And Then She Said. . .

After school one day, instead of rushing in the house to dine on Mac and Cheese and stuff, Grandest called out, “Granny, I’m going to swing in the front.” Curious, I followed her to find a friend had strung up rope and there she was jumping on her picnic table and climbing a thick yellow rope.

Not to be out done, I said, “I’m coming.” Cane in hand, off I hobbled. She helped me climb on the table and grab the rope. Heart palpitating, I tried. Really, I tried.  She showed me hw to stretch and do thing I used to do with no prob but what can I say. Age has taken a toll. So I watched and enjoyed, tried again and again. When she finished, hand in hand we headed toward the house where homework and food waited.

Do I love this Grandest? You know I do.

 

Sassy at seven and a half.

 

 

 

 

 

And Then She Said. . .

My precocious grandest and I were on the way to Karate yesterday. She’s changed from Taekwando to this form of martial arts and loves it. On the way there, just after leaving her home, I saw her eyes closed and assumed a quick nap was in order for my first grader so I tuned into one of my news stations, 77 in NY, hosted by Michael Savage. Suddenly her eyes opened wide.

“Did he say the president lied?”

“Yes, he did. I’m listening because I don’t have time to read the newspaper or watch television news reports. The only time I catch up on what’s going on is when I drive back and forth to get you. It’s important to get opinions.”

“What’s opinion?”

I quick thought about a few examples and we talked about this during the commercial break.I asked if I should change the station and grandest said no. Together we listened about possibilities of war, conflict, fighting in countries far distant from The United States.

“Very interesting, Granny. Next time let’s listen to the man again. And I’m gonna watch out for opinions at school.

I’ve written a series of books under the umbrella title of The Beginning . . .Not The End. Mature romances where senior believe “it isn’t over ’til it’s over.” Check out Instant Grandpa about a grandmother and her granddaughter who meet a grandfather and two grandsons and how love blossoms at the New Jersey Shore one lovely summer.

Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/She-Didnt-Say-Beginning-Not-ebook/dp/B00I1MRP9S

AllRomance Ebooks
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shedidn039tsayno-1404960-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/400933

And for a free ebook download from Charmaine Gordon and Vanilla Heart Publishing…

A Taste of… Charmaine Gordon

or

http://books.noisetrade.com/charmainegordon/a-taste-of-charmaine-gordon

And Then She Said. . .

 

 

 

Grandest, now age six and a half, goes to half day summer camp. I drove her first day since daughter, voted best of the best or something wonderful at her school, still had one day left to work. I’m the go-to Granny. Blond hair already askew, she marched confidently in waving to everyone from last year. The differ this time is the way she introduced me.

“This is Granny. She writes books. Her new book is called “Farewell,” she tugged on my shorts. “Grans, what’s the next word of your funny title.”

“Farewell, Hello.”

“Isn’t that backwards?” By now she had the attention of counselors and parents.

“No. Young lovers say farewell when the boy goes off to war. Years go by and she doesn’t know if they’ll ever meet again.”

“Oh, I get it. Then she says Hello. Cool. Yay.”

“And you know you can get free four chapters of Farewell, Hello by using a certain link.” But by now she was playing with some kids forgetting about Grans.

“I’ll see you at noon.” My feet dance across the gymnasium floor as I leave.

 

 

Free 4 Chapter Preview Farewell, Hello

or

http://books.noisetrade.com/charmainegordon/free-4-chapter-preview-farewell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Then She Said… and Coming Soon…

The expression, “They grow up so fast” is often heard and oh so true. I never dreamed I’d help raise an infant when daughter had grandest yet here I am, surviving with a writing career, a dear second husband, and almost daily care of my best little pal.

The many faces of our lovely girl. This one shows her walking away, so confident in short strides.I’m thinking, “Don’t walk too far, too fast, too soon, precious child.”

The computer is not cooperating with me right now so I’ll post this incomplete and try tomorrow,  another day. Thanks for checking in, my friends.

She breaks a board at TaeKwando after passing her yellow belt test.

 

Good news – Coming Soon – latest book, now titled Farewell, Hello set in 1948:

 

Blurb:

That first kiss… that first incredible, agonizing, bellyache-making first kiss. Soon, Joy and Danny are inseparable, planning a future — a life, together.

