Listen Please, Mr. President

February 17, 2017 by Melissa Rea Leave a Comment

You can claim all you want that Donald J. Trump is not your president, but as long as you claim American citizenship, he is. The fact that you may have voted otherwise changes nothing. Sulking, raging, and yes protesting doesn’t change a thing. I respect your right to a differing opinion. A peaceful demonstration of such ideas is your right. Peaceful demonstrations do not destroy property, and should not inconvenience or offend those who disagree.

I will not pretend to be completely happy about the result of this election. The time has come to stop our hand wringing and begin to work to solve the serious issues facing our country. The POTUS does have some good ideas. More things should be made in this country. There should be more good paying jobs. Our failing infrastructure should be fixed. The tax code needs to be simplified and our nation needs to be secure. I just seriously doubt it can be done by utilizing the talents of one like-minded group of people. These are serious problems and everyone needs to work together to solve them. I am addressing this plea to President Donald Trump.

Please address issues that matter to all of us. We care about human rights. We care about the air we breathe and the water we drink. We care about our children’s ability to afford secondary education. Your news conferences and rallies entertain those who support you, but how about having a “listening ” tour for those with different views, rather than just another victory lap. Please listen to our concerns too. If you really want to be our president, our voices should matter.

Positively Powerful.

January 28, 2017 by Melissa Rea 5 Comments

The Women’s March held on January 21st, was one of the most moving moments of my life. The overwhelmingly positive nature of the crowd was incredible to behold. I stood there in Washington D.C., the seat of our democracy feeling awash in love and sisterhood.

All around me were women representing the strength of our differences. I proudly stood next to women of all ages, colors, sexual orientations and religions. The Muslim women with their heads covered, made me feel proud to welcome them. The crowd was huge, but if someone needed to get through, we squished together and made room somehow. When standing in the endless Porta Potty lines, someone would invariably offer a wet wipe or a protein bar. The chants I heard were positive too. “This is what democracy looks like,” and “Our bodies, our choice,” rang out over and over. The number of men present, perhaps 1 out of 20 people, made me smile too. They stood there within sight of the capitol, supporting their daughters, their wives, and all the women they care about. For me it was transformational.

The sign my group carried, as you can see from the picture above (I’m in the back row in the pick coat) had a purely positive message. There were of course the anti-Trump signs, many humorous, but negative none the less. I do regret that a very important part of our female population did not feel welcome. Those women who voted for President Trump and are more conservative in their politics, could not be with us to bath in the positive waves of girl power. This saddens me. The March should have been for all women.

In my mind it was a demonstration of support for sisterhood and not a protest against anyone. I realize by reading differing viewpoints and talking to conservative friends, the timing was offensive to them. President Trump had just taken the oath of office. I saw it as our voices needed to be heard ASAP and I did not intend to offend. Mine was not the only view I realize. If it was in my power I would organize a unity march. A dear and intelligent friend pointed out to me, unfortunately no one would attend.

We need to realize now that we are not just liberals and conservatives. We are all Americans. I don’t expect rainbows and puppies from this administration. Constructive criticism is different that attacks and can be positive in its result. The problems facing our nation are our shared problems. I propose we work together to attack problems not people. From this day forward my posts and suggestions will be positive. It is in the power of our diversity we are the strongest. Let’s use our talents and ideas to harness the power positivity for the good of all Americans.

If You Can’t Say Something Good

January 23, 2017 by Melissa Rea 8 Comments

I think it may be time for Americans to grow up. Saying negative things about anyone hurts both the giver an the receiver of the negativity. This election season has wounded us all deeply and it is time for us to actively bring about healing. My candidate didn’t win but that is no reason to denigrate those whose choice is in the White House. The fear mongering has to stop. I attended The Women’s March and the experience was nothing but positive for me. It did make me feel hopeful that our president tweeted about the march.

“Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

This was not widely reported. It seems positive things just aren’t news. Let’s change that. Because someone’s opinion is not mine, gives me no right to belittle or to denigrate them. My grandmother used to say, if you can’t say something good don’t say anything at all. That is how grown ups behave. The best way to make this country great is to work together to make it so.

