PLEASE WELCOME
GAIL KITTLESON
TO
HAVING THE PRIME OF MY LIFE
Prime rib. Prime pick. Primetime. Prime real estate. We all want PRIME if we can get it.
Then there’s In our prime.
This prime is different. About five years ago, I remember sensing that my next ten years would be especially productive. What I didn’t know? They would also be quite painful.
The thought of surgery is daunting, and we often choose this route as a last resort. So I did everything possible to avoid having my hip replaced. Even the sound of this invasive operation goes against the grain.
Pain, though, brings us to unsought points of decision. I tried all kinds of remedies, including stem cell injections before succumbing to surgery. And the recovery seemed to take longer than any number of “miracle stories” I’d heard.
After three months, I’m still healing, but much closer to my goal—being able to walk without pain. And of course, every stitch of this experience adds to the novel fodder swirling in my head and heart.
This experience also has reminded me, in the midst of other challenges (like the Covid-19 crisis) of what previous generations suffered. The yellow fever plague that killed 5,000 in the late 1700s, Civil War diseases that killed roughly two-thirds of the war’s 660,000 victims, the 1918 influenza plague that ended the lives of fifty million human beings. Ah, yes. Many of these people might have quipped that they were in the prime of their lives.
During the past year, I joined with fellow author Cleo Lampos to create two non-fiction companion books released in October 2020. The more I research, the more space for gratitude is carved out in my heart. Gratitude for modern medicine, although it’s certainly imperfect. Gratitude for wisdom to keep ourselves healthy. Gratitude for our bodies’ amazing ability to heal.
Yep, it’s definitely the prime of my life.
ABOUT GAIL KITTLESON
Starting in her mid-fifties, Gail gave herself to writing. Late-blooming has its ups and downs, but with no time to waste, she has released ten books so far, most of them women’s historical fiction in the World War II era.
Gail believes wartime has a great deal to teach us, and revels in honoring Greatest Generation heroines and heroes who gave their all for the cause of liberty. She writes from Northern Iowa, where she and her husband enjoy gardening, grandchildren, and learning from history. Gail delights in encouraging other writers, and to that end, facilitates workshops and retreats whenever possible.
WHERE TO CONNECT WITH GAIL
Gail Kittleson
http://www.gailkittleson.com/
www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor
http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson
www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson @GailGkittleson
@gailkittlesonauthor (Instagram)
ABOUT 1942: THE FOOD THAT HELD THE WORLD TOGETHER
Save money the easy way—grow a garden. It’s thrifty, it’s patriotic! Plant today!
Because of wartime rationing, World War II folks faced fresh challenges to feed their families. The thought of running out of food or not being able to make ends meet led to a great effort—many of these citizens had not s long ago survived the hunger of the Great Depression.
Many people are familiar with the concept of victory gardens, but does this seemingly quaint, archaic practice have more to teach us today?
ABOUT 1942: A WORLD WAR II HOLIDAY SCRAPBOOK
Home For Christmas…home for snow and mistletoe!
For most of the twelve million men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, these words were wishful thinking.
From the moment President Roosevelt announced the Pearl Harbor attack, every corner of the nation experienced change. In little towns all across this great land, families said good-bye to sons and daughters as they went off to a brutal war. Many believed that, with America’s involvement, the war would be over by the next Christmas.
Alas, this was not to be. Many families would not spend Christmas with their families until 1946 or ’47. Rationing made traditional gift-giving impossible, and communities pulled together to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.
These are their stories.
THE YEARS THE LOCUSTS ATE
12/28/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JUNE FOSTER
CATHEDRAL STATE PARK, WEST VIRGINIA
12/21/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JOHN BARRINGER
PRIME OF MY LIFE
12/14/2020 1:00:00 AM by: GAIL KITTLESON
FULL CIRCLE
12/7/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JAYME H MANSFIELD
GREEN STUFF AND HUBS
12/2/2020 3:30:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
NOEL: THE CAT WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS
11/30/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
GREEN STUFF MAGIC
11/23/2020 7:48:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
WHEN GRANDMA FORGETS
11/2/2020 1:00:00 AM by: CRYSTAL BOWMAN
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF BLUE ZONES?
10/26/2020 1:00:00 AM by: SALLY JO PITTS
FIVE WAYS SENIORS CAN BOOST THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS
10/19/2020 1:00:00 AM by: GINNY DENT BRANT
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM JOIN 'EM
9/28/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
WALKING IN A WRITER'S WONDERLAND
9/7/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
CREAMING
8/31/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
LIFE IS THE ADVENTURE
8/24/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
QUITTING MY DAY JOB
8/17/2020 1:00:00 AM by: DEBRA COLEMAN JETER
ADAPT OR DIE
7/27/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SAY THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS IN BLUE
7/20/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE SWEET COUPLE HOLDING HANDS
7/13/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MELISSA HENDERSON
SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
7/6/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
FROM FICTION TO NON-FICTION AND BACK AGAIN
6/29/2020 1:00:00 AM by: GAIL KITTLESON
WHO SAID GROWING OLD IS FUN?
