Some Lyrics to Inspire for the New Year!

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This romance just made my heart melt!

Check out my review of You are My Sunshine at www.destinybooze.com

2009 Resolutions - Think BIGGER!

Visit my website at www.destinybooze.com to see a few of my resolutions.

A Smile Every Sunday

Check out this Sunday's funny at www.destinybooze.com

Loss is so much harder this time of year...

Visit my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com to find out more.

Did you celebrate yesterday with the true meaning of Christmas?

See how we celebrated, check out my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

Adventure with Grandma*

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns.

I knew they were world-famous, because, Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs.Pollock's grade-two class.

Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that

He had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.

I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes," I replied shyly, "It's .... for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.

Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were...ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95.

===============================

He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Read more inspirational blogs on my website at www.destinybooze.com

A little known fact about the 12 days of Christmas..

Check it out on my website at www.destinybooze.com

New Christmas Poem

Read it in it's entirety on my website at www.destinybooze.com

Did you read the story I posted Friday?

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Today is the day.

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Not just your kids: Dogs can think ‘no fair’ too

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Meet the character of Altered Beginnings!

Join the main characters of Altered Beginnings for their very first interview by Author Destiny Booze! The subject is views on love and relationships as seen by each character at the beginning of their stories.

Leigh Lawson (Of both African American and Caucasian heritage, she is attractive and pretty. She has a dark complexion, long black hair and dark eyes.) – Once a troubled girl with a drug addiction, she returns home a grown woman with her life back on track. Her life gets turned back up side down when the police recruit her to work undercover to bring known mobster and drug seller Freddie Garrett to conviction.

Jason Altarez (A gorgeous guy with light brown or dirty blond hair longer than his shoulders, blue eyes, and a large smile.) – He is a popular reporter in Nags Head. As soon as Leigh gets into town, he approaches her. He’s obviously chasing her, but is he really interested in her or just her story?

Emma Combs (With a fantastic figure, auburn hair and plenty of time invested into her fashion, she is absolutely beautiful.) – She thinks of herself as a perfectionist. She and Leigh were best friends in high school. It is uncertain whether they will be able to rekindle that relationship.

Shawn Branscom (He is very sexy with short and neat brown hair, blue eyes and a great shape.) – Known to let his temper flare at the drop of a hat, he is a cop with a new promotion to the narcotics team. He’s a little gruff, but he has a definite soft spot for Emma that he is unable to hide.

1. Let’s begin by having everyone tell us a little about him or herself.

Jason grinned and leaned forward in his chair. “Shall I go first? This is a little weird. I’m usually the one asking the questions.” He looked thoughtful as he ran a hand through his light brown hair, the front falling right back where it began. “Well, I’m a reporter. I work hard. At work, they call me Ice because I refuse to give up on a story, which happens to be my biggest strength, but probably my biggest weakness as well. In my free time, I spend time with my family. I like playing basketball, swimming and sailing.”

Leigh stood to pace behind her chair as she answered. “My life is really complicated. I’m not sure how much you want to know. I was raised by the Branscom family. My teenage years were pretty bad, and they eventually kicked me out of the house. I decided to leave town…”

“…without telling anyone. Everyone thought she was dead,” Emma added.

“When I got back into town, I wasn’t exactly well received. So, that’s pretty much it. I’m just trying to make things right, but I’ll be fine. I’m tough,” Leigh said in a soft voice.

Emma went next. “I’m the manager of my parent’s hotel. I love my job. When I’m not there, I’m usually working out. I’m very ambitious. My greatest weakness would have to be that I’m a perfectionist.”

Shawn sat with his back perfectly straight, looking gruff and uncomfortable. “I’m a cop. I don’t have much time for anything else,” he said, sounding defensive as if he dared someone to argue.

Emma turned toward Shawn. “Your strength is your confidence. Your weakness is you get arrogant and your temper, of course.”

He gave her a look that wasn’t easily defined.

