We hereby resolve to… by Debra H Goldstein, Nancy J Cohen, Lois Winston, Cheryl Hollon, Diane A.S Stuckart, and Maggie Toussaint I’ve given up resolving to do things like exercise, lose weight, or be a kinder person; so, my resolutions for 2021 (beyond hugging family and friends again) are 1) embrace my tendency to procrastinate […]
Happy Holidays to All! What a strange year 2020 has been! And there’s good news-we’ve all survived the pandemic thus far. Keep up the great work of protecting yourself and your family by wearing masks and social distancing until we get through the vaccination process. Meanwhile, your friends at Booklover’s Bench want to help shine […]
City Lights in St. Petersburg by Cheryl Hollon As the holiday season approaches, I’m grateful to live in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. The city shines in so many delightful ways – the lighting of the tree is the start. Many festive scenes are displayed around the North Straub Park near the waterfront. The figures are […]
Christmas Anticipation By Maggie Toussaint [Note: book giveaway entry open thru Wed. Dec 16. Winner announced on Thursday Dec 17.] As a kid, I couldn’t wait for Christmas. My imagination would hit feverish highs of envisioning what gift would be under the tree. Coming from a large family, our gifts weren’t as plentiful as heartfelt. […]
Holiday Upheaval By Lois Winston Undoubtedly, 2020 is a year we’d all like to forget. The upcoming holidays, or more likely the lack of them, will be yet another reminder of just how completely un-normal this year has been for everyone. Say good-bye to so many of those wonderful traditions we look forward to each […]
A Very Happy Un-Thanksgiving By Diane A.S Stuckart If you think about it, Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday. It’s non-denominational, family-oriented, not limited to a particular social/economic/ethnic group, requires no presents be exchanged, and traditionally encompasses a full four days of celebration (read, time off from the day job). Of course, the whole meal-turned-major banquet […]
Thanksgiving Celebrations by Nancy J. Cohen Happy Thanksgiving! Since we are expressing our gratitude this season, let me thank our Booklovers Bench followers for your support throughout the year. Your feedback, reviews and encouragement make our work as writers worthwhile. This holiday is especially meaningful to me because I was born on Thanksgiving Day. My […]
Touchdown for Me by Debra H. Goldstein Yay! The election news is over. The hullabaloo of our local Alabama news cycle has quieted. The constant political ads for Doug Jones and Tommy Tuberville have ceased. Now, it is time to get back to what really matters in Alabama. College football. We all want to know […]
Pelicans Everywhere by Cheryl Hollon Earlier this year St. Petersburg, Florida declared the pelican as the official bird of the city. It’s been the unofficial bird for decades. It has adorned recycling bins, trash cans, and city promotional materials since the 1980s. A new sculpture at the entrance to the renovated pier is a large, […]
Of Ghouls and Saints By Maggie Toussaint Many believe that on Oct. 31, the veil between the living and the dead thins, allowing the dead to return to earth. Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain wherein people lit bonfires, offered harvest sacrifices, and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th […]
