Paper Voices

By marilyn dean

PAPER VOICES
From the pages of my varied experiences, I speak to you, Ladies, not from the heart of a bosom but from the heart of my seasoned soul. Hence, the title, Paper Voices, accurately reflects my mode of sharing life, life with its dueling dynamics of simplicity versus complexity, life as it presents itself to us, as women. In Paper Voices we will share the good, the bad, the not so good and the downright ridiculous. We will laugh together and cry together. We will be Sisters in the most refined sense of the word.
Some of you may wonder why Marilyn; why read from her pages; why listen to her voice? I ask, Ladies, why not me? Why not from a baby boomer who is gingerly sprinting into her sixth decade of life? Why not reap the benefits of seeds sown by a seasoned Sister who has mastered the art of listening, a woman wise enough to listen to God first, foremost and always?
Ive been a child and an adult/a mother and a wife/a loyal lover, a faithful friend/ and a helping and watchful neighbor. Ive been victim and victor/suffered ups and downs/Ive run cold and hot/and Ive been right and Ive been wrong. I have a style of humor that can only be described as unique. Again, Ladies, why not me?
Ive tried to accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. Im far from perfect; Im a multi-flawed me. And, although I have affected some bad choices, I made the good decision to live a humble and Godly life, a life in which I believe God is pleased. Why me, Ladies? Because the favor of the Lord says so. It was with favor that I received the words for Paper Voices, and it is with confidence in their truths and wisdom that I believe its Gods Will that you too will be blessed.
Now, Ladies, lets have at it. Paper Voices: From the page to the heart unabashedly saying this, that, the other and more. Paper Voices: Its all about us, all about the commonalities of our richly diverse lives.
Well meet again at the end of the journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Dec 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781426995040

Book preview

Contents

Day to Day

Paper Voices

Time

Dedicated…

God Is…

Free To Be Me

MAYBE WHEN I’M NINETY-THREE

Bad News

NIGHTMARE

Beyond Your Last Nerve

DON’T CALL ME BITCH!

Fond Memories

THE KISS

Growing In Grace

I’M STILL ME

Katrina

AND STILL HE REIGNS

Unsolved Mystery

WHEN?

Making It Work

i DON’T WANNA PLAY

As You Lay

INVASION OF YOUR PRIVACY

Play To Win

LOW DOWN

Attitude

It Has All Boiled Down To This

NO WONDER

My Most Treasured Gift

MOMMY, MOTHER, MOMMA

The Way It Was

OUR PLACE

Generation To Generation

GRANDDAUGHTER

Mind Readers

WHILE YOU YET LIVE

Envy

KEEPING UP WITH JOAN’S

The First To Know

WONDERLAND

Good Medicine

BELLYSTYLE

Without Consent

DID HE NOT HEAR ME SAY NO?

Sorting Through The Nonsense

iNTERESTING

Angel

SHE LIVED…SHE LOVED

Betrayal

THE MATCHMAKER

Timely Tips

Good Grief

AS I GRIEVE

From A Child’s Perspective

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I DON’T WANT TO DIE!

Protective Cover

SHADE TREE

Brothers’ Keeper?

THE LESSON OF POOR

Hiding in Plain Sight

PREDATOR

‘GAL’

‘HAPPY TEARS!’

Seeking Help

hELP!

Movin’ On

I DON’T HATE YOU ANYMORE

Victory Smile

TAKE CARE, MR. PRESIDENT

Have A Plan

NO ROOM FOR LIFE

Being No. 1 In Your Life

A MOMENT OF PAUSE

Despite The Try

I TRIED

Keepin’ It Together

RENEWED AWARENESS

Personal

HOW DARE HE!

Zero Tolerance

The Rogers/Rovers Of Our Lives

YOU KNOW BETTER

Not Easy, Not Fair

HEY, DUDE

Change Of Heart

EBONY CONFESSION

Pink Slips

br0ke

The Last Straw

THE END

Good Fathers

MY DADDY SAID

In My Room

JUST LISTEN

Look To The Hills

O, LIFE!

Nature Noises

Oh, Happy Day!

