Fifty Years Of Living Laughing And Loving

"Amanda has lived the stories you will read between these covers, along with her beloved David. The stories are all based in Maine. You won't find the cities and towns on a Maine map, but you will be able to find most of the lakes and ponds in the northern part of the state, where they met and played. The stories are all true, and you may learn something from them."--Back cover

50 Years of Living, Learning, Loving & Laughing is a poetry and quote book that covers topics of interest for readers of all ages. It explores a variety of life experiences and struggles that individuals face in life. 50 Years of Living, Learning, Loving & Laughing has a quote section and three poetry sections: Quotes to Live By, Observations, Game of Life and Reflections. Each section provides space for readers to reflect and respond to the reflection questions posed by the author. While reading, 50 Years of Living, Learning, Loving & Laughing readers are encouraged to ask themselves three questions: What are my thoughts after reading this? Is this something I have experienced? How can I help others experiencing this?

I’ve written this book to tell you a story of true love, perseverance, and the great satisfaction of living life in the present. I hope you will enjoy our story and learn the timeless lessons that are embedded in the stories. You do not need to look for them, just read the book and enjoy with an open mind.

Though the end of your life may be near, it doesn't mean you have to stop living After being diagnosed in her early thirties with terminal breast cancer, Heather McManamy felt like her life was crumbling. Her "normal" vanished—and was replaced with multiple surgeries and dozens of chemo treatments that could briefly extend her life, but would not prevent her inevitable death. With an effervescent spirit and a new perspective, Heather started to live each day as if it were her last. She learned to soak in the moment, appreciate the beauty around her, and celebrate her blessings. She also pondered her daughter's future journey without her mother—and gracefully prepared for it. Heather began to write greeting cards to Brianna. Cards for her first day of school, her sixteenth birthday, her wedding day. Cards for when things were going right and when they were going wrong. Cards for when Brianna would need her mother—whether in five years or in fifty years-and Heather wouldn't be able to be there for her. Cards for Brianna is the story of one mother's powerful love for her young daughter and Heather's unmatched experiences, laced with laughter and charm, are a reminder to never take a single day for granted.

From her life stories, Doris Markland has chosen the best and shares them easily with humor and depth. Read about • Her grandparents’ 1828-mile auto trip to California in 1926 (on dirt roads!) • How she won big prizes with 25 words or less • How she quit smoking and taught hundreds to quit • Her surprising connection to Hawaii • Our cultural journey from handshakes to hugs • The magic of family experience • The importance of spiritual heirlooms • The wisdom of children • The lighter side of aging Her serious poetry is thoughtful, her light verse delightful. This is a side table book for easy reading moments, and a perfect gift for the one who says “PLEASE, no more gifts unless it is small, can be used right now, or is something to eat.” You’ll find plenty of food for thought in this book as Doris Markland looks back over eighty-nine years of living, learning, laughing, loving and believing. As she says on her blog, her writing is for sharp older people and their middle-aged kids. It appeals to those who are religious, those who consider themselves spiritual and those who profess neither but have an interest in pursuing the meaning of life. A potpouri of gifts, this is a remarkable and soul-filled collection of writing. In Playing Life By Ear, Doris Markland takes the reader through tender poignant moments in one chapter, heartwarming chuckles in another. Writing from the fullness of her heart, she draws her readers into a beautiful new friendship and inspires them to meet life’s challenges with understanding and enthusiasm. – Addie Scheve, author, motivational speaker, former Nebraska Mother of the Year.

A couple years back, I was at the Phoenix airport bar. It was empty except for one heavy-set, gray bearded, grizzled guy who looked like he just rode his donkey into town after a long day of panning for silver in them thar hills. He ordered a Jack Daniels straight up, and that's when I overheard the young guy with the earring behind the bar asking him if he had ID. At first the old sea captain just laughed. But the guy with the twinkle in his ear asked again. At this point it became apparent that he was serious. Dan Haggerty's dad fired back, "You've got to be kidding me, son." The bartender replied, "New policy. Everyone has to show their ID." Then I watched Burl Ives reluctantly reach into his dungarees and pull out his military identification card from World War II. It's a sad and eerie harbinger of our times that the Oprah-watching, crystal-rubbing, Whole Foods-shopping moms and their whipped attorney husbands have taken the ability to reason away from the poor schlub who makes the Bloody Marys. What we used to settle with common sense or a fist, we now settle with hand sanitizer and lawyers. Adam Carolla has had enough of this insanity and he's here to help us get our collective balls back. In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks is Adam's comedic gospel of modern America. He rips into the absurdity of the culture that demonized the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, turned the nation's bathrooms into a lawless free-for-all of urine and fecal matter, and put its citizens at the mercy of a bunch of minimum wagers with axes to grind. Peppered between complaints Carolla shares candid anecdotes from his day to day life as well as his past—Sunday football at Jimmy Kimmel's house, his attempts to raise his kids in a society that he mostly disagrees with, his big showbiz break, and much, much more. Brilliantly showcasing Adam's spot-on sense of humor, this book cements his status as a cultural commentator/comedian/complainer extraordinaire.

Wayne Osmond has spent the past 50 years of his life entertaining audiences around the world. He and his family are known primarily for their singing, but Wayne has also etched out a distinctive identity as the comedian of the group. This compilation of jokes, photos, recipes, and family anecdotes is as eclectic as Wayne is, himself. From tap dancing with elephants to driving with gas masks, readers will be captivated by the lighthearted (and true!) stories found within the pages of this book. Entertaining, inspiring, and downright hilarious to those who know him best, Laugh Lines is sure to provide a good laugh for everyone, young and old.

Have you ever thought that you found the love of your life--only to find out that he wasn't? Have you ever thought that your only child would be your one saving grace--only to find out that he wasn't? Have you ever thought that the one man in your life, the only man that you've ever known as a father, would be there to protect you forever--only to find out that he wasn't? Have you ever wished for the perfect mother--only to find out that she wasn't, or the perfect family--only to find out that that they weren't? Have you ever felt like you just want to be normal--only to find out that you aren't? Have you ever felt all alone in the world--only to find out that there are others who feel the same way? Have you ever felt like you wanted to die--only to realize that you have so much to live for? Rahimah shares this compelling story about her life as an amazing young Black girl, who came of age when she was a daughter, a granddaughter, a motherless child, and a mother. Take this journey with her, as she attempts to walk by faith while learning how to live with love and hate; while coping with life and death; while seeking to understand race and religion; while determining the difference between truth and lies, and while overcoming trials and tribulations. Throughout her life, Rahimah has struggled with fear, rejection, and abandonment. This is a story about vulnerability, insecurity, sexuality, and spirituality. This is a story about being torn between loyalty and integrity; and choosing between self-destruction and self-awareness. This is a story about determination and inspiration. Everyone has a story. This is Rahimah's story. This is her life--(The Life of Rah).