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Shuffling or Dancing? by Carol Welsh

As I entered the restaurant, I looked for the hostess so I could inquire as to where the Shrine Club of Daytona Beach was meeting. I was the guest dinner speaker and arrived early so I could get set up and chat with the members.

When I asked a waitress for the location, she pointed at the hostess, who was helping an elderly man walk to the private dining room. She held his arm while he steadied himself with his cane in his other hand. I wasn't in a hurry so I walked behind them while he shuffled along.

When I entered the dining room, I quickly headed to the podium and table that was provided for my books. When everything was ready, I introduced myself to an attractive man who was sitting at the head table. He invited me to sit at the end of the table to his immediate left. He said he was Program Director and was delighted to have me as the guest speaker. He told me his name but the noise in the room from club members conversing was reverberating off the walls, so I could only catch his first name - John.

I excused myself to circulate among the members before dinner started. I have a loud voice but had to increase my volume to screaming level so the members could hear me. Since chatting became impossible, I returned to the head table.

As I sat down, John picked up my left hand and commented there was no wedding ring. When we discovered we both lost our spouses, John’s eyes lit up with anticipation. He shared some of his stories from when he was a race car driver and drove on the streets of Daytona Beach. He raced before the Daytona Speedway was built. He proudly told me that he was 85. While he was sharing his stories, he continued to hold my hand, while I cupped my right ear with my other hand and leaned in closer to hear him. He was flirting with me and I didn't mind in the least because he was fascinating and attentive. When the food arrived, John winked at me and let go of my hand so I could eat.

After dinner, there was a brief meeting. One of the topics was the concern that the club would fold if they didn't get some younger members. The club was shrinking due to the demise of so many elderly members. I knew after a long day and a full stomach that I would be challenged to keep this senior crowd awake despite the fact that I sprinkled my speech with humor.

As I talked, John’s face was animated. He nodded when he agreed with what I was saying, while others were nodding because they were asleep! When I speak, I always look around the room while briefly making eye contact with members of the audience. But I was pulled back to John because of his enthusiastic response. When he removed his traditional red fez, I found myself looking down on thick, wavy, gunmetal gray hair. I gazed at this handsome man and thought, 'No way is he 85. He doesn't look it and he has so much vitality!'

After the talk I became involved in selling and signing books. I noticed that John was politely waiting until I finished so I could sign his copy last. I stood and reached out to shake his hand. John was a tall man so I was looking up at him. In one smooth move, he used the handshake to pull me forward so he could plant a kiss on my mouth. He stepped back triumphant, with a pleased grin on his face, while his eyes danced with merriment. You could practically hear him think, 'This guy still has what it takes.' If he could, he would have kicked up his heels.

I thanked John for making the evening special. Of course I too was grinning from ear to ear over his daring action. He walked tall while he took a few steps and reached for a cane lying on the next table. He turned and began to shuffle through the restaurant. At that moment I realized John was the 'old' man I had followed into the private dining room. This time, although he was shuffling, his soul was dancing and he stood taller.

How my perception had changed. I had felt sorry for the old man who appreciated the helping hand of the hostess. I thought what a shame it was that this man, who had once been full of energy, had been reduced to needing help just to walk. Now as I looked at his retreating back, I felt respect, admiration and yes, a sigh in my heart. I was reminded to never judge a person by his cover. You never know what lies within. Was he shuffling or was he dancing?

Carol Welsh, M.S,. is the author of 'Stop When You See Red.' She has over 25 years of experience as a speaker and is a frequent guest on talk shows. Her Web site is stopred.com. She can be contacted at carolwelsh@stopred.com

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Internet Authors don't need Patrons by Mike Scantlebury

One of the biggest lies that Traditional Publishers peddle to would-be authors is that things 'have always been this way'. That's historically inaccurate. What we call 'publishing' is a recent invention. It didn't exist before the development of what we now call the novel, long fiction pieces that involve either an omniscient author or a psychologically aware narrator. That happened around the middle of the 1700s, and when the form became very popular with readers, some businessmen saw the possibilities of producing large numbers of these books for a wide audience. They commissioned printers, arranged distribution and worked to find new authors. (Bear in mind that 'distribution' wouldn't have been possible in a place like England before the Toll Roads were built either, around the same time.)

Before this, there were printers and – usually – patrons. Printers sometimes commissioned work, where they saw a money-making opportunity, such as in the popularity of Broadside Ballads, songs and lyrics printed on enormous single sheets of paper, (usually about topical events, such as local crimes and hangings). More normally, printers limited themselves to a small selection of classic and every-popular books like the Bible, and other work where it had been commissioned by a 'patron'. Shakespeare had one, that's why his plays made it into printed form. If he hadn't, he never would have been able to afford it for himself, and there weren't any middle-men at the time who could take a chance and get some copies run off in the hope they would be sold. No, that's a different game. It's called publishing.