2. Anyone currently dating?

“No,” Jason said, still grinning. “The last time I had a serious relationship was in college. She was older and graduated before me. I haven’t heard from her since.”

Leigh still stood. “I’m not dating now. My ex-boyfriend was a drug dealer, my drug dealer actually.”

Emma just shook her head in answer.

Shawn did the same.

3. Do you believe in love at first sight? What are your views on sex in a relationship? Does love and sex have to come together?

Jason actually laughed. “Wow, what a question. I do believe in love at first sight. That’s kind of embarrassing. And, I would hope that any girl sleeping with me has feelings for me, so yes.”

Leigh began pacing again. “No and no.”

Emma shrugged. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

Shawn fidgeted, looking absolutely miserable. “That’s really a crazy question. I don’t know.”

4. When you lie in bed at night, what do you think about?

For the very first time, Jason momentarily paused. “I think about what I want in the future,” he said, his eyes sliding over his shoulder to Leigh.

“I try not to think,” Leigh said with a voice that was a bit uneven. She sounded shaky or perhaps on the verge of laughter.

“That’s easy,” Emma said. “I think about everything I have to get done the next day.”

Shawn smiled slowly. “I can’t say what I think about.”

5. Last question guys: what would it surprise people to know about you?

“A lot,” Jason said and laughed. “If I had to pick one thing, it would probably be my family. It’s big. I have three brothers and two sisters. There are six of us all together. We’re a very close family, and most people don’t see me as a family guy.”

Leigh sat back down. “That I’m alive.”

Everyone laughed.

When things grew quiet, Emma said, “It would surprise people to know that I’ve made many mistakes in my past that I’m not proud of.”

Shawn just shrugged. “I don’t know.”

From the author: I hope you enjoyed getting to know the characters of this book a little better. I had a ton of fun doing this interview! To learn more about ALTERED BEGINNINGS, visit www.destinybooze.com

Email Issues Resolved.

I have been having email issues. Unbeknown to me, every .com address was on blocked senders list. This has now been resolved. If you have tried to email me or have signed up for my newsletter in the past month, please resend.

To find out more on this problem, please visit my website at www.destinybooze.com

Thanks and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

I needed to hear this today and I wanted to share!

Check it out on my website at www.destinybooze.com

Altered Beginnings Character Interview

I'm interviewing the characters from Altered Beginnings. What should I ask? Is there anything you would like to know?

This interview should be a lot of fun! Leigh, Jason, Emma, Shawn, Freddie or Slick. What should I ask them? (But, no cheating! Don't send a question that would be an ending spoiler!!!)

Also, watch for a sneak peek of my third book in the Outer Banks Suspense Series called Accelerating Circumstances! I'm writing it right now.

The Reasons Why Santa's Got to be a Woman

Check it out on my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

My Review of Icebound by Dean Koontz

Visit my website at www.destinybooze.com to see what I thought about Icebound by Dean Koontz.

Even during this stressful economy, keep your peace.

**Warning: This could make you cry!**

"Gold Wrapping Paper"


I received this from a friend who had a choice to make. It said that I had a choice to make too.

I've chosen. Now it's your turn to choose.

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and then said, "This is for you, Momma."

The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner.

"Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"
She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full."

The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life.

Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and GOD. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Friends are like angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

To read more inspirational stories, check out my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

News from Black Velvet Seductions

Check out the latest news from one of my publisher on my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

Let Wal-mart bail out Wall Street! Check this out.

This should boggle your mind.


HOW BIG IS WAL-MART?

Check out my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com to find out.

I have a confession.

Want to know what it is? Check out my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com .

Be a Bone Marrow Donor!

The Fincastle Herald/Destiny Booze/May 2008

Crystal Shelor of Blue Ridge may have performed a miracle for a one-year-old boy in Germany. About two weeks ago, Shelor underwent an operation to extract her bone marrow to donate to the child in a procedure known as BMT or bone marrow transplantation. Overseas, one small boy may be cured of a deadly disease all because of Shelor's gift of herself, and she has a message she wants to send about her experience. She wants to raise awareness about bone marrow donorship and encourage as many people as possible to contact the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and sign up for its registry. "They need more people," Shelor said.