What Comes Next

September 24, 2016 by Melissa Rea Leave a Comment

Last weekend I presented Conjuring Casanova to all present at the Brooklyn Book Festival. This was my last publicity event for this book. In Brooklyn, just like all my other events, I met wonderfully interesting people and celebrated books. This publicity phase has come to an end and I am very grateful for all the good that has come from it.

Last evening I finished another draft of Nights of Alice, my latest novel. It is the story of a female CEO whose company is on the brink of introducing a groundbreaking medical device. By day, she relishes the challenge of the business world. When the sun sets, Alice Hightower escapes. She dresses in clothes that appear each evening in her closet, and slides open her balcony door to other times and places. Of course she must be loosing her mind like her mother before her. She would much rather spend time with the delicious men in her fantasies than deal with the real and very flawed men in her real life. Her handsome and dangerous Vice President of sales and her intriguing male administrative assistant have other plans for her. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Today I sent this draft off to a wonderful copy editor who will remove all my mistakes. I am not sure where this road will lead, but I would be so happy to have you along for the ride.

The Age Of “Tell me what I want to hear”

September 3, 2016 by Melissa Rea 3 Comments

I have spent the week explaining to my patients why they still need to floss. The conclusion of a small study reported in Forbes magazine, was that there is no proof flossing helps reduce gum disease or decay. The point of the study if looked at from a scientific point of view, was that it was a small study and there are too many variables that cannot be controlled for to make it valid. The story was, however,picked up everywhere and could even be found on the news blurbs at the gas pump. Why? Because it is what people want to hear. Most people do not floss, and are only too happy to hear that they no longer have to.

This is indeed the information age. We are barraged with information from every direction. It is mostly free and available and we are often too busy to question. It is imperative that we do question the source of such information. What does the person giving you the information have to gain? More veiwers or your vote? Or is the provider trying to get you to buy something out of fear. Most of the distillations of the flossing study said mouthwash was just as effective as flossing which is patently false. Many mouthwashes have alcohol which is proven to cause oral cancer. Floss only causes good breath and increased oral health. Yes, mine are flossed regularly, can’t you tell?

Did you think I wasn’t going to tie it to my book? No such luck. Giacomo Casanova was the king of “tell them what they want to hear,” and it lifted skirts all over 18th-century Europe. In CONJURING CASANOVA, Casanova spends a good deal of time telling modern Lizzy, what she wants to hear. Guess what happens.

The perfect beach read...frothy yet satisfying like a good ice cream soda — The perfect beach read…frothy yet satisfying like a good ice cream soda

Passionate Pursuits

August 13, 2016 by Melissa Rea 1 Comment

Melissa Rea Author Book Signing at Copperfield's — Signing at Copperfield’s Books Sebastopol, CA

What do these three pictures have in common? It is passion. The two gentleman in the picture, Prince and Giacomo Casanova were lucky enough to learn their great passions early in life. The lady, me, was not as fortunate. Prince performed and wrote great music before he was twenty. Casanova discovered his life’s purpose, the pursuit of love, at a very early age as well. I am the only living member of the pictured trio and am a slow learner.

Moving from one hobby to the next creative hobby in some attempt to find the passion inside me, I struggled. Photography, gardening, painting, none done very well, held my attention for a few years at a time. Way down inside me a little voice would say, “Write, Stupid.” It took a while, but I finally listened. My passion finally bloomed in some wonderfully inspiring continuing education courses at the community college.

Always before, as I went about my pursuits, at a certain point the disappointment would set in. Some of my photos were pretty good. I learned to grow orchids and cover my yard with blooms. I would occasionally paint a decent water color, but I always moved on. When I wrote stories, the quality didn’t really matter to me. I just had to write. There is certainly disappointment with the quality of my writing once in a while. This is not enough to put out the fire of passion thank goodness. The difference is I couldn’t stop writing now if I wanted to. I have found the doorway into the passion in my soul. Do you dare to find yours?

Wouldn’t it be fun to read about an ER doc’s lessons in passion from and 18th century libertine?