fact and Fiction Anthology. Learning the challenges of  writing 100 word stories, pursuing Creative Non-Fiction skills,  researching my next book honoring the memory of my young grandmother who died of a botched abortion in the 1920's.  I erase the rejections from my determined mind. I believe I have purpose in sharing my writing with all who invest their time in reading my words.

 As my special friend-Dr. Mike Rothenberg said years before he died,  "Pick one thing, support it, give of yourself however you can. " I write four letters a month to Girls Love Mail ,https://www.girlslovemail.com/, an organization who sends  letters of support to newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors. I ask you to give of your time to an organization that aligns with your purposeful self.

Until we meet again.

Patricia G. Kay

]]>Tue, 03 May 2022 07:00:00 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/passage-of-vines-clara-is-now-available-in-kindleDon't let the amount of pages scare you away. It is a quick easy read and I promise you you will learn so much about wine.
Remember I am working on the sequel, so how will the ending of Passage of Vines: Clara impact the second and final book?  The white horse that appeared in book one, reappears in book two. But how? You will find out.
]]>Mon, 02 May 2022 07:00:00 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/come-to-walla-walla-for-spring-barrel-tasting-may-6-8I will be there signing copies of Passage of Vines: Clara on May 6 from 3-5 PM at Books and Games 38 East Main. I would love to hear you thoughts about  Passage and as work on the second half of Passage of Vines; Stephen I am curious about how you would like that book to end.

If you are heading over, do your home work.!! There is plenty of information out there. Review the wineries that not only match your preferred varietal but also your price range. All wineries ask for a tasting fee that is waived if your purchase a bottle of wine. However, again check the cost of the tasting fee as they vary. Most wineries are asking for appointments, although walk-ins are welcomed if there is room.

Try to plan you trip by districts, again so very well done in the Walla Walla brochure that you can review online.

Where there is red wine you will probably find me.

Remember ask questions, learn from all of the wineries. Do not be afraid to learn, that is what I have done. FYI there i no Bennington WInery in Walla Walla,  it is a fictional winery I created for my book.

Hope to meet you.

Patricia


]]>Sat, 05 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/june-05th-2021Sat, 05 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/moving-forwardI know everyone wishes, wants, desires, works hard waiting for a  small acknowledgement of efforts. As a  writer for over ten years of active writing, I have continued to polish by skills, mirror myself after the authors whose books I read, and continually work to get my work seen by others besides myself and the computer file. Submissions sent, submissions rejected.

I am so pleased that I recently placed first in the Owl Canyon Press Hackathon.  The contest offered the first and twelfth paragraph, and the writer needed to complete the story theme.  I felt the story was seeking global warming words so I began my research of what is happening to our world, and sadly recognized that we are missing our opportunity to reverse the current scenario. I must admit except for reading about warmer temperatures, melting Arctic ice I was ignorant about our environmental report card. We are failing.

My short story, Sarri, has attempted to raise awareness, to encourage readers to investigate beyond a sporadic newspaper article, and to consider what  we can do now, tomorrow and forever to slow down our disappearing planet.
May I share the announcement?
Owl Canyon Press is pleased to announce the winners of the summer 2021 Hackathon. Selecting winners was a daunting task. We received wonderful stories in every genre, from fantasy to detective fiction. After a careful reading of all the submissions, the judges have awarded the following prizes:
 
FIRST PLACE: "Sarri" by Patricia G. Kay
SECOND PLACE: "Racing Rules" by El;izabeth R. Wilder
THIRD PLACE: "Ex Post Facto" by Katherine Friedman
 
 The work of the three winners, along with that of the 22 finalists, will be published by Owl Canyon Press in an anthology, which will be released this summer. Copies of the anthology are available for per-order at:
https://www.owlcanyonpress.com/product-page/from-the-corner-of-my-eyes

Being a winner, a first place winner is  an absolute undesirable feeling.  it is the boost I need to continue with my passion. Writing !!