Shelor has experienced several different occasions of exposure to this subject in her life. At age 10, she was misdiagnosed with leukemia, so her familiarity with the disease began young. In the mid 90’s, Shelor’s friend and former classmate, Patrick Saville was diagnosed with cancer. He needed a BMT, so Shelor signed up to donate blood. It was tested for tissue compatibility. She did not come back as a match. Tragically, her friend did not survive the disease. Still wanting to help, she requested her marrow be placed on the national registry.

Shock, excitement, maybe a bit of nervousness were Shelor's feelings when she got the call last summer, fifteen years after her name was put onto the registry that she was a possible match for a child overseas. Would she donate, she was asked. "It's a child. How could you say no?" Shelor said.

BMT is used to treat leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases. The process Shelor went through began with lab work, a full body physical and a thick stack of paperwork to complete. The actual procedure was done under anesthesia in an operating room in Wake Forest, NC. The marrow was removed from the pelvic (hip) bone. Shelor recalls some soreness in the area when she woke up. She was also shown her donation – two bags of what looked like blood. "I had some pain, but it was minimal compared to how he's [the child's] been doing," she said.

The hotel, mileage, food, and all health care expenses were all covered for Shelor to donate. All in all, it was a mild disruption to her life. Shelor went into the hospital on a Wednesday for pre-op, had the surgery Thursday and returned to work by the next Tuesday. Though she was given no information concerning the donee, she and the child will forevermore have a connection. "Something in him is a match to you," she said. "Hopefully, one day I'll have a name or picture or both."

Her wishes for information about the child will be passed along through the marrow program. The process takes two years. It will be up to the child's parents whether or not to make contact. Either way, Shelor has no doubts that she will donate again if asked. "It was very rewarding. I'll always remain on it [the national registry]."

For more information or to sign up as a donor, call (888) 298-6375 or visit www.marrow.org.

A Smile Every Sunday

You Know You've Had Too Much Christmas Cheer When...

Find out on my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

December's Addition to My Creative Corner

I just added another great addition to my creative corner, What About All of Those Santas? by Jim Womack. Please visit www.destinybooze.com for details.

Man in the Glass

This is such a wonderful poem. Please visit my website at www.destinybooze.com to read it in its entirety.

No offense Santa, but... Jesus is Better than Santa

Want to know why I say this? Read my latest blog entry at www.destinybooze.com

I've just been offered a contract for Altered Beginnings!

Altered Beginnings Blurb

The headline in the small town newspaper read Girl Missing, Presumed Dead or Worse.

Leigh Lawson returned to Nags Head, North Carolina after four years with a huge shock. That big and bold headline was about her! Everyone thought she was dead!

The truth was that she was doing well. While gone, she had gotten clean from drugs and worked hard to get her Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. With her life back on track, she returns home with hope that she will receive a warm welcome. Instead, she gets the townsfolk’s disdain.

Everyone hates her, everyone except Jason Altarez, an ambitious and resilient reporter with his sights locked on Leigh. He chases her with oozing charm and romance, but does he really want her or is he after his next story?

Leigh’s life soon spirals out of control when the police recruit her for an undercover assignment. They want her to go back to the life of her troubled teenage years, back into the drugs, and help them to bring the local drug supplier to conviction. It may be Leigh’s only chance to redeem herself with her family and friends. If she can complete this one assignment, the town will forgive her. The only problem is that she needs to figure out how to stay alive in the process…

Jason is her continuous partner through it all, proving his dedication to her as he struggles to keep her safe. Leigh wants to believe he is a man of his word. She wants to believe that her heart isn’t completely foolish for falling for him, especially when she discovers evidence that Jason may be working for the very drug dealer that Leigh is trying to have arrested. Will he betray her in the end or will he demonstrate the most romantic notion of all – that love at first sight truly exists?


