Category Archives: a Historical Fantasy

Galoshes and IKE, a comment about growing up in Oklahoma

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Please VOTE!
Time is getting short!


Galoshes and IKE
(A comment about growing up in Oklahoma)
Janelle Meraz Hooper

I woke up this morning thinking about the first election I can remember. I was about twelve and we had moved into a new development outside the gates of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where there was an Indian reservation. The Kiowas weren’t happy because the developers had cut a road through the new houses that went straight through the middle of the clay deposit they used for their pots. I walked that road to school every morning and didn’t see any difference between that unpaved road than any other except that the clay was a deep red. Then the rains came and I saw that clay with a new perspective. Before I went out the door that morning, my mother made me put on my new red galoshes. She’d bought them several sizes too big so they’d last a long time. Everything I wore was too big, even the hand-me-downs from my cousins. The boots looked dumb and I knew the kids would laugh at me. I was glad I had that I LIKE IKE button someone had given me to balance things out. I was the only one in my class who had one and it made me the subject of envy among all my classmates. I wore it every day. On my way to school the new road looked fine but, when I stepped on it, I sank into thick red clay that was deeper than the tops of my galoshes. About halfway to school I noticed that one of my galoshes was missing and the sock on the bootless foot was as red as the road and was half off. I clomped into school with one cold, wet and muddy bootless foot that stayed that way all day. I was sure glad I hadn’t lost my new sock (not realizing that it would never be white again) and I still had my I LIKE IKE button, so I thought I was in good shape. And I was–until I got home and mom noticed I’d lost a brand new boot and one of my socks. Not even IKE could help me then.

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The author, Janelle Meraz Hooper, grew up in Oklahoma and is the author of The Turtle Trilogy (A Three-Turtle Summer, As Brown As I Want, and Custer & His Naked Ladies). See all of my books on Amazon. PB & Kindle.

Note: Geronimo, Life on the Reservation, is a one-man show I wrote for Rudy Ramos (Now on Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone (Paramount Channel).

My Newest novel
Buy now on Amazon

Thanks for stopping by! Janelle

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Thank you for your service! A salute to veterans

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                                                         Bronze Star Award

This somehow got dropped off my blog and I just noticed it was missing. I’m reposting. It’s either late for last Memorial Day or early for next year, depending upon how you look at it…

Last Sunday, Memorial Day, my husband invited me to go with him on a 4-mile hike on the Foothills Trail (Okay, I used my wheel-scooter). During the walk, we passed a group of happy young adults –about 8 of them–coming from the other way. The young woman at the end of the group was waving a huge vintage Marine Corps flag back and forth. It was heavy; no wonder she was at the end! My husband joked with her, “What’s the matter? Couldn’t get into Ranger School?” We all laughed and went on our way. Then, the young woman turned around and shouted back at him, “Thank you for your service!” I almost cried because when my husband got back from Vietnam no one ever said that to him. He was scorned and even spit upon. “Thank you for your service!” the voice from Sunday lingers in my head. Oh, honey, I wish you knew what that thank you meant to him. He often repeats that phrase to other veterans. When he says it, it sounds like a prayer.

If you are old enough to remember the Vietnam war, think back. Remember how badly a lot of people treated our soldiers when they returned home? I could never understand that. Sure, hatred and disgust for our government who got us into the war, but why the hostility towards the poor soldier who was drafted and forced to go over there? It has always puzzled me.

Lately, with the news about how the Russian government manipulated us during our last election through our social media, I wonder: were the attitudes toward the American soldier coming home from Vietnam manipulated in similar ways? If so, how sad. And how disgraceful! To think how Americans have let themselves be led to such ugliness in a war or election by a foreign country is unforgivable. How could we be so gullible? It must never happen again. Our country may not survive it.

Note: I cropped the graphic because the person in the photo wanted to protect his privacy. 

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Purchase my books (PB & Kindle) on Amazon
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My newest novel

A One-way Cruise to Africa, Terror on the Internet:

First lines: Maku, a rebel leader somewhere in the middle of the dark jungles of Nigeria, has just placed an order for a young woman who lives in the United States. It was easy. He did it all with his i-Pad. He orders and pays for all the women that he buys and re-sells that way—over the Internet—without ever having to leave his Hummer.

The purpose of this NA book is to entertain and warn young people about the dangers of human trafficking. Mixing drama with romance, it does not bury the reader in statistics.  Romance/suspense. New Adult  (NA) & up. Kindle. 

If you have questions, please leave a message: Janellemhooper@comcast.net

Thanks for stopping by! Janelle

For me, every Friday is Popcorn for Breakfast Friday (No lie!). I started the gag on Facebook and it’s been a lot of fun. This is one of the shots I posted on Facebook. Janelle

 

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