“Stopped?” Ryan went past them and into his daughter’s room. He stepped back as the nurses rolled the crash cart out of the room. “Doc?” He approached the man who was listening to Shayna’s little chest. A nurse was injecting a liquid from a syringe into the plastic tubing leading into his child.
“She’s weak, Mr. Hunter. I can’t make any promises.”
Deanna turned to her mother in fright. “Araignée du matin - chagrin. I saw a spider on the windowsill when I woke. I woke when Shayna was gurgling.”
Grace Blair stroked her daughter’s hair and reassured her. “Araignée du soir - espoir. That was still night time.”
“It was after midnight. Oh momma...”
Ryan looked confused. Grace looked at him and explained. “A spider seen in the morning is a sign of grief; a spider seen at noon, of joy; a spider seen in the evening, of hope. Deanna saw a spider, but even though it was after midnight, it was still the evening.”
Caleb Blair shook his head. “That’s just old Cajun superstition woman. It’s just rahdoht.” He was standing behind Ryan and put his hand on his shoulder to help steady him. “It’s just nonsense.” He turned towards his wife. “Mother, you take Deanna to the chapel. I think we can use a bit of prayer.”
(from Hostage Heart)
Superstitions… omens… curses - Are they nonsense, or are they real? People live their lives letting superstitions and omens make their decisions. Knock on wood, our superstitions help to guide us along the right path. If we are careful to never step on a crack, if we always remember to throw a pinch of spilled salt over our shoulder to hit the devil in his eye, we stop an empty rocking chair from rocking, and we don’t open umbrellas in the house, maybe we can avoid misfortune and tears. Will all of our good living be for naught if someone sticks a pin into a likeness of us? Does a voodoo doll really transfer pain and suffering to its victim, or