Hardwired
To read or add comments, click on post title and scroll down
The Goat Whisperer
Photo taken by the owner.
The title is tongue in cheek, because by no means do I consider myself a goat whisperer anymore than I consider myself Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer. The closest I’ve ever come to owning a goat was through my youngest brother, who raised one as a pet. The goat used to stand upright on his hind legs and box with my brother. I have a healthy respect for wild animals and quite a few domestic ones as well, especially if they’re not my own.
In late August, in the muggy Texas heat, a neighbor spotted a goat roaming our neighborhood. The hardy, domesticated creature was healthy and appeared to be well-fed, and some speculated, pregnant. She was white and brown and had backward curved horns.
Through word of mouth the news soon spread that someone had been cruising our neighborhood inquiring about a goat, and the owner had also posted on Nextdoor to be on the outlook for the renegade ruminant. I checked Nextdoor to get an idea of where the goat had been spotted and learned there had been several sightings near our home.
The following morning I saw the goat, and as the owner had stated, she was indeed a runner for she took off at breakneck speed as soon as she caught sight of our dog. Thankfully, a tall fence separated the two.
The next day, I spotted her again. This time she held her ground when she saw me, but the minute I started to dial the owner, she disappeared down the road and into some brush.
The sightings continued but no one could sequester her until days later when a contractor working at our house texted us. “Hey, when did you start raising goats?”
His question spurred us into action. It was easy to confirm our contractor’s report. She was planted in front of his truck staring at it as though a strange animal was blocking her path.
I immediately closed our gates, trapping her on the property, and called the owner. He showed up within minutes, hauling an animal trailer. And he brought reinforcements: a herding dog and a sturdy, plastic lasso. This I had to see.
True to form, the frisky goat bolted but soon discovered she couldn’t escape the yard. However, that didn’t deter her. She evaded the owner at every chance until three of his friends pulled up at our house.
Between the herding dog, the owner, and his three helpers, the goat was finally corralled in a corner of the yard and lassoed. Surprisingly, she didn’t fight the noose, but walked willingly, although at a snail’s pace, to the parked animal trailer. Once she was safely onboard, the owner and his friends thanked us profusely for “rescuing” the feisty ruminant, and she was soon on her way home.
Gardenia Transplanted
Next on my must read list is Gardenia Transplanted by Faye Christopher Fuller and Dwain Gordon Fuller. I first met Dr. Dwain Fuller, a Dallas retinal surgeon, when I worked for CooperVision Surgical Inc. an ophthalmic company in Irvine, California. At the time, I was Product Manager for the vitreoretinal product line. Over the years, while working in the eye care field, I crossed paths with Dr. Fuller on many occasions.
In 2020, I was sad to learn of his retirement from Texas Retina Associates where he had been an integral part of the practice since 1977. His medical career had spanned 58 years with 50 of those in ophthalmology. When I asked him what his retirement plans were, our conversation led to a mutual interest: writing.
Dr. Fuller was a creative writer in college, and he planned to resuscitate a novel his mother, Faye C. Fuller, had labored over for a long time without finding a publisher. The setting – the Texas Panhandle in the late 1800s and early 1900s – immediately grabbed my attention, for I had fallen in love with my adopted state after relocating from California to Texas.
Synopsis: “Gardenia Transplanted is a carefully researched historical novel that tells the compelling story of an Alabama Southern belle, Lorinda Parker, who falls in love with a handsome young farmer struggling to survive along with his sister, Kate, in the harsh Texas Panhandle in the late 1800s. Both brother and sister have a troubled past that they would rather forget. Kate initially despises her new sister-in-law, whom she considers a parasite, until they’re both confronted with a throat-slashing rapist. Lorinda hates the primitive life on the prairie but is held captive by the love for her husband. She often wonders if God consigns sinners to live in the Panhandle as a foretaste of Hell.
The story records the dramatic evolution of the Texas Panhandle from buffalo slaughter fields to large cattle ranches that slowly morph into huge grain fields, soon to be spotted with oil derricks. The story graphically depicts tornadoes, blinding dust storms, stampedes, deadly prairie fires, a bizarre murder, and raw human emotions. This page-turner is hard to put down as the story speeds along to a shocking conclusion.”