Want to know more? Check out my website at www.destinybooze.com

Christmas is coming!

Sunday was absolute madness at my house. My husband was sleeping because he had to work the night shift. I had told my son we would decorate for Christmas. He was so excited! Right after breakfast, he was ready to jump right into it.

I wanted to set the mood so I put on some soft Christmas music and I poured some egg nog for us to drink. We started by dragging the 1,000-pound tree up all 1,000,000 basement steps. I was out of breath by the time I reached the top. I had to make three more trips to get the boxes of ornaments and lights.

The manual labor wasn't over there. I had to rearrange the living room to find space for the Christmas Tree. At one point, I do remember wondering why I would attempt these things by myself. Oh yeah, I know why - I'm Super-Woman!

So, when we finally got to the point that we could begin the actual decorating, we pulled the tree out of the box. Having been down in the basement for a year without a cover, the dust in the air immediately sent my son to sneezing. My nose soon followed. We continued ahead as all troopers do. One branch here, the other here...A-choo! A-choo!...Put the tree in the base and put on the top...A-choo! A-choo!

Next came the lights. Can you believe out of fifteen sets of lights, only one set still burned? Uh-oh. We had to stop working, get dressed and rush to the small Family Dollar in my small town. They didn't have much to choose from. I usually do the tree in white lights and the outside in multi-color, so I got two boxes of each. I spent almost $35.00. Wow. A-choo! A-choo!

Home again, we went straight back to decorating. My son was still so excited! I checked the new lights to make sure they worked first, and yes, they did. Thank goodness. A-choo! A-choo!

Each box said they had 18 foot of lights. I LOVE lots of lights on the tree, so I knew I was going to put both sets on. To my surprise, I discovered they weren't going very far. And all be darned, they didn't wrap all the way to the bottom of the tree - 36 foot was not enough. I was shocked! Well, it turns out that garland lights, which is what I purchased, are double wrapped to look like "garland." Oops! A-choo! A-choo!

I did not want to go back to the store, so I pulled off the white lights and used the one set of multi-colored along with the new garland lights to do the tree. Very good. My son thought it looked awesome! He got busy pulling out ornaments and putting them on - his favorite part. A-choo! A-choo!

It was fun. He had such a great time, smiling, singing and cheering at our beautiful tree. A-choo! A-choo! We worked all the way up to lunch time. It was a special time for us. For the big finale, we cut all the lights and took a look. It was beautiful!

That's when I noticed some of our lights had gone out. They were brand new lights! Oh well.

A-choo! A-choo! What a great day we had! Christmas is coming, folks!

Oh, and I still have the outside lights to get to...

This is World AIDS Day, let's spread the word!!

Today I am blogging about world AIDS day. Check it out on my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

Sunday Funny

Check out my Sunday Funny at www.destinybooze.com .

A book recommendation of a very inspiring memoir.

Thank My Lucky Scars by Ward Foley:

To read a bit more about this book, please check out my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

I met the creator of Trebark Camo! Here's what he had to say...

It was a wonderful interview. Read all about it on my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This has been an especially wonderful Thanksgiving for me. Be sure to follow my daily blog the next couple of days to find out why. You can check it out at www.destinybooze.com

You cannot be a parent unless you are a teacher.

To find out what I am talking about today, visit my website at www.destinybooze.com .

No longer Daddy's little girl?

Today I am blogging about a conversation I overheard my Dad having. I think he finally sees me as an adult.

Want to hear what I overheard? Check out my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com

Darin Rickman Lands a Dream Job for a Young NASCAR Fan.

This is an article I wrote for The Fincastle Herald.

This story is about my younger brother! I'm so proud of him!