Patricia G. Kay

]]>Sun, 20 Dec 2020 20:47:42 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/welcome-your-tomorrows-yesterdays-have-pastI wrote in our annual Christmas card that our lives were "parallel", as we isolated ourselves this past nine months. I met friends in parking lots, cars distanced apart, windows down, the heat blasting. Take-out to support local restaurants or the rare sitting outside under heat lamps only to  thaw for hours, becoming Food Channel chefs, and sadly not sharing our home with friends.

Sound familiar to you? Even though we may never meet, we can certainly sit down with a glass of wine and think of each other. I wonder how you are spending your holidays, if you have taken a drive through neighborhoods to look at the lights, or donated bags of food to the local food bank, or stood at a distance from others mailing packages.

I wonder if you weary wearing a mask, but remain committed.  I know you will be waiting for the email that you are in the Que for vaccine. Remember the polio vaccine? I do and also I share with you the time Dr. Sabin, co-inventor, was one of my patients.

I completed NANOWRIMO, have two of my short stories accepted in competition, and I continue work on Passage of Vines: Stephen. You must continue going forward, tiny steps, but move to a New Year, a new you freed of the fears that have seemingly bound us this year.

Until next year, I wish you only the safest, healthiest year. Even though your smile is covered, let a stranger know that you see them with your welcoming eyes.  Patricia G. Kay.
]]>Mon, 09 Nov 2020 01:49:00 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/nanowrimo-is-hereI would like to congratulate all of my fellow scribes locally and internationally that have taken on the personal challenge of writing a 50,000 word draft for this month of November. NANOWRIMO is National Novel Writing Month and writers join the disciplined world of writing, writing every day words that would slowly add up to a final draft.
Locally ours began at twelve midnight. Writers I may have met in a meeting years past gathered on a program similar to zoom and began to write, support each other, introduce their book to be, and exchange the similar challenges.
I emphasize this is not a book, a draft, words that have exploded from minds onto paper. Words that after multiple edits may or may not evolve into a future book but it causes every writer to have a sense of self pride to know that the desire to write, their talent, is happening.
This is my seventh NANOWRIMO; I have successfully completed six over the years.  My book Passage of Vines: Clara started as a draft a few years ago. After years of editing, I was able to publish it in the spring of 2019.
And you wonder what am I working on now? I am working on the draft for the sequel and final book of the series, Passage of Vines: Stephen.
Stacks of files filled with research, a story board of index cards, and beautiful coaxing classical music has nudged me along this past week. I am ready, prepared and committed to maintain my status as a NANOWRIMO writer.
To everyone writing, don't stop, you will get there as you patiently plod through the days. I am proud to say that I belong to the NANOWRIMO world. Patricia G. Kay
]]>Fri, 25 Sep 2020 20:27:49 GMThttps://patriciagkay.com/new-blog/how-are-youIs you life changing? Can you look back and remember what March was like? July? Are you weary of home, cleaning that which can just stay dirty, or cooking yet another new recipe? For all the family's whose children have morphed from creating pillow forts to online schooling, is your patient/love/commitment vault still full?

I have entered the world of zoom, going to birthday parties, and chorale rehearsals. As a season symphony subscriber, I watched my opening night of the symphony on our giant television screen that has benefited from sports events but the symphony was glorious!!

Traveling has been limited to short three day trips as all of the other trips were cancelled. Trusting the hotels and restaurants it has seemingly felt like a week long vacation by leaving our house. Always wearing a mask, always respecting the social distance table seating, applauding the sales associate who asked a man to "please leave the store as you are not wearing a mask."

And friends, yes, seeing friends outside, six feet away from them, but rekindling more then an email could ever accomplish. Wine, cheese , crackers, strolling through their abundant gardens, admiring their bouquet of flower bushes.

I hope when our world settles into a warm, secure blanket of normalcy that I will continue to value all of the memories that have been present in my life since March.

Research continues on Passage of Vines: Stephen. I have chosen the historical Washington location. I will begin the book November 1 2020, the first day of NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month). I have painfully learned that the polished edited books can stumble before publication, resulting in some punctuation blips.

Thank you all for you kind words after reading Passage of Vines: Clara. Sounds like there are quite a few readers who have learned about wine and even better are enjoying wine.

I wish you a moment to make you smile.

Patricia G. Kay



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