Valley News
& Views
Page 7
June 27th, 2013
Comfort Zone by Clint Van Camp
+
Songs keep going through
my mind as I think of this
month. "June is bustin' out
all over, all over the meadows
and the hills." Or from Porgy
and Bess: "Summertime and
the livin' is easy." That one I
argue with. Whose summer
is easy any more?Yes, people
take vacations but then they
need to time to recuperate
from the vacation to get back
into the swing of things.
But reading a good book
goes on all year. Even
though June is the kick-off
month for Rescue Summer
in Tehachapi, the Rescue
Capital of the World, I'm
getting my column done
a bit ahead of deadline. I
have resolved that when I
finish a good book, I will
write the column right away
before another good book
comes along and pleads for a
column, too.
Past Darkness by Laurel
Woidode showed up in my
mail box. I met the author two
years ago at a Scandinavian
Festival called Norsk Hostfest
in Minot ND. She was helping
her father, Larry Woiwode,
who has written books set
in the upper Midwest region
for years. Laurel said she was
working on book of her own.
I said, "Send it to me. I'd love
to read it when you finish it."
So when the book showed up,
I was glad she remembered.
A beautiful buckskin
horse on the cover insured
that I would read the book.
The dark clouds fit the
title. The story, told in first
person by Gabrielle, started
gently, making me think ah,
a coming of age story, as the
heroine is fifteen years old.
But not far into the story her
life is ripped apart and the
Chicago city girl is forced
to go live with her aunt and
uncle on a ranch in western
North Dakota. I felt like I
was living on that ranch
with her, suffering with her,
withdrawing right along with
her and then learning to love
the land in spite of herself.
Grief is a terrible thing at
any time, losing one's parents
at fifteen can take years to
grow into. Gabrielle's aunt
and uncle are good people
who don't know how to help
her. As one reviewer wrote
'?t wonderful story of hope,
faith and forgiveness. And
also courage - the courage to
face our fears and overcome
them."
I heartily recommend Past
Darkness for readers from
teens on up. Laurel has done
a superb job of weaving the
love of the land into this
young girl's life as she grows
up. If I didn't alreadylove that
part of this world, I would
fall in love after reading this
enthralling tale. I'm looking
forward to more books from
Laurel Woiwode. This one
will be a tough act to follow.
I also finished A Lion
Called Christian, a true story
that was quite a YouTube hit.
Two men buy a lion cub from
Herrods Department Store in
London and when Christian
gets too big to handle, they
take him to Africa to be
rehabilitated back into the
wild similar to Born Free of
so many years ago. In fact
George Adamson of Born
Free fame is the man; who
teaches Christian to live the
life of a wild African lion.
Anthony Bourke and John
Rendall return to Africa ayear
later to see Christian again
and then visit another year
later. The blurb on the cover
reads "The true story of the
remarkable bond between
two friends and a lion." While
I've never wanted a lion of
my own, I really enjoyed this
little book.
Hmm, another book came
in the mail yesterday. I'm
almost afraid to open it. I have
to finish the one I am writing
titled Heaven Sent Rain. It
will come out next summer.
This August Wake the Dawn
will be released. And An
Untamed Heart, the prequel
of Ingeborg Bjorkund's life in
Norway before she came to
America, will hit the shelves
on October 1. I know a lot of
readers have been waiting
for that one.
Sohappyreadin' andwritin'~
and may your summer bring
good memories and some
kick back time. Lauraine
You park the car and step
out of your comfort zone.
Walking across the parking
lot you see their faces. Some
smile, some greet you. A few
offer a blank stare. Others are
chatting among themselves.
Most of them have eaten
their breakfast at the Jesus
Center in Chico, CA. Many
of them are homeless.
Entering the Jesus Center
from the rear door you turn
right into the Dining Hall.
The servers are tidying things
after serving breakfast for
200 people. A few people are
at the tables finishing their
meal. Meals are supplied
twice a day every day.
You walk over and sit
at a Ray's table. Ray is a fair
skinned African-American
who has a friendly demeanor
and a smile to match. Ray
says he is from Los Angeles.
After talking to Ray for 10
minutes you find that he
has lived or worked in 4 or
5 states, including Michigan
and Texas.
With a few of the tables
empty, a couple of the men
carve out a section of the
Dining Hall for Bible study.
People are still hanging out
at different tables after they
have completed their meal.
You move to the Bible study
Hot Dish
Author Jeanne Cooney To Be At Drayton's Riverfest on Saturday, July 20
Jeanne Cooney's novel,
Hot Dish Heaven: A Murder
Mystery with Recipes,
published by North Star
Press, is scheduled for
national release in mid-July.
