Coffee in the Rain

Good morning, Everyone.

The rain is falling in a gentle patter this morning. We need the rain, and I’m thankful the wind has finally laid down from yesterday’s northeast bluster.  Dangling tree limbs threatened landfall from last week’s almost hurricane.  The tree guy is coming soon. The temperature dropped from sweltering to reasonable yesterday afternoon allowing us to relinquished the air-conditioned atmosphere and open the windows. 

If we were having coffee together, I would tell you my husband, Matt, and I were on our Beach Week vacation last week reconnecting with friends at the best place on Earth, Davis Park Fire Island. However, it was a different Beach Week. Only my eldest daughter, Sara, was able to join us for a day trip. My parents, recovering from cardiac episodes and keeping socially distance missed out, and our usual posse also practiced social distancing on the boardwalks and sandy shorelines.Tropical storm Isaias blew in, howled through the sassafras and chokecherry trees and whipped the ocean and bay into a whitecap frenzy spraying saltwater beyond the dune lines and bulkheads. Beautiful drama. Our little community fared with minimal damage, and the electricity quickly rebounded. It took two days for the ocean to calm down so that we could swim safely and resume sun-worshipping rituals.

If we were having coffee together, I would report that the mainland was not so lucky. Salt spray and high winds damaged lawns and browned summer colors. Many were without power for a week or more. When we returned home last Sunday, the electricity was on, but our tomatoes were severely wind-blown, and branches and heavy tree limbs littered the yard—ergo the need for the tree guy. Although, no significant home damage, it took me the better part of two days to clear the lawn. 

If we were having coffee together, I would announce that I have re-dug into writing projects since returning from the beach. I completed the BOCES Arts in Education application for virtual and in-person school author visits and am halfway through the online course on learning how to teach online.  My Journal On! A Teacher’s Journaling Practice Workshop will be offered remotely through the Western Hamptons Teacher Center.  Once it is all up, I will share the links.

School is opening in a variety of fashions on Long Island and New York City, but it is all dependent upon balancing and implementing safety precautions and minimizing infection rates. Everyone is rightly nervous and concerned for our children, teachers, and communities. 

If we were having coffee together, I would announce that I have two book events this week. I will be at the Smithtown Rotary Club on August 19th and on a virtual author panel sponsored by the Sayville Library on August 20th at 7 pm. 

I also set up a $40 Amazon gift certificate raffle to commemorate Hug Everyone You Know’s 3-year Publication Anniversary.  This will hopefully boost book sales and Stories Served email listings.  Click here to sign up! Everyone is welcomed.

I am exploring cover design options for Daily Bread. Although I did a fair job on Canva designing Journal On! covers, Daily Bread needs a professional illustrator. Suggestions?

If we were having coffee together, I would offer one more bit of news. I joined my cousin’s letter-writing campaign to get out the vote for the 2020 election. I feel some involvement is better than passively fretting and complaining. No matter how your politics steer your conscious, voting is every American’s right and civic duty.  

Well, the rain has stepped up to a steady shower now. I should close some windows a little bit and refill my coffee. Thanks for reading and listening.

Have a good week, Everyone. Make it great.

Big thank yous go out to Ecelic Ali for keeping the Weekend Coffee Share up and running.

Be well. Be safe. Be smart

Register to vote.

Antoinette Truglio Martin is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. The memoir is a wimpy patient’s journey through her first year of breast cancer treatment.