Have you ever answered your cell phone and heard Larry the Cable Guy on the other end saying that he was ready to be picked up at the airport? Have you ever acted as Brendan Frasier’s escort for a day? It isn’t in most people’s job descriptions to pick up celebrities at the airport or walk them around. Darin Rickman has performed both of those duties during close to five years with Motorsports Authentics – the souvenir company for NASCAR.

Rickman grew up in Buchanan and graduated from James River High School without much of a plan for his future. Through a friend, he learned about an open position with the souvenir company for a driver. He had just turned 21 and didn’t have his commercial driver’s license (CDL) yet.

Contingent on getting his CDL, the company chose to take a risk on a new and inexperienced driver and hired him. “It kind of fell into my lap,” he said.

For a young man that had yet to travel practically anywhere beyond a family vacation and that loved watching racing, it was the perfect job. “My first two years were great,” he said.

During his time in that position, he drove the souvenir truck for Elliot Sadler, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. He described seeing the country, new and beautiful places, meeting new people and living a dream job. That he worked in the shadow of some of his personal racing idols like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was another perk. “I got to see and touch and do things I’d only seen on the Discovery Channel,” he said.

He befriended his supervisor Josh Willis. Willis became Rickman’s mentor, teaching him about the inventory and computer systems on all the souvenir trucks. It was an informal apprenticeship that paid off when he was promoted after only a couple of years into his current position as Information Technology Manager. The new position required that he oversee all the trackside computer equipment and the sales operation. He was responsible for supervising approximately 70 employees.

Within a few years, Rickman suddenly found that he was relatively high on the corporate ladder. He – small town boy without a college degree – was suddenly the one in charge at the track. When there was a problem, it was his number that they called. The racecar drivers had his number programmed into their cell phones. He was the one called when a celebrity would be by the track to announce the infamous first words at the beginning of any NASCAR race – “Gentleman, start your engines.”

Does he feel like a big corporate executive? “No,” Rickman answered with a laugh, but he definitely doesn’t feel like the same Buchanan boy he had been when he graduated either. Does he wish he had gotten a college degree? Well, that answer wasn’t as simple. If he had gone to college, he was sure he wouldn’t have chosen computers to study. Does he feel disadvantaged without a degree? Sure, he admitted. “It takes a lot more effort to get where I am.”

Some of the greatest places he has visited on the road were narrowed down to a top three list – New Hampshire, Texas and Las Vegas. New Hampshire he described as extremely pretty and not overly inhabited. Texas he said is worth seeing because of its drastic changes in landscape from desert to greenery. As for Las Vegas, he said it is true that it is a city that never sleeps.

Still, his favorite place from all across the United States is home where he lives in Roanoke, near Bonsack. He said, “When you travel for work as much as I do, it makes you respect home. I can’t wait to get home.”

His favorite part of his job is the constant momentum and differences of each day. No day is ever the same. The most challenging part of his job is very similar to what he loves about it – the continuous change and movement, and doing what he referred to as keeping up with the lifestyle of long hours and long days. “Before you know it, you haven’t had a day off in a couple months.”

So, what’s meeting famous racecar drivers like? Well, he admitted the glamour wears off quickly. The environment he meets the drivers in or any celebrities in is a completely professional one.

Rickman has made a successful career with Motorsports Authentics. From here, he plans to work on getting in a more stationary position, perhaps settle down, and perhaps even start a family. He’s happy.

“I’m in a great place. If there’s anyone that takes pride in their work, they always want to do better. I’m satisfied where I am,” he said. “It’s an incredible experience.”


To read more stories like this, check out my daily blog at http://www.destinybooze.com

A Smile Every Sunday

In keeping with the Sunday tradition of posting a joke or funny story, today I have posted a cute poem entitled Black November. Please check out my daily blog at www.destinybooze.com to read it in its entirety.

The Power of Gratitude

It is amazing what a little Gratitude can do in you life. Check out my blog at http://www.destinybooze.com/ to discover 5 ways Gratitude can change your life for the better.

Good friends are hard to come by.