WHEN WE MET

Our Story

Let Go The Fear

AND, STILL…

Dissed And Disrespected

LIKE ANYONE BUT ME

Grandma’s Wisdom

GRANDMAS ARE…

Like A Virgin

MAKING LOVE

Adverse Reaction

OUT OF ORDER

Eyewitness

THE NUT ROLE

The Chip, The Monkey And The Albatross

THIS DAY’S JUST FOR ME

The Right Turn

EXHALE

Reflections

SisterGirls

About The Author

Day to Day

Notice the music of silence.

Notice the seasons and the splendor that each one brings.

Notice smells and sounds and colors and textures.

Notice the moon and the stars and the breeze of the trees.

Notice life’s bitter and savor life’s sweet.

Notice the meek and the mighty, the bold and the muted,

the drifting and anchored and the lost and found.

Notice air and sky and ground and sea.

Notice children’s laughter and the birds and the bees.

Notice your own company and the bounty of its pleasure.

Notice it all, foul and fair weather.

Notice your day to day.

Notice Life.

ABOUT…

Paper Voices

From the pages of my varied experiences, I speak to you, Ladies, not from the heart of a bosom but from the heart of my seasoned soul. Hence, the title, Paper Voices, accurately reflects my mode of sharing life, life with its dueling dynamics of simplicity versus complexity, life as it presents itself to us, as women. In Paper Voices we will share the good, the bad, the not so good and the downright ridiculous. We will laugh together and cry together. We will be Sisters in the most refined sense of the word.

Some of you may wonder why Marilyn; why read from her pages; why listen to her voice? I ask, Ladies, why not me? Why not from a baby boomer who is gingerly sprinting into her sixth decade of life? Why not reap the benefits of seeds sown by a ‘seasoned’ Sister who has mastered the art of listening, a woman wise enough to listen to God first, foremost and always?

I’ve been a child and an adult/a mother and a wife/a loyal lover, a faithful friend/ and a helping and watchful neighbor. I’ve been victim and victor/suffered ups and downs/I’ve run cold and hot/and I’ve been right and I’ve been wrong. I have a style of humor that can only be described as unique. Again, Ladies, why not me?

I’ve tried to accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. I’m far from perfect; I’m a multi-flawed me. And, although I have affected some bad choices, I made the good decision to live a humble and Godly life, a life in which I believe God is pleased. Why me, Ladies? Because the favor of the Lord says so. It was with favor that I received the words for Paper Voices, and it is with confidence in their truths and wisdom that I believe it’s God’s Will that you too will be blessed.

Now, Ladies, let’s have at it. Paper Voices: From the page to the heart – unabashedly saying this, that, the other and more. Paper Voices: It’s all about us, all about the commonalities of our richly diverse lives.

We’ll meet again at the end of the journey.

Marilyn

Time

Seems Time is but

the whistling winds blowing through

the hollow trees, but Time’s the answer

to locked doors for in Time’s hands are all

the keys…to happiness, progress and

love, to tragedy and death as well.

Want to know what future brings?

Who knows, for only

Time can tell!

Dedicated…

to

My Sisters:

those from across time

those of present day

those yet to be

Sisters always – you and me

and

to My God, all glory be to Him

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…and, if you must, build your own pedestal.

God Is…

our tie that binds

our rock that holds

our light that shines

our gift of love…

our hearts made pure

our fears unleashed

our joy in living

our inner peace…

He’s our beginning

our end

and the wisdom to know…

oh, yes

oh, yes

God is.

PROEM…

Free To Be Me

free·dom: a state in which one is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions; ability to act freely

Being a baby boomer, gracefully sprinting into my sixth decade of life, has surprisingly gifted me with freedoms unexpected. Surprisingly, I have the confidence to say out loud that I am more satisfied with my physical appearance at this stage in my life than ever before. I am secure in my beliefs and confident that my personal evolution continues on a path that will ensure the fulfillment of my purpose.

I am a better communicator. I ask for what I want, not fearing the word ‘no.’ I’ve not only learned to accept the no’s of life but also to dole out some overdue vetoes, dispensing without malice or guilt. This has greatly empowered my ability to unveil my true self…many inhibitions cast to the wind.

My