ERJ, my eastern redbud that I’ve written about multiple times on my blog, has been slowly dying all summer and now into the fall. Strangely, he had the most beautiful blooms this year he’s ever had. This past spring, I mean. He’s got borers. They did their damage. I tried everything, but I couldn’t save him. I knew I wouldn’t be able to, but I tried anyway. The loss of this tree really hurts. Some parts of his branches are still pliable, but most are brittle. The bark now splitting from lack of life. But I noticed today a bright spot of pink. And then another. Arising from the broken, cracked bark and perched alongside seedpods as brittle as dead leaves, ERJ blooms one last time.
ERJ – photo taken October 10, 2025 ERJ – photo taken October 10, 2025
List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston – this is my all-time favorite book. I needed three credits in English so I took a summer course at my university and was introduced to the Harlem Renaissance. It’s not an exaggeration to say it changed my life. There was something magical about Ms. Hurston’s use of language. It envelopes and evokes. I still have the copy of the book for that class tucked away safely on my bookshelf. I do not let anyone borrow it.
My copy has this cover
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – this is my second all-time favorite book. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book and series. I sent an email to the author when I finished this book and she replied. I printed it out and tucked it into the paperback, which has been read so many times it’s earmarked with love. Yes, I have the rest of the books too. Yes, I waited for what felt like 65 years for the show to be created. Yes, I’m waiting on season eight during the usual Droughtlander. But, I should say upfront the books are nothing like the series because the books are typically 1000 pages of genius storytelling, and though the series is based on the books, it in no way comes close to the original. This book is impactful due to its ability for the reader to step through the stones, as it were. It’s a place to get lost in if you’re looking to get lost. 
This isn’t my copy – mine is old and well loved and also I do not think it states on the cover that it is a New York Times best seller
3. Love Match by yours truly
Yes, it might sound a little strange to say this book impacted me a great deal, but if you’ve written a book, you know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t matter if your book was published or not, if you have written a book and it is yours, it has changed your life. If you tell other people, and they read your book, it changes you even more. When people start to have opinions about your words, that is probably the greatest impact. It takes a lot of courage to write and have other people read what you’ve written. One could even call a blog a type of book. It’s a book that keeps writing itself each day. It’s something that means something to the writer, but also it’s something that the reader takes part in. And it takes courage from the author to post their words. Words on a blog can be equally if not more impactful than an entire bound book. But that’s a different subject for a different day.
My Book
Incidentally, when I was looking for an image of my own book to post here, I found out my book is being sold on eBay for $29.08. Just a suggestion: my book isn’t that expensive brand new. I’m not sure that the seller is going to make any profit after shipping – unless of course, they found a brand new copy of my book. But another question then begs to be asked: where is my royalty check?
Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?
Are we talking about baby books that older adults read to you? Are we talking about the first book you read to yourself? Are we talking about the books you would buy at the Scholastic book fair? The fair they had every year in the trailer, and you would walk in and it would smell like new books and you knew this was your place? Or are we talking about books you read as an older child, the books that formed who you are and showed you other worlds can exist. And not only can you read them, you can write them.
I am sure they’re all in my memory somewhere, but they all exist as one.
Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly Loving him is like trying to change your mind Once you’re already flying through the free fall Like the colors in autumn, so bright, just before they lose it all
Losing him was blue, like I’d never known Missing him was dark gray, all alone Forgetting him was like trying to know Somebody you never met But loving him was red Loving him was red
Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted Was right there in front of you Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words To your old favorite song Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword And realizing there’s no right answer Regretting him was like wishing you never found out That love could be that strong
Losing him was blue, like I’d never known Missing him was dark gray, all alone Forgetting him was like trying to know Somebody you never met But loving him was red Oh, red Burning red
Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes Tell myself it’s time now gotta let go But moving on from him is impossible When I still see it all in my head In burning red Burning, it was red
Oh, losing him was blue, like I’d never known Missing him was dark gray, all alone Forgetting him was like trying to know Somebody you never met ‘Cause loving him was red Yeah, yeah, red Burning red
And that’s why he’s spinning ’round in my head Comes back to me, burning red Yeah, yeah His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street
This ain’t for the best My reputation’s never been worse, so You must like me for me We can’t make Any promises now, can we, babe? But you can make me a drink
Dive bar on the East Side, where you at? Phone lights up my nightstand in the black Come here, you can meet me in the back Dark jeans and your Nikes, look at you Oh damn, never seen that color blue Just think of the fun things we could do
This ain’t for the best My reputation’s never been worse, so You must like me for me (Yeah, I want you) We can’t make Any promises now, can we, babe? But you can make me a drink
Is it cool that I said all that? Is it chill that you’re in my head? ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (delicate) Is it cool that I said all that? Is it too soon to do this yet? ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate
Third floor on the West Side, me and you Handsome, you’re a mansion with a view Do the girls back home touch you like I do? Long night with your hands up in my hair Echoes of your footsteps on the stairs Stay here, honey, I don’t wanna share
This ain’t for the best My reputation’s never been worse, so You must like me for me (Yeah, I want you) We can’t make Any promises now, can we, babe? But you can make me a drink
Is it cool that I said all that? Is it chill that you’re in my head? ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (delicate) Is it cool that I said all that? Is it too soon to do this yet? ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate
Sometimes I wonder, when you sleep Are you ever dreaming of me? Sometimes when I look into your eyes I pretend you’re mine all the damn time
Is it cool that I said all that? Is it chill that you’re in my head? ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (delicate) (Yeah, I want you) Is it cool that I said all that? Is it too soon to do this yet? ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (delicate)
Is it cool that I said all that? (Isn’t it?) Is it chill that you’re in my head? (Isn’t it, isn’t it?) ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (isn’t it delicate?) (Yeah, I want you) Is it cool that I said all that? (Isn’t it?) Is it too soon to do this yet? (Isn’t it, isn’t it?) ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate
“It's Amy,” I said. 