Family by Lesa Holstine

After twenty-seven years in warm climates, Lesa Holstine has returned home to the snow and ice of the Midwest, which she hates. But, she absolutely loves her new job as Public Services Officer at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library in Evansville, Indiana. Lesa blogs daily at Lesa's Book Critiques (http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com), where she shares her passion for reading (particularly mysteries).

Please welcome a woman I truly adore, admire and respect, my friend Lesa - - -

 

 

 

Family

by

Lesa Holstine

 

                It’s the time of year to get a little sentimental, so if you’re not in the mood, you might want to come back some other time.

                Anyone who stops in at Kaye’s site knows how important family is to her – her Donald, her mother, and, of course, the enchanting Harley Barley. This year, I learned how wonderful it is to be close to family. I moved from Arizona to Indiana last January. All of my family is in Ohio. My mother flew out to help me drive to Evansville, and then my sisters came down to help me move in. It’s been a year of re-discovery for me. I hadn’t been to a high school graduation party since my youngest sister, Christie, graduated a few more years ago than I’ll talk about. Now, her second youngest was the one celebrating his graduation. While home that weekend, I was also able to go to “Wicked” with my sister, Linda. I went to Ohio in August, and attended a family reunion. The last time for a family reunion had to have been over 30 years ago. And, then I went to Thanksgiving at Linda’s. Once I moved to Florida, and then Arizona, Thanksgiving with family was a thing of the past. The last one must have been over 27 years earlier.

 

 

 

 

                It’s been good to be close to family again. But, I have to say, I miss part of the family I’ve grown to love over the years. I miss the mystery family I discovered in Arizona.

                The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Arizona was my “third place”, the place I went other than home and work. It was through my connection to the Poisoned Pen and the library that I met the members of The Desert Sleuths Chapter of Sisters in Crime. And, one of those members, Chantelle Aimee Osman, did become another sister. Chantelle owns Sirens of Suspense website. I miss discussing books with her, meeting her at the Poisoned Pen, or going to dinner and the theater.

 

     I miss hanging out at the Poisoned Pen. Thanks to the Pen, I hosted all kinds of authors at the library, or went to see them multiple times at the bookstore. I miss hugs and visits with Jenn McKinlay, Betty Webb, Donis Casey, Rebecca Cantrell, Kris Neri, Kelly Stanley, Rhys Bowen, Jeffrey Siger, Avery Aames, Roni Olson. Authors not only appeared at the Pen, they came to the library. I still miss Juliet Blackwell, Sophie Littlefield, Zoe Sharp, Vicki Delany, Deborah Ledford, Carolyn Hart, Jane Cleland, and Paige Shelton. Barbara Peters, owner of the Pen, made evenings or lunches special with Alan Bradley and Jacqueline Winspear. And, I can’t tell you how much I missed Louise Penny’s appearance this year at the Pen. She and I always managed to sneak in dinner or munchies before she spoke there. The Poisoned Pen Bookstore with Barbara Peters, Rob Rosenwald, Will, and Patrick truly felt like a second home.

               

                It’s almost Christmas. I took my presents to my family instead of mailing them this year. I laughed with family, cheered our favorite college football team on to a victory, shopped and ate with them. There’s nothing better than being with family at the holidays, or, really, any time of the year. But, I can’t wait to see that second family again in March when Left Coast Crime is in Monterey. They may not be blood relatives, but it will be like old times again, visiting with family. I can’t wait for that mystery family reunion.

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