These days that's all there is. In plush and extensive offices in all the major capitals of the world sit men (and a few women) in smart clothes, who pore over newly typed manuscripts, looking for gold. The mission they are about, (they would have you believe), these be-suited and well-educated fellows, is to find gems of rattling stories that they can arrange to print and distribute – for a profit. At least, that's what they tell you. When they're feeling disingenuous. 'It's a business', they say, as though that explained everything. If you are an author, and have a work to submit, they want to know that it can be printed, put in bookshops and sold. That last one is the most important. Any book can be put on a shop's shelf. The magic is to see it walking off the shelf to the till, where money changes hands. It's necessary, these transactions, in order to make the world of publishing work. No money, no more books. That's what they tell you.

Unfortunately, publishers have another string to their bow. Whenever they're stuck for a decision, they resort to an earlier ethic. 'This book deserves publishing', they declare. No, that can't be right! That's the cry of the patron. Hundreds of years ago, well-to-do and titled gentlemen would pay the printing bill if they considered that a work was worth sharing with the world. So why, I hear you ask, would modern-day publishers recreate the same philosophy? The answer, in my opinion – too much education! Most people who infest the world of publishing have been massively educated, usually well past Degree level at University. They know too much about literature. They don't look at books like tins of beans, or parcels of hamburgers, (as they claim to do). They still have romantic notions of what makes good reading, probably gained during long years in the classroom. The result? They can't help acting like the patrons of old, committed to putting the best of all current writing in the hands of an un-eager but deserving public.

It confuses matters. If Traditional Publishers really were the business people they claim to be, then we would all know where we stood. We – the writers – would know that money is king, and only books that sell are worth looking at or – to be strictly accurate – worth writing! The bad news, for us, is that publishers aren't anything like as consistent as that. They also harbour strange, esoteric ambitions. They like the idea of discovering a potential Nobel Prize winner. Would the guy sell books? Dammit, it doesn't matter, they say, as long as he wins prizes. This is confusing, to say the least. Who are we dealing with? Hard nosed businessmen or dewy eyed lovers of top 'quality' fiction?

The answer, of course, is both. In these days, the early years of the 21st century, ambitious authors are being faced with the dilemma of trying to launch their wares with people who can't decide if they live in the present day or would rather be the Lords of Ladies of 250 years ago. It doesn't help. That's why I keep advising struggling authors to turn to the internet, where we can all get our books printed, bound and posted off to customers at no expense to ourselves. Then, when we're more certain that we want the life of the commercially rewarded writer, we can turn back to the confusing world of publishing and try to find the ideal publisher for us, out of the squalling morass. At least then we will have been past the thrill of seeing our precious story printed in book form; way past the lure of 'vanity publishing' and the subsidised market; and much more capable of coping with the flatteries of publishers who can't currently decide if they are commercial or not. In fact, whether they are here and now or living in the past, as patrons, in the old sense.

Mike Scantlebury is an Internet Author, in the new sense. He is his own publisher. His novels can be found on Amazon and Lulu.com and he has work on YouTube and FreeIQ. If you want to know more about this exciting English author from Manchester, England, go to his own download site for goodies. It's http://www.mikescantlebury.biz

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A Guide To Your Boating License by Frank Rom -

If you are familiar with the process of obtaining a drivers license, the acquisition of a boating license won't bring anything new to you. Just like when you were training for your driver's license you will be required to follow a boating course and at the end of that be successful in passing the final test. The entire mechanical operation of your vessel must hold no secrets to you and all the elemental safety procedures with respect to weather characteristics and navigation must be acquired knowledge.

Where to Find a Certification Course?

Your nearby department of recreation will be able to help you locate a boating license certification course. Most of these courses are conducted during spring and summer. Depending on the sort of vessel you want to apply for, your training course will be either short or very extensive.

It goes without saying that a lot more education will be required from you if you want to navigate in a large and powerful craft. It is a good thing as well because the bigger and faster a boat is, the greater the risks involved for you, your passengers and other fellow boaters. Your local department of recreation will be able to give you more ample and more specific information

Like so many things nowadays you can even find boating license classes online. You must ask yourself however how much value these classes can offer you. There is no substitute for going out there on the water to gather real hands on experience. The presence of water and other vessels around you will surely make you learn as much as possible to get you to become a safe and responsible boater.

A 'real world' class will also give you the opportunity to work closely with your instructor. Being face to face you will be able to ask questions and get the necessary feed back from him. Both these elements are vital to your boating instruction.

Limitations

In this matter of seeking a boating license there are a few limitations you need to be aware of. Just like with the driving license there is an age limit: the applicant must be at least sixteen years of age. It is however possible to get a provisional boating license for youngsters between the age of twelve and sixteen. They have to complete the necessary boating education and have to be accompanied by a licensed adult whenever they are driving a vessel.

You have to pay attention to the different state laws, most state boating licenses are valid across the state borders, but it always is a good idea to check the regulations of the state you are planning to go to before you set sail. Sometimes the age requirements change between one state and the other, so make sure you comply with the state law. Happy boating.

Frank Rom runs an information site about boating and boating vacations. You should also stop at: Government Auctions: Seized boats and vessels, up to 90% off the retail value!

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