A kiss goodbye couldn’t prepare the highschool sweethearts for all that lay ahead. A family crisis, a tornado, and the Korean War brought their plans to a screeching halt, and changed their futures… but maybe not their forever.

 

You’ll laugh and cry with the story; references to Seventeen Magazine and not allowing ‘privileges’ to boys until after marriage may seem funny and archaic but that’s how life was in a time I know very well. Authentic and so real, I cried and laughed writing this story.

 

 FREE 4 CHAPTER PREVIEW DOWNLOAD

 

See you soon with more about Grandest and my latest book. Right now, this Granny is weary.

 

And Then She Said and Did. . .

Daughter purchased a junior sized gardening set for grandest to work with me; planting flowers, pulling weeds is one of our fave pastimes. Out we went where she swaggered around asking what to pull before we planted. I explained the area where we live was once an onion field and the tall bright green stems sticking up needed to be yanked out. She pulled one and checked out the white bulb at the bottom. “Look Grans, this is the Daddy size onion.” We laughed and she got the hang of it racing from stem to stem, carried away by clumps, grunting hard ’til she got them up falling back on her butt where I pushed her to stand and go again. 

Every moment was wonderful until a bee stung right through her little glove and all hell broke loose. Screaming, she ran in, grabbed a towel, wet it and waited for me to do something marvelous like put miracle cream and a band aid. Then whimpering, that’s both of us, she requested Mac and Cheese and a DVD to , in her words, “calm her down.”

 

 

The perfect gift for mature romance readers for Mother’s Day:Book 2 with 3 long/short stories under the umbrella title of  The Beginning. . .Not The End                             

No Time for Green Bananas

Celeste Hamlin, seventy-five year old widow, has a goal… conquer the six mountains in the Saranac Lake region before deciding what to do with the rest of her life. Sixty-two year old Professor Paul Harris, meets the dynamic Celeste, and recalls the last words his wife said before she passed. “Find another love and begin again.” Will they begin again?

She Didn’t Say No

Grace didn’t say no to the Big Man On Campus, Scott Dwyer. And then her life changed… Years later, a too-close encounter of an unpleasant kind with a skunk and Scott’s German Shepherd reunites the former lovers. What happens in between are their stories of beginnings and endings and love lost, then found.

Dr. D and the Dad

A trip over a mound of sand on the beach begins a journey for Diane O’Rourke and Tony Flannigan. She’s a pediatrician, a bit over weight; he has a foster care home with three children under his sheltering wing… and a dark secret. Can they overcome the past and make the future work for them? They might just find the initial trip was well worth it.

Also Available as Singles for all Ebook reading devices!

PRINT EDITION on AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Not-End-Collections/dp/0615996086

PRINT EDITION on BARNES & NOBLE

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beginning-not-the-end-charmaine-gordon/1119046084

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thebeginningnottheendvolume2-1466471-149.html

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Not-End-2-ebook/dp/B00JFJXIME

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beginning-not-the-end-charmaine-gordon/1119046084

SMASHWORDS for ALL Ereading Devices

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424672

 

 

And Then She SAid. . .

Grandest loves her mom, her pets and me but last week I witnessed a different side of her.

After TaeKwando class, she dragged me next door to the pizza place for a drink of water. “Don’t worry, Grans, he’s a nice man. He always gives me water free and you don’t have to buy a slice.” And there we were where other kids and moms and one grandmother and her grandson sat devouring yum food.

The boy, always stern and focused in class, began to giggle and so did grandest. He asked for a play date. She gave him her mom’s cell phone number. Then she ran to get straws, sticking them in her mouth to imitate a walrus. More giggling. Romance blossomed before my eyes. I felt like giggling. How cute to see the spontaneity of two six year old kids dressed in the same uniforms, one a yellow belt, the other a blue belt.

I felt like giggling too, unseemly for little old Grans. Kids! How cute and sweet they are.

And Then She Said. . .

Grandest and I were outside a few days ago. Sun shining, afternoon beautiful, up to mischief after school. She climbed into the big trampoline and threw a big ball way over the top for me to catch. Of course I dropped it. Frowning, she bounced over to face me.