But those Drayton Riverfest
goers who stop by the park
between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00
p.m. on Saturday, July 20,
can meet the author and
buy a signed copy of this
humorous mystery, set right
here in the Red River Valley.
When asked about her
experience writing the
book, Jeanne, who grew up
in Hallock but presently
lives and works in the Twin
Cities, said, '?k few years ago,
I started writing a quirky
family cookbook. It turned
into this story, which the
publisher now wants me to
expand into a series of funny
mysteries that highlight the
Red River Valley."
This first story features
Minneapolis cub newspaper
reporter Emerald Malloy,
who's assigned to gather
"church food" recipes from
the owner of Hot Dish
Heaven, a fictitious caf6 in
Kennedy, Minnesota. while
collecting the recipes for
hot dish, bars, and JeI1-O
salad, Emerald learns of an
unsolved murder. Certain
that cracking the case will
catapult her from "gopher"
to investigative reporter, she
interviews the locals while
attending a benefit dinner-
dance at the VFW. By night's
end, she's heard a few Ole-
and-Lena jokes, listened
to some good music, and
questioned everyone from
the Irish-Catholic priest
who lives among these
Scandinavian-Lutheran
farmers to the caf6 owner's
nutty, octogenarian aunts
and the hunky local deputy
sheriff. She's even learned
about curling in Drayton But
has she solved the crime?
And will she live long enough
for it to matter?
In addition to her
appearance in Drayton,
Jeanne will be signing books
at the Kittson County Fair in
Hallock on Friday, July 19,
from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., and
the Pennington County Fair
in Thief River on Sunday, July
21, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
If you can't make it to a
book signing, purchase the
book, selling for $14.95,
through Amazon or at area
bookstores or gift shops or
ask for it at the library.
Jeanne also encourages
foils to visit her website,
www.jeannecooney.com.,
where they can submit their
favorite hot dish, bar, or
Jell-O salad recipes, as well
as their best Ole-and-Lena
jokes. "Then," Jeanne said,
"watch and see if your name,
along with your recipe or
joke, are included in the next
book."
You see, I want the
residents of the valley to get
involved and have fun with
the books. So, am I open to
ideas?Ya betcha, I am."
To request a book
signing, reading, book-
club appearance, or other
activity, contact Jeanne,
atj e anne c o on ey@ymail.
com. Commercial orders of
thebookcanbemadethroug~
Partners, Ingrain, or Baker~
Taylor book distributors or
by contacting the publisher,
North Star Press, at info@
northstarpress.com or
calling the publisher at (320)
558-9062.
effective July 1, 2013
MONDAY - FRIDAY
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
assistance by phone I
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ]
tables with 10 to 12 other
people while Ray stays put at
his table. Others like Ray stay
at their tables. The majority
opt to stay quietly at their
own table within earshot
but maybe not wanting to
participate. The Dining Hall
quiets as the Bible study
begins.
The Bible study leader is
a recovering alcoholic. He
asks for prayer requests.
One young man asks to pray
for his children who are
separated from him. A few
more requests around the
room and a prayer is given.
As the man leading the study
talks about John 17 you can
feel his passion for Jesus.
You can see the written
words of the Gospel seared
in the man's heart. He has
experienced grace.
After the Bible study you
tour the Jesus Center. The
first stop is the kitchen with
its large walk-in freezer. Then
you go past a laundry room
and through the Clothing
Store. The laundry area is
available to the homeless.
Tickets from the Clothing
Store are given out monthly
to allow the needy to pick
out items from donated
clothing. They can also pick
up personal hygiene items at
the store without cost.
Another section of the
building houses the Resource
Center. It gives access to
computers, telephones, and
mail services. Volunteer staff
assist in job related training
programs such as resume
writing and soft skills needed
for specific industries. A
Olivia Quibell and Ouinn Passa practice cleaning and dressing a wound.
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bicycle loaner program is
available for those needing
transportation to and from
job interviews.
You walk through the
warehouse where food and
clothing items are received
and sorted. Large shelving
units line the walls where
canned and dry goods
are stored. Moving to the
second floor you see a short
term shelter for women and
children. It is a dorm like
setting with beds separated
by walls and a common
living area with dining table
and cushioned sofa.
Shortly .before 3 PM you
head for the kitchen to wash
up and get ready to serve
dinner. Standing behind
the counter you locate
everything you need for
serving. People have started
forming a line for the meal.
A prayer is offered in the line
and the serving begins right
at 3 PM. By 4 PM 200 people
have been served.
After serving is completed,
you say goodbye and go out
the door into the parking
lot. Walking to your car you
recognize faces you saw
8 hours earlier when you
arrived. Driving away you
wonder where Ray will be
sleeping tonight. Back in
your comfort zone you are a
little more appreciative but
not quite as comfortable.
God Bless Ray.
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