6/22/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTHA ROGERS
AND NOT TO YIELD
6/15/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MY CULTURAL DISCONNECT
6/8/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
WHAT IS RETIREMENT
6/1/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JULIE COSGROVE
LOOKING UP OR LOOKING AWAY
5/25/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SEEKING GOD
5/11/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
HOW OLD ARE YOU
5/4/2020 1:00:00 AM by: Rachel J. Good
IT'S NOT OKAY
4/27/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
EMBRACING MY INNER BOOMER
4/20/2020 1:00:00 AM by: BARBARA BRITTON
THE RACE FOR LILY
4/13/2020 1:00:00 AM by: SHERRI STEWART
GRANNY ALICE
4/6/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LYNNE BASHAM TAGAWA
RESILIENCE
3/29/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
LIVING WITH CHANGE
3/9/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
WHEN THE GROCERY STORE CLERK HAS TO CHECK YOUR AGE
2/24/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MELISSA HENDERSON
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREAMING
2/17/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
FRIENDS AT ANY AGE
2/3/2020 1:00:00 AM by: ERIN UNGER
IDENTITY CHECK
1/27/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM
1/20/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MY POSSESSIONS MATURE ALONG WITH ME
1/13/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARIE WATTS
EYES FRONT
1/6/2020 10:51:00 AM by: TERRI MAIN
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING'
12/30/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SANTA'S RELUCTANT HELPER
12/23/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH
12/16/2019 1:00:00 AM by: DEBRA COLEMAN JETER
VANQUISHING THE CHRISTMAS BLUES
12/9/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
GRANDMAS THEN VS GRANDMAS NOW
12/2/2019 3:41:00 PM by: GAIL SATTLER
TECHNO BLUES
11/25/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
ADAPT OR DIE
11/18/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
CREAMING
11/11/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
When our Get Up and Go Gets Up and Goes
11/4/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
LIFE IS THE ADVENTURE
10/28/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MY LIFE AS A BARCODE
10/21/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE QUEST FOR THIN
10/14/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE AMERICAN DREAM
10/7/2019 1:00:00 AM by: ANGELA BREIDENBACH
FROM GOLDEN YEARS TO GOLDEN BELLS
9/30/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE CHORDS THAT BIND MY MEMORIES
9/23/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
JUST BE STILL
9/16/2019 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
PRINCE CHARMING, SPIDERS, AND CHEMO
9/2/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
GRAY IS GRAND
8/26/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LOREE PEERY
A GOOD QUESTION
8/19/2019 1:00:00 AM by: GEORGE CARGILL
LOVING THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION
8/12/2019 1:00:00 AM by: ERIN UNGER
MAKING PRETTY THINGS
8/5/2019 1:00:00 AM by: KATHY MCKINSEY
ARE YOU TOO OLD TO BECOME AN AUTHOR
7/29/2019 1:00:00 AM by: HARRY WEGLEY
ENJOY THE MEAL
7/22/2019 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME
7/15/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
KEEPING IT FRESH
7/8/2019 1:00:00 AM by: WANDA O. HOT
OVERFLOWING WITH BLESSINGS
7/1/2019 1:00:00 AM by: CLEO LAMPOS
HAVING THE PRIME OF MY LIFE
6/24/2019 1:00:00 AM by: JO MASSARO
GOLDEN GIRL
6/17/2019 1:00:00 AM by: PAT JEANNE DAVIS
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
6/10/2019 1:00:00 AM by: CLEO LAMPOS
Food, Families, and Fond Memories
6/3/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
FOR THOSE OVER FIFTY-FIVE
5/20/2019 1:00:00 AM by: JUNE FOSTER
NEXT GENERATION
5/13/2019 1:00:00 AM by: KATHLEEN NEELY
Mimi and Bop
5/6/2019 1:00:00 AM by: Melissa Henderson
NEVER TO OLD TO START OVER
4/29/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE WRITER'S CALLING
4/15/2019 1:00:00 AM by: SHERRI STEWART
PLAYING THROUGH THE FOG
4/8/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO TURN OFF THE GPS
4/1/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
DON’T CALL HER MA’AM
3/25/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
When Your Past Looms Longer than Your Future
3/18/2019 1:00:00 AM by: Debra Coleman Jeter
OUR MCDONALDS
3/11/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
BORN TOO LATE
3/4/2019 1:00:00 AM by: DIANNE BARKER
PERSPECTIVE
2/25/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LISA LICKEL
IS IT THE BEGINNING OR THE END
2/18/2019 1:00:00 AM by: KATHLEEN NEELY
MY TO-DO LIST
2/11/2019 2:16:00 PM by: SHERRI STEWART
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
2/3/2019 9:07:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MAMA, I CAN'T TAKE A BATH THERE'S A FISH IN THE TUB
1/21/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
EAT RIGHT NOW LIVE LONGER LATER
1/14/2019 1:00:00 AM by: Jude Urbanski
AM I STRESSED?
1/7/2019 1:57:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SHOULD VS WANT
12/31/2018 3:58:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
I'LL BE ALONE FOR CHRISTMAS ... YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
12/24/2018 1:00:00 AM by: Julie Cosgrove
THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE
12/17/2018 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA SHENTON MATCHETT
LIVING WITHOUT REGRET
12/10/2018 1:00:00 AM by: Grant Ferguson
GROWING UP CAN BE FUN SO IS GETTING OLDER
12/3/2018 1:00:00 AM by: ELLIE GUSTAFSON
SOARING WITH BROKEN WINGS
11/19/2018 1:00:00 AM by: Linda Wood Rondeau
NEVER TOO LATE
11/5/2018 8:33:00 PM by: DIANE TATUM
The Not So Good Good Old Days
10/22/2018 1:05:00 AM by: Linda Wood Rondeau