“Grans, here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna bend your knees,” she demonstrated, “bouncing a little bit. Then hold the ball in both hands and flip it over the top right to me. ‘kay?”

“Okay.” I’m not the best thrower or catcher. I can tap dance but at the moment, that’s not the issue. I did so want to impress my six year old grandest. The first five tosses were awful. Patiently, she explained again and again. until, by jove, I got it. And toss the ball over, I did sometimes hitting her in the head but we laughed and once in a while I caught the ball. Much screaming, laughing and carrying on until finally daughter arrived. The game ended. I didn’t get to show off my budding prowess. Grandest left me in favor of jumping into her Mom’s arms. Then Gracie, my grand dog got into the act. My tired legs folded up on a chair now devoid of snow.

 

 

I’m thrilled to announce the 2nd Volume of my series of Mature Romances is now available 3 long/short stories under the umbrella title of The Beginning. . .Not The End available both in print and in all eformats.

No Time for Green Bananas     Celeste Hamlin, seventy-five year old widow, has a goal… conquer the six mountains in the Saranac Lake region before deciding what to do with the rest of her life. Sixty-two year old Professor Paul Harris, meets the dynamic Celeste, and recalls the last words his wife said before she passed. “Find another love and begin again.” Will they begin again?

She Didn’t Say No     Grace didn’t say no to the Big Man On Campus, Scott Dwyer. And then her life changed… Years later, a too-close encounter of an unpleasant kind with a skunk and Scott’s German Shepherd reunites the former lovers. What happens in between are their stories of beginnings and endings and love lost, then found.

Dr. D and the Dad     A trip over a mound of sand on the beach begins a journey for Diane O’Rourke and Tony Flannigan. She’s a pediatrician, a bit over weight; he has a foster care home with three children under his sheltering wing… and a dark secret. Can they overcome the past and make the future work for them? They might just find the initial trip was well worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Not-End-Collections/dp/0615996086

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beginning-not-the-end-charmaine-gordon/1119046084

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thebeginningnottheendvolume2-1466471-149.html

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Not-End-2-ebook/dp/B00JFJXIME

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beginning-not-the-end-charmaine-gordon/1119046084

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424672

 

And Then She Said. . .

My grandest never fails to amaze me with her perception. At six, she says the most profound things. For instance, we were involved in getting her hair dried after a bathe the other day and I took a trip down memory lane. “Honey, I’ve been bathing you since you were this big.” Spreading my hands I showed her about a two foot length. She giggled. “In the kitchen sink in a little tub and you held my little head so I didn’t drown and when I got bigger we went into the bath tub.” Our laughter mingled like a perfect mix of age and youth.

And then she looked serious and said, “Grans, you’re not allowed to die for a long time.”

I agree.

And then she said, “” Old people need a lotta love so they last. It like, powers their life system.” I do believe she’s right, bless her big heart.

                        Here she is confiding in me last year during lunch. My pal; my grandest.

And Then She Said. . .

An angel and a devil wrapped into one. Grandest played with her I Pad. Pod? What do I know. Not much since she’s already accused me of not being in kindergarden therefore how smart can I be.

All I heard from the living room was giggles and shouts of glee. Suddenly quiet. She appeared in the kitchen, a huge yellow bounce ball in her hands, an evil glint in those blue eyes.

“Time to play bounce and catch, Grans.” She launched said ball right at me, gale force, and it bounced off my head.

“New rules, little girl. No bopping Grans in her head. ‘kay.?”

“Okay.” As if I’m a spoil sport. “Let’s play roll the ball’.

There we were slamming the ball back and forth, laughing our heads off as she makes up new counting rule every time one of misses. Is it any wonder that I stagger out to my car when daughter returns.

There’s an old song, “The old gray mare, she ain’t what she used to be many long years ago.” Hmm. How apropo for little Granny.

And Then She Said. . .and Did

Going from white belt to high white belt to yellow belt! What a thrill watching Grandest standing alone in the center of the large room so poised being tested for a yellow belt on Monday. Master Yu called out instructions, she followed, broke a board with the side of her foot this time. Applause, applause. Finally, test completed he called her forward to receive a trophy and a yellow belt. Beaming, she bowed and turned to her mommy and me on the sidelines. I do believe I saw a bit of swagger in her barefooted step. Yes, I did.