THE RAM’S HEAD REVIEW

August 5, 2007

Ellie, Bob, Ann and myself met on Thursday, all with something to read. Margaret had not been well and was sorry she couldn’t attend.

Bob brought an old picture of the Jacoby Bros. booth at the PNE in 1913. Very interesting. Bob’s Dad remarried in 1937, and then retired in 1947. Bob went to work for Jacoby Bros. in 1948, first at a bench, manufacturing jewllery and then later in the office. When he started, the business was run by his stepbrother, Gordon Stanton, and the accountant, James Thompson. In the late 1930s, there was pressure to sign with the union, which they did, and since Jacoby Bros. was the largest manufacurer at that time, other companies followed suit, and the business became a union trade.

Ellie read more of her last story. We see the jewelsmith talking to his good friend, Dwarf Skiver. Tassie is the adopted daughter of the jewelsmith, but both men care deeply for her, and Skiver has sworn to protect her.

Ann read to us her creative non-fiction piece, a personal essay, which she received an A for in class. Entitled “Weight Loss Surgery”, it is about her journey to self-acceptance in her battle to lose weight. Since childhood she had used sweets and food to soothe stress and loneliness. At 243 pounds, she had intestinal by-pass surgery, which has high health risks. She lost 110 pounds in 10 months, but became extremely ill and had to have revision surgery. Since then, she has gained weight, but has also found that psycho-therapy helped her more. This was a very well-written piece that made a very strong point about this type of surgery, and about the fallacy in judging people who battle this illness.

I read the next chapter in my novel, which sees Fiona returning to her Office, in the dark, and being attacked, blindfolded, gagged, and tied up, and locked in the tool shed out back. A short chapter, but I hope it has lots of tension.

The August issue of Senior Newsmagazine has pieces in it by 3 of our members; Carolann (aka Laura Drake), Gemma and myself. My article “Two Marbles” is a reprint as they had printed it a couple of years back. Methinks they need more submissions?

Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend. Weather is beautiful, sunny but not too hot.

Next meeting will be here at my place Thursday, August 9th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then.

Lisa