A Look Forward

Every year authors end with a look back with resolutions and wishes for bright new year; I'm no different.

2014 was a year of highs and lows in my personal life. I lost a very dear cousin this year, younger than me and a wonderful friend and confidant, and like the rest of the family I miss her.

2014 was also the year that our son, our youngest, took a bride. The wedding was magnificent (the kids did it themselves), our new daughter-in-law is beautiful, and both of them are very happy with each other. Our oldest child, a daughter, was married in 2007. As parents it is a blessing to look at your precious children and know that they have partners who will love them, care for them and stand by their side.

So 2014 is also the year that my husband and I — with 39 years of marriage under our belts — are now back to being "just a couple"... although honestly once you are parents you never stop.

Mark and I are now in a position to look seriously at our future, we're not as young as we were the last time we were "just a couple". We're looking at our home, it's a beautiful home and one where we raised our family, and we are talking about downsizing and living in a home that will allow us to grow old (in 30 or 40 years...) comfortably. It's a fascinating study to examine your own life and see how your priorities change through the years.

Looking forward to 2015 I plan to do a lot more writing. I had a holiday themed short story published in 2014 but most of my published writing was in the non-fiction journalistic world instead of the novels I so love penning. I'm good at the articles though, please forgive my ego, and I would love to hear if you come across any of my articles the next time you thumb through your local paper. Since I often write for a company that sells supplements to various North American publications, you might actually get to read my non-fiction work now and then, and I would love to hear about it; I write under the my name as Chelle Cordero.

The 17th Annual Preditors and Editors Readers' Poll is open for voting through January 14 and I'd like to ask for your support and votes for me and my fellow Vanilla Heart Publishing authors - I would love to see a strong VHP showing this year. Please take a look at my recommended list here.

Another important goal belongs to my family. My brother-in-law, Del, needs a kidney and we've been reaching out for potential living donors; a living donor is really the best chance for a recipient. As my sister explains, "Many years ago Del was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. In 1968 Del lost a kidney to PKD and has been managing for the past 46 years with his remaining kidney."  If you know of someone, or yourself, who would consider donating a kidney (the average person has 2 but you only need 1), please consider getting tested: please contact Robert Wood Johnson Transplant Center, New Brunswick, NJ at (732) 253-3699 or 1-877-NUKIDNEY and follow the prompts for the living donor program. Tell them you are calling on behalf of Del Du-Bois.. Even if you are not a compatible match, there are "Paired Donations", you can give a kidney to a stranger and in turn save a loved one's life. Please help spread the word about our need — hang a note on your church/synagogue/temple bulletin board, notify folks at work, talk it up at your social club — we appreciate anything you can do to help us. For more info about Paired Donations http://www.paireddonation.org/index.htm

My wish for all of you in the coming year is peace, happiness, good health, the love and warmth of family and friends, shelter and security, success in your endeavors, and as many good things that can possibly come your way. I hope your celebration is fun, memorably pleasant and safe.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life.

~Chelle