Tag: Memoir

Poem: Armistice Day

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Armistice Day

On November eleven
As all of us knows
We signed an armistice
With all of our foes
And threw off our gas masks
We laid down our gun
And buried our hatchet
Along with the Hun

Now eight years have passed
Since that glorious day
When we signed that armistice
That ended the fray
And thousands of boys
Emerged from the strife
To come home a cripple
For the rest of his life

And thousands of others
Are over there still
Who never came home
And of course never will
They followed old glory
To a faraway shore
And to the loved ones at home
They returned never more

Althou’ we won glory
Across the big pond
We owe our respects
To our comrades that’s gone
And we’ll pause from our labor
Our tribute to pay
To our fallen companions
On Armistice Day

Written by Thomas Aaron Kepler in 1926
Copyright © Estate of Thomas Kepler
The poem was written by my grandfather, Thomas Aaron Kepler. It is one of several I have that he wrote and published.  He was a resident of Jamestown, Ohio. He passed away before I was born.  His poetry and writing are the only way I have had to know him.

Dandelion Wine – Chapter Fourteen

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Chapter fourteen begins as the Spaulding family prepares to shake out the rugs, Douglas and Tom’s imaginations turn this chore into a magical discovery, fancying that they see the happenings and neighbors in their town in the stains of one rug. A lavish metaphor at the end of the chapter describes Tom beating the rug so hard that the dust rises up to meet him, another surrealistic chapter ending possibly a reference to the Judeo-Christian belief that man was created from dust.

Dandelion Wine – Chapter Two

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Chapter two has the theme of illumination. Douglas Spaulding goes with his ten-year-old brother Tom and his father to pick fox grapes. While Tom and his father act like today is just a regular day, Douglas senses a mysterious presence around them. When Tom starts a friendly horseplay fight between the two of them, Douglas suddenly realizes what the mysterious presence is. It is the revelation that he’s alive. He finds it a wonderful and invigorating feeling.

Review: Scandalon

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From time to time I will share reviews of books by authors I personally know.  “Scandalon: Running From Shame and Finding God’s Scandalous Love” is written by Susan Elaine Jenkins.  I have read and recommend the book.  I  will have an interview with her in the days ahead and it will be posted.

Have you thought what it would like to get to know, work with the people in China, and live with them? Have you wondered what it would be like to grow up in a minister’s family? Susan Elaine Jenkins paints an insightful and sobering picture that answers these questions in her very skilful memoir, “Scandalon: Running From Shame and Finding God’s Scandalous Love.“

As I read the book her narrative format had me feeling like I was sitting in a recliner with a cup of coffee and she was sitting across the room telling me her story of how not just one, but a series of scandals hit her life. Some of events were self-inflicted. Other events were of someone else’s making. I found a bit of myself and my struggles as I read her story. Her writing and story were so interesting I didn’t want to put the book down! Yet, I feared I would read it too fast. I love the way her personality permeates the book.

In 1980, after three years of teaching in the USA in a private school (and saving her money) Susan made a trip to China. It was part of a gift she gave herself – a trip around the world. It was a prelude. In 1997 Susan accepted a two-year teaching position in Tianjin, China. She would stay in China.

Susan employs a wonderful method of telling of her adventures in China with reflections on what took place in her earlier life in the USA. The transition between the USA story and the China story is via a short statement of spiritual truth or insight. It is these earlier events in the USA that lead to her seeking refuge half way around the world. We see God’s handiwork in her life. We see her improving her language skills, her understanding of the Chinese culture, and how her American culture sometimes exasperated her Chinese friends, especially Ouyang. We reflect back on her life adventure that includes how she was used and mistreated by those in positions of authority over her and learned he had previously mistreated others. We also see how she survived!

Susan stories range from hilarious to tear inducing. I have two favorites. First, the story about her being invited back stage in Hawaii to meet Don Ho. Her parents encourage her to go. Don Ho wanted to do more than meet her. I could feel the confusion she felt from her parents encouraging her into such a situation. I wanted to take her dad aside and say you are supposed to protect your daughter! Second is the story at the Friendship Store of the two broken vases and how Susan came to the rescue of the Chinese couple. She demanded they not have to pay for the broken vase since she didn’t have to pay for one she broke a week earlier. We learn how the Chinese have two sets of rules – one for foreigners and one for other Chinese. I could feel the compassion and empathy Susan has for others.

The book is a good read and would be a valuable addition to all community and church libraries. It would also be a good study book for women’s group and even for counseling. It gives a realistic insight into the struggles we all face. The book gives answers about Chinese culture, running and finding God and finding one’s self.

