How did I come up with the title for my latest book Four Ticket Ride?
Spoiler Alert: Preface
My friend Esther Isom told me this story one day as I rested in her salon chair for a pedicure which was always a guarantee for entertainment in addition to spa treatment on my feet. She swore the story was true.
Esther sat one morning in a doctor’s waiting area that was empty except for her and a petite elderly lady who had been in the room when she arrived. They waited and waited together without speaking, occasionally smiling at each other, but Esther decided to break the awkward silence by asking the older woman how she was doing that day.
“Honey, life’s a four ticket ride,” the older woman said with a smile – a reference to the State Fair’s being in town that week.
For the uninitiated in State Fair amusement rides, the more dangerous the ride the more tickets required to jump aboard. The four ticket rides were among the most adventurous with a mixture of highs and lows at dizzying speeds designed to take the thrill seeker’s breath away.
The following stories are my version of a few of life’s four ticket rides as seen through the eyes of a woman past 70 who bought and paid for enough tickets to ride all the rides in life…and some of them more than once.
Enjoy these rides with me. Buckle up, sit back, and hold on.
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My new book is short since most of us now expect major ideas to be conveyed through tweets which have reduced our attention spans to the length of a Geico commercial – readable in an hour in a single setting or a month of daily individual chapter doses like my 30 Days to Success Journal mentioned in chapter 1.
Here’s an overview of the major topics of flash nonfiction in Four Ticket Ride:
(1) I Have this Great Idea for a Book
(2) Life with Pretty
(3) The Magic of Sports
(4) What’s Happening with Us?
(5) Wouldn’t Take Anything for my Journey Now
Finally, this book is dedicated to a group of women I have never met in person but who have become loyal supporters of my writing over many moons in cyberspace and always appear on my blog roll. Ann, the Wayside Artist in Pennsylvania; Annie of Animal Couriers in France; Luanne of The Family Kalamazoo and Writer Site in Arizona; Rachel of The Cricket Pages in New York; and Susanne of Wuthering Bites in Canada. Writing is a solitary business and blogging is no exception; but these women take time to read, comment on my efforts and offer genuine encouragement in the process. I am deeply grateful to each of them for their own inspirational work and their support of mine.
And of course, every book I write is dedicated to Pretty. Without her love and support every day of my life, there would be nothing left to say. The End.
Stay tuned.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
Comments
28 responses to “new book Four Ticket Ride dedicated to blogging friends Ann, Annie, Luanne, Rachel, and Susanne…and of course, to Pretty”
[…] Made me so happy I could have cried if I wasn’t smiling. Read about it on Sheila’s blog here. I can’t wait to read it! Click the book image to purchase through […]
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A quick read on a host of topics bu hopefully something will speak to every reader! Thanks so much!!
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Oh my gosh, Sheila. I’ve been such a sporadic blogger of late that I missed this post. Now that’s embarrassing, especially after the dedication. Argh. Looking forward to reading your stories and being inspired by your writing – as always.
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Oh my – sporadic or not – you have been one of the writers I most admire in cyberspace! I will get a copy to you…
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Oh, that makes me so happy! I just bought myself a Kindle version! Congrats on the book, thank you for being such an inspiring and good “virtual” friend, and a big XO to you and T.
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Thank you so very much, Luanne…I love to make someone happy!! Hope you enjoy the book!! You are a wonderful inspiration to me…truly. Your Family Kalamazoo has been life changing for me.
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Wow, that kind of blows me away, Sheila! That’s thrilling!
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Where can one purchase a copy of this book?? 🙂
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Thanks for wondering! It is available on Amazon if you click on the link and/or through PayPal if you send directly to me at smortex@aol.com or I’m happy for you to contact me with mailing instructions…and just send a check to me at 1300 Cardinal Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169 USA
Thank you so very much for sharing your journeys on Polysyllabic Profundities – I love that name!
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Thanks Sheila. I always appreciate your visits. I would love to get the money to you so I could have a signed copy. Is that a possibility?
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Of course! If you will send me your mailing address, I will send you a book and you can mail me a check or money order for $12.70 US + whatever the postage ends up being to Canada? Will that work? I would love to sign a book and get it to you…thanks!
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I will get it in the mail today! Thank you 😊
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Roger that!
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I am putting a cheque for $35.00 Cdn in the mail today. If that doesn’t cover the shipping, let me know and I will send the difference. Thanks so much.
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We will make it work!! Thanks again…
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You are an inspiration!!!!!!
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Thanks so much, my friend.
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I just finished re-reading Deep In The Heart so you’ve been on my mind. Keep writing!!!
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I was just talking to a friend this afternoon and telling her I think this will be my last book and she said, Now why would you say that?
Deep in the Heart is Pretty’s favorite of all my books – I’m so glad to know a New Yorker enjoyed the rural Texas tales…You always hope your words will reach others…I look forward to reading your book, too!!
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You have no idea how much I wanted a pony of my own; not just when I was growing up, but, like, yesterday.
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You would love a pony like you love your pups – and she would love you right back! Bucket list.
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Here I am to thank you for including me in the dedication for this book with the best title ever! I’m beyond flattered. It’s been such a pleasure to be your friend over the years and to extend that friendship with your much loved family. Congratulations on publishing a new book. I can’t wait to read it.
(WordPress astonishes me! Again!! I can comment! I’m back in favor!!) 😂😘💕
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Oh, Ann…you are so welcome… and thank you for who you are and what you have meant to me and my family. We all love you dearly.
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Deeply touched Sheila. But, where can we get it? The link from the cover image doesn’t go anywhere 😦 Yours in antici………………… xAx
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I will send you a signed copy if you will send me your address to smortex@aol.com.
Thank you for being such a good friend to me over the years!! Your pictures have brought me such joy every time I open your posts…
The link is for a paypal link – or that’s what it should be! I am also putting them on Amazon later today!
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You are extremely kind – I can’t wait to read it!
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Eeek, I forgot to send address. Will do it now!
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Got it, thanks! Will send this week!!
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