Two Stories BOTH TRUE

STORY NUMBER  ONE

Many years ago, Al Caponevirtually owned Chicago . Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything frombootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a goodreason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was themoney big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, heand his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of  the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.  

Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.

And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.  

Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

Yet, with all his  wealth and influence,there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.

He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface"Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblanceof integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. But, he testified.

Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.

The poem read:

"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.  Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still."

STORY NUMBER  TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare.

He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he wasairborne, he  looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.

He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his  ship.

His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.

The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only onething to do. He must somehow divert them from the  fleet.

Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.

Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to  clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.

Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.

Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet.  He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.  

This took place on February 20, 1942 , and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.

A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.His home town would  not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade,and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son. 

Eddie and his Dad were from St. Louis

Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A sexy P.I. helps a cowboy discover his true identity. In the process she learns about love, life and how secrets can shatter a life almost beyond repair. But she also learns that holding onto anger only slows the process of healing a wounded heart and accepting the love of a lifetime.

I really enjoyed Once a Cowboy and would recommend it to anyone.

View all my reviews >>

Please check out my first interview ever with Romance Examiner Maddie James. Although I was nervous the interview turned out pretty well. lol.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-4981-Romance-Novel-Examiner~y2009m8d27-Lisa-Alexander-Griffin-and-A-Celtic-Lovers-Magic

Of late, we've lost a couple of our beloved kitties. Pets that we cherished. But living in the country as we do, outside pets sometimes disappear.

My husband is not much for house animals, but by some twist of Fate we talked him in to shopping for a new inside cat. First we stopped by Pet Smart, found one that was very friendly and would make a good companion, but not quiet what I was looking for. Covue wandered off about a year ago, and even though we searched and searched, he never returned. A beautiful white ragdoll, fierce and graceful, loving and attentive. I miss him still.

We continued on to Petco where adoption animals are displayed, a few at a time. I walked into the glassed in area. A large white feline with gorgeous blue eyes blinked back at me, rubbed her face against the glass, and I fell in love. She had fur longer than Covue's, but the same beautiful white. Something drew me to this kitty like none of the others had. I guess because she reminded me of him.

A worker unlocked the cage, let me hold her.  Everything I wanted done to our next kitty had alread been done to this beautiful creature. She was spayed and declawed, litterbox trained.What more could I ask for? Her shots were up-to-date. She was very friendly, needed a companion and so did I. So...I gathered her up and took her home. Although nervous at first, Cloe has a wonderful disposition and she's settling in nicely.

Here she is:

If you're looking for a new pet, check out your nearest pet store. These adoption animals need homes, and someone to love, who will love them back. Help save a life. You'll be glad you did.

Lisa

What is a blog?

That's what I keep asking myself. Seems every other writer has plenty to say, lots of riveting stories to tell...me nothing. I live a humdrum life in the country, but I love it!! You can move a country girl to the city but she'd still be country to the bone.

I could talk about all the chicken snakes that keep pestering me when I'm outside, whine about how difficult it's been with all the rain to get the garden planted. Or boast about how...when we fish in our front yard pond, I catch the most fish. lol. Morgan and Jackie drag me into a competition, whether I want to be or not.

I could talk about how hard it's been of late to find time, or the energy to write. sigh... tell you how beautiful my flowers are in bloom. Don't remember the name of the bush, but my salmon colored roses are gorgeous.

June fifth was my thirty-third anniversary. Sometimes I find it hard to believe I've been married to the same man for so long. At times it seems an eternity, and other times only yesterday.  For the most part, I'm blessed. Most people don't make it that long.

On the writing front, two stories are rumbling around in my mind. One that needs editing...the other writing. Perigee Moon is a Native American Historical. Danielle's Touch a contemporary, and the story of my heart.

Okay, enough rambling. I'll really try to blog one day soon.