Written by Jimmie A. Kepler

Poem: Back to those … care free days

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Back to those … care free days

I’ve traveled back in time
But only in my mind
Back to the time
When I was young
When I use to have fun
Back to those … care free days

And I think about the times
When our love was young
There were few bills to pay
We were living for the day
And sex was still fun
And we were born to run
Back to those … care free days

But the past doesn’t last
And time moves too fast
And the years go zooming by
And life’s hurts make us cry
And the bills we have to pay
Not much time left for play
And the kids up and grow
But they never seem to go
And work it never ends
We need money to live and spend

I wish we could go back to those care free days
When I asked if you could come out to play
And  we explored life and grew up too
It was fun to go to the zoo
And the circus came to town
How we laughed at the clowns
And we held hands and walked at the park
You had to be home before dark
And your dreams they came true
And some of mine did too

And our moms we still try to please
Allergies cause us to sneeze
And our kids have made us proud
And our kids have let us down
Like we did to our parents back in the day
When they didn’t want us to play

I still see your bright, big smile
And remember when we were sorta wild
And you had no fear
Because I was always here
And you would light up my life
You even became my wife

And I’ve traveled back in time
But only in my mind
Back to the time
When we were young
When we had fun
Back to those … care free days

Copyright © 2003
Jimmie A. Kepler
The Colony, Texas

Writer’s Life: Why I Love Writing Book Reviews

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Over twenty years ago I read Louis L’Amour’s book, “Education of a Wandering Man”. It is one of my all time favorites. L’Amour kept a journal recording the books he read year by year. The idea seemed unusual to me at the time, but I started doing it. About the same time I attended a writer’s conference in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Author Calvin Miller was the featured speaker. He also suggested keeping track of what you read. He added maybe writing a one page summary of the book and your thoughts about the book would be a good record to keep. He saw value in reading the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize Award winning authors as well.

I thought both gentleman’s idea was good and added a twist of my own. I would write a short book review. In the late 1980s I had my first book review published. Several years ago I stared posting my reviews on-line on Yahoo 360. About the same time I started Kepler’s Military History Book Reviews.  My oldest review on the site dates back to October 2007. Since then I have read and reviewed 107 military history or military historical fiction books. The website was name a 100 Best Blogs for History Buffs in late 2009. I receive about six requests a month to read and review books. Several publishers send me their books automatically. Some authors and/or their publicists contact me directly asking if I will review their book. I have about a six month backlog of books to review. Most authors who contact me want the book reviewed now. I tell them of the backlog and many withdraw their offer of a review copy of the book.

What do I get out of it? First, I get the enjoyment of reading the book. I love reading and history. This is a great way to read new material and get review copies of the books. Second, I share my love for history in general and military history specifically. Third, I try to be a good finder in what I read. I will read the entire book. Sometimes it is a struggle, but I look for the good.  I don’t say it is wonderful if it is tough to read, but I don’t read looking for the bad.  How blessed I am getting to review the books.

 

 

Review: Education of a Wandering Man

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This is about as close as an L’Amour fan will come to an autobiography. This is not a western novel, though it gives great insight into how he wrote and researched his books. The book starts with a reference to his high school class graduating while he was on a steamer in Indonesia.

L’Amour gives the reader a lengthy discussion of becoming self-educated through books, travel, and experience. I enjoyed the lengthy lists of books L’Amour read during his wandering years in the 30s. I have logged what I read since reading the book in November 1990. It is a worthy discipline. I also started writing a short, generally no more than on page review of what I read since that time.

L’Amour gives a breathtaking discussion of walking out of the Mojave Desert. It reminded me of my time at Fort Irwin, California (about 50 miles north of Barstow in the middle of similar land). L’Amour was a great researcher, and wrote from both personal experience and knowledge. While the book is disorganized, rambling, and repeats itself it is an enjoyable book. When I first read the book I thought they had just published his first draft without editing or rewrites. It is still very good. It should be required reading for any aspiring writer. L’Amour emphasizes the value of education through experience and self-guided reading. He never degrades formal education.

Review: I, Me, Mine

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“I, Me, Mine” by George Harrison was an extremely challenging read. The book was at times boring, has poor structure, and lacked direction. You can feel George Harrison’s dry wit and humor in the pages of the book with the key word being dry.

Don’t expect to learn a lot about Harrison. The book lacks the tell all element that many want.

Harrison was obsessed with Krishna. He says in the text that he promoted his personal religious beliefs through his songs. He felt it critical to share his faith. Does that make him an evangelical Hare Krishna?

George does not describe much of his relationships with the other Beatles. Including the handwritten lyrics is a great bonus. This is a definite must-have for admirers of the Harrison. If you can find the book at the half-price book store or even you local library and love the Beatles and George, enjoy.