I have a friend that is truly a blessing. Read about her here, www.destinybooze.com
Do you have a friend that means a lot to you? Comment me and let me know what makes them special.

November's addition to my creative corner...

Today I added a poem to my website. Its An Old Love by Matthew Cory. You can read the poem in its entirety at www.destinybooze.com

What should I put in my newsletter?

I would love to know what you would like to see in my newsletter!! Please stop by http://www.destinybooze.com/ and let me know.

The first snowfall !!!

Today I am blogging about the now that fell here overnight. Check it out at http://www.destinybooze.com/

This is a truly heroic guy!

The Fincastle Herald/July 2008/Destiny Booze


What makes a “man of steel,” a man of heroic character and strength? Michael “Mike” Brogan had nerves of steel as an ironworker until an accident in 1996 left him as a bilateral amputee. Now, he is a man of courage, which he demonstrates daily as he determinedly manages with a disability. Oh, and as a hobby, he started driving a racecar at Natural Bridge Speedway after his accident. Yes, Brogan is a racecar driver.

The accident occurred on October 17th. Brogan was only thirty years old. An unstable concrete support shifted, causing the iron structure where Brogan was working to collapse. He fell 25 feet. Both of his legs were crushed and he was airlifted to the hospital.

He almost bled to death, according to the physicians’ notes upon examination at the hospital. He was immediately rushed to surgery to stop the bleeding in his legs. It was apparent right away that the legs would probably have to go.

Brogan’s first concern upon waking in the hospital was whether or not he was paralyzed. He knew he could not feel anything in his legs. The doctors had to break bad news. Brogan had a choice to make – his life or his legs. He described the decision as easy. He wanted to live. He had a two-year-old daughter at home that he had every intention of seeing grow up. He told the doctors to take his legs.

Many surgeries and months of rehabilitation followed. He remembered struggling through all the rehab at the same time as actor Christopher Reeves, known for playing Superman. Reeves was rehabilitating after a paralyzing accident in 1995. Of course, Reeves was in worse shape and still fighting to walk again. It essentially became a motto and motivator for Brogan. “No matter how bad a shape you are, there’s always someone else worse than you are. You just keep on and don’t give up,” he said.

So, why did Brogan choose to start racing? He grinned and shrugged in answer. “I tried it to have something to do.”

The speed, rush and excitement of racecar driving is a family tradition. Brogan knew about cars as a young boy by watching his dad race and working on his dad’s pit crew. He and his older brother, David, worked on the cars together. David was already racing, and Brogan was ready for his turn.

It was Brogan’s friends and family that helped him to customize a racecar with hand controls. The brake and gas are accessible where a gearshift would normally be, yet there are still challenges. Managing a curve with one arm at racing speeds is very difficult. If it was not for Brogan’s amazing upper body strength because of his disability, he probably wouldn’t be able to control the car.

Brogan found a sponsor, Lewis Sifford, a realtor for Long and Foster to help support the cost of racing. Sifford, a friend as well as sponsor, said, “His determination to do what he wants in spite of his disabilities is incredible. I have never heard an excuse, or if I had my legs I would.”

Brogan is definitely known to do whatever he sets his mind to doing. After the accident, he was told he would most likely be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. That is not the case. Though he has a wheelchair, he uses prosthetic legs to help him get around the majority of the time. Or even more determinedly, when he needs to do something without the chair or the prosthetics, he just takes them off and uses his arms to get around. He works on his racecar by using the creeper in the garage to get around. Whatever it takes, Brogan gets the job done. Recently, he just worked on putting vinyl siding on his house.

Virginia, Brogan’s mom described her family as a team, a crew on the track and off. “I’m so very proud of all my children. They pulled together in time of need.” Brogan agreed. “Family and friends, I wouldn’t be able to race if it wasn’t for them,” he said.

