Wishes of Home by Barbara Hinske is the twelfth book in The Wishing Tree series. Readers first meet Pam in book five, Workout Wishes and Valentine Kisses, as her relationship with Steve blossoms from childhood friends to colleagues to romance. In Wishes of Home, Pam and Steve are still going strong, although her past hurts from her ex-husband finds herself doubting her relationship with Steve. In this story, Pam furthers her talent for remodeling and home décor. What started as a hobby takes her on an unexpected path. With her boyfriend, Steve Turner, at her side, she is filled with more confidence. But when their relationship hits a rough patch, will her dreams come tumbling down? Meanwhile, a young girl’s wish from the Wishing Tree touches Pam’s heart and she is determined to fulfill this wish. Has she taken on more than she can handle? Can she fulfill her own wish as well as this young girl’s wish?
Wishes of Home is a sweet, wonderful story. There are heartwarming moments and a few tears. When Pam is filled with doubt about herself and her relationship with Steve, instead of talking with him, she ghosts him. Thinking the relationship is over, Steve doesn’t know where to turn. But the residents of Linden Falls aren’t going to let Pam and Steve ruin their relationship because they are perfect for each other. It is a story of communication, even if it could be hurtful and tough. Communication is key. There was one piece of information that Steve thought Pam knew, thinking small town everyone knows, but not realizing that she does not. It adds to the old saying “Assuming makes an ass out of you and me.” Overall, I enjoyed this story. It has been a great addition to The Wishing Tree series. I highly recommend Wishes of Home as well as the rest of The Wishing Tree series.
Wishes of Home is available in paperback and eBook.
March 12, 1933 marks the first of President Franklin D.
Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats. The Fireside Chats were an evening radio address
given by the president between 1933 and 1944 on various topics from the
economy, the New Deal initiatives and later the progress of WWII. Remembered as
a great communicator, FDR’s Fireside Chats kept him in high regard with the
American people throughout his presidency and he used radio to quickly spread
word about his policies and actions of government. Each chat lasted between
13-44 minutes and allowed him to directly speak to the American people as a
friend speaks to another friend.
Radio was fast overtaking newspapers as a major source of
information. In 1932, 42% of Americans had radios in their homes (Biser, 2016).
President Roosevelt wasn’t the first president to utilize the radio, President
Calvin Coolidge used the radio to deliver President Warren G. Harding’s eulogy and
President Herbert Hoover used the radio to as a campaign tool (Biser, 2016). Roosevelt
felt the newspapers were controlled by his opponents; therefore, couldn’t trust
them to provide the public with the correct information. Eight days after his
inauguration, he gave the first Fireside Chat as president. In the first chat,
he discussed how and why the banking crisis occurred and the resulting bill,
the Emergency Banking Act. As a result of this first chat, there was a great
turnaround in the public’s confidence. Within 2 weeks of the chat, people took
the money they were hoarding and deposited back in the banks. In future chats,
he appeals to listeners for help in getting the initiatives passed and the
audience responded. Letters would pour into legislators, urging their support
for all measures that the president proposed. There are many different theories
about who coined the term, “fireside chat,” some sources cite Stephen Early,
the president’s press secretary (Higgins, 2018), while others cite CBS station
manager Harold Butcher (Biser, 2016).
Many historians agree that President Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats
were different from other presidential radio speeches before for many reasons.
First, Roosevelt kept the speech of each chat informal. He would address the
audience as “My friends” or “My fellow Americans.” He liked to use common
analogies and informal conversational speech. 80% of the words he used were the
thousand most used in English; so that even the uneducated listening could
understand and follow his plan. Second, the chats allowed a level of intimacy
and importance to the people that they were truly a part of the governmental
process than ever before. One listener wrote to the White House stating, “It
made me feels as though you were really one of use” (Biser, 2016). As a result,
the American people trusted Roosevelt like no other president before. Lastly, for
many Americans, chats were a source of comfort. A reassurance that the
president had a steady hand on the wheel during the crises of the Great
Depression and, later, World War II (Biser, 2016). He would often urge the
American people to face the difficult times with patience, understanding and
faith.
Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats began a presidential precedence
that every president after him would utilize. With periodic speeches,
addressing the American people, first by radio, then television and later the
internet. On October 5, 1947, President Harry S. Truman would be the first
president to address the American people by television (History.com Editors,
2019) as well as other presidential firsts. The practice of a regularly
schedule address began in 1983 with President Ronald Regan who would deliver a
radio broadcast every Saturday. Roosevelt was one of the first presidents to
appeal to the American people as a friend and fellow American a tactic that
many politicians today are trying to recreate. Today, politicians hold town hall
meetings, an intimate setting, for the public to voice their concerns, hear the
politicians take on upcoming legislation or regulation or other various topics
concerning their communities or the nation. If they connect with their
audience, the way Roosevelt did is often a matter of opinion.
In conclusion, today marks an important day in history as
President Roosevelt held the first of his Fireside Chats. The utilization of a
new media and the skills of a great communicator, Roosevelt was able to gather
support for his policies from the American people who saw him as the great
leader to help pull the country out of the Great Depression and later victory
in WWII. He spoke as a friend, a neighbor and fellow American. By using the
radio, Roosevelt avoided being misquoted or misrepresented as the newspapers
often do. Today, politicians try to appeal to the American people as Roosevelt
did, some are successful, and others are not.
References
Biser, Margaret (August 19, 2016). The Fireside Chats:
Roosevelt's Radio Talks
First,
I want to apologize for the lateness of this post. I meant to post it a couple
of days ago and then I got a cold. A cold so bad that I felt dizzy to sit up. But
now, I’m feeling better and on to my post. Thanks again for reading!
Slang. I
really, really dislike slang. Words or phrases that I have always been
uncomfortable hearing or using. I never know if I’m using it in the right
situations or if I’m a part of the group enough to use the slang. Then again
some slang just makes someone sound uneducated. Slang is words or phrase that
is very informal. Slang has been around for as long as humans had language.
When you’re a teenager and you want to be a part of a group, you will being to
use the language that your friends are using. I know that I tried to use slang
when I was younger and I felt awkward and foolish. I avoid using slang as much
as I can. Many times, especially in high school, by the time I heard of a
particular slang, it was already passé to use it.
I recently discovered a new slang
phrase. I was waiting in the café for my husband to get off of work when a
group of teenagers were sitting next to my table. They were talking and I
overheard one young man say “You’re stupid smart if you….” “Stupid smart” got
my attention. I thought for a moment that he made a mistake but since his friends
weren't making fun of him. When I got home, I looked it up and it means:
“someone who tries to sound educated but comes off sounding like they’re trying
too hard.” So, it’s someone who is using big words without either knowing the
meaning or not truly understanding the meaning and using it in the wrong
context. I realize that I find slang useless and annoying.
The
most annoying slang words is “preggers” or “preggo.” It makes me twitch every
time I hear it. Apparently, a lot of people find it annoying too. On
UrbanDictionary.com, several users comments including descriptions like:
“disgustingly annoying” or “should never be used.” I agree. If you are
pregnant, just say pregnant. I also find the use of slang for various body
parts is equally annoying. Just come out and use the proper term. There is
another wrong or embarrassing to use the actual terms. For instance, vagina instead
of vajayjay or baby cannon. I could go
on but I think you get the picture.
Slang
has affected our ability to communicate. I know when I was in school, many of
classmates were called out by the professors for using slang or Internet jargon
in their papers. And I've heard reports of high school English teachers
complaining of the same thing. I think if you are going to use slang, please remember
your audience. If you are with your friends or online, that’s where it’s appropriate.
But on in school work, speaking to your elders, not really appropriate. I know
there probably many people who would disagree with me and that’s fine. I
dislike slang and I will not teach my daughter to use it. I know that when she
becomes a teenager, she will probably use it with her friends but she’ll learn
there’s a time and place for slang.