Just the mention of the Texas Panhandle sparked memories of my first road trip from Alabama to Oregon to attend college in Eugene. The route we chose took us through the southern part of the US, where I caught my first glimpse of the Texas Panhandle. Then, we drove through New Mexico and Arizona. These stark terrains spoke to me and I fell in love.
Much later in life, I had the same soul-stirring reaction when I first set eyes on the Caprock Escarpment of Palo Duro Canyon. The experience rekindled fond memories of hiking the Mighty Five in Utah, as well as the red sandstone regions of Arizona and New Mexico, building on my fascination with barren landscapes. In so many ways, these arid but beautiful topographies reminded me of Namibia in southwest Africa where I had lived as a young adult.
Reading, Watching, Enjoying!
After a lengthy, but fun Q&A session at a recent book talk I gave, one shy reader slowly raised her hand. When called upon, she said in a soft voice, “You probably get asked this all the time, but what are you reading?” I answered her question and she followed up with, “Can you write down those book titles for me?”
“I’ll go one better. I’ll write a blog post on what I’m currently reading, as well as what I am watching.” From her expression, she was obviously pleased. So here is that blog post.
First and foremost, I am an avid reader of nonfiction. The routine started as a necessity while conducting research for my thriller series. That need developed into a pleasurable pastime, and the routine continues today.
When I read, fiction or nonfiction, I often find myself reading critically, consciously doing my best to improve my craft. This may sound laborious, but it has become ingrained. Analyzing character development, dissecting plotlines, and scrutinizing emotions. All of which helps a writer to refine their own skills to create a work that readers find compelling to read.
Reading
As a fan of Pamela Taylor’s historical fiction series Second Son Chronicles, it’s no surprise that on my night stand is Pam’s latest release The Rest of His Days. “Set against the mystery of the death of Edward II of England, this is a tale of power struggles writ both large and small, finding redemption, and the true meaning of honor.” To read more about The Rest of His Days: https://www.pacificbookreview.com/the-rest-of-his-days/
Sound like something you might enjoy? Click here https://pamela-taylor.com/guest-giveaway/ for a chance to win a signed paperback. Deadline for entry is October 3rd.
Interested in learning more about Pam and her books? https://pamela-taylor.com/more-about-me/
In addition to being an author Pam is also an editor, and I am proud to say she’s my book editor as well. https://shoutoutmiami.com/meet-pamela-taylor-novelist-and-editor/
On a personal note, Pam shares her home with two Corgis who remind her frequently that a dog walk is the best way to find inspiration for that next chapter. As a dog owner myself, I can relate. These walks also give you time to reflect on a new approach to anything you’re writing, and most of the time these reflections result in better prose.
The authors that have influenced my writing the most over the years have been Robert Ludlum and Fredrick Forsyth. At the moment, The Afghan by Fredrick Forsyth sits next to my computer. Since book five in my thriller series, Blue Angel, centers on the topic of modern terrorism I decided to reread Forsyth’s thriller novel, which was published in 2006. Sometimes revisiting the old triggers something new such as a new plot twist to an old conspiracy.
Watching
In my younger years, while living overseas, I didn’t watch much television. Either the countries we lived in had no television service or the broadcasts weren’t in English. By the time we moved to Nigeria and bought a TV, most of the programs were in the local dialect, Yoruba, or were limited to news telecasts. Only one program, a Canadian mystery series – the name escapes me – was interesting enough to hold my attention.
And once a week I sat glued to my seat listening in suspense to a popular old-time radio series that began with, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!”
You may wonder, no TV? Then what did you do with your spare time? Answer: read and write. I am – and most of my siblings are – still bookworms today, but only I became an author. https://patkrapf.com/sharpening-reading-skills-author-born/
These days, what captures my interest when it comes to television programs? I’ll never pass up a good Western or any series that focuses on my adopted state—Texas. That brings me to Landman. One of my favorite leading men is Billy Bob Thornton who stars in this “combustible big oil drama,” as one reviewer called the series.
I was immediately captivated with Landman and looked forward to each episode, thoroughly engrossed in the insights into the oil industry and the high-stakes world of West Texas oil drilling.
In Season 2, another Western legend joins the cast, Sam Elliott. Billy Bob, Sam, roughnecks, and wildcat billionaires squaring off during the booming oil business in deep West Texas—now that’s TV worth watching.