It has been hard on Brogan’s family to see someone they love suffer. “Words cannot describe how hard it is at times to see Mike have to struggle with certain things or not be able to do certain things that he used to do and get frustrated because he can’t do them,” Angela, Brogan’s sister said. She often wrestles with the why of it all. Why him?

Brogan’s smile is a source of his strength and character. He loves life, loves fishing, loves racing. The why may never be known, but at least now we know what makes a “man of steel.” It’s his support system.

The Brogan Racing Team – Addison and Virginia, David, Mike and Angela – is a team stronger than kryptonite.

Want to learn more about some of the personal interest stories I do? Check out my previous blogs at www.destinybooze.com

Mothers

For the past two days I have been blogging about Mothers. Today I posted a funny Mom story I found online. Check it out on my website at: http://www.destinybooze.com/

As some of you may notice, I have a new web address. I am so excited!! Still the same content, just a little easier to remember :)

What else is going to go wrong???

Maybe I shouldn't even ask that question lol.
To see what has gone wrong in my world this week, check out my daily blog at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~destinyrae/

Oh No!!! I have been nominated for the worse name!!!

Seriously!! Can you believe it?? Check out the link on my website and see for yourself. I am a little bit shocked but hey, its free publicity ;)

Check it out here:
http://home.earthlink.net/~destinybooze/

Character Counts!!

Today I am blogging about Character. No, not a character I write about but, Character, you know, moral fibers so to speak.

Feel free to check out what I have learned about Character on my website:
http://home.earthlink.net/~destinyrae

How full is your bucket??

Poem

Today on my blog I have added a wonderful poem written by an unknown author. Feel free to check it out on my website at http://home.earthlink.net/~destinyrae/

You can also view all of my daily blogs at the above link.

Thanks so much and God Bless

Keep that smile!

I grew up in a house where a frown was called a frog face. I don’t want to look like a frog, so I smile a lot. For the most part, it is usually returned. Occasionally, however, I get a reaction of nothing or even a grimace. I can sympathize though. Let’s face facts; in today’s world, there is way too much to frown about.

One place in particular I personally find a smile challenging is the grocery store. It is far from the inviting image the bright yellow rollback smiley faces portray on one grocery chain’s commercials. In my opinion, the atmosphere is akin to a headache and incidentally, I always leave the store with one. Still, I continue to smile.

A typical shopping trip for me usually begins with grabbing a broken buggy that violently jerks to the right every few feet as I make my way through the store. Then, the truly fun part begins. The joke is always on me when the store decides to rearrange everything every few months so I can’t find the items on my list. As I look, I dodge a countless number of other customers who also have broken buggies and are suffering from “buggy rage.” Don’t worry. It happens to even the best of us. Just keep smiling.

The best part of the shopping adventure is standing in the checkout line for forty-five minutes to an hour because there are only four lanes open and fifty customers in line. It’s during this time in the store that my son grows antsy and begs for me to hurry up so we can leave. He spies all the items hanging by the registers for purchase. He wants one of everything, especially the candy bars. I smile as brightly as I can by this point as I tell him no.

When it is finally my turn to checkout, I try to load my groceries in my buggy as quickly as possible so I can leave. By the time I turn back around to pay, the customer behind me has moved up to the cash register and I am forced to jam my hip into their buggy so I am able to reach to swipe my check card. I won’t mention what it was like the time the cashier actually asked to see the signature on the card and my check card was so old that the signature had rubbed off, so we had to start over again. Ha-ha. That day was truly a test in smiling through the pain.

On my way out of the store, with my new headache and a load of groceries to load in the car and unload at home, I smile. For just a split second, it even turns into a real one when the door greeter mutters, “God Bless you.”

I believe that my smile is important and I choose to smile in the grocery store because when I glance down at my son I see him watching me and learning from me. A smile is often a challenge for me, but it truly is a gift I can give even when it hurts. I think it is worth the pain, so I keep practicing.



If you liked reading this, please visit my daily blog at my website. http://home.earthlink.net/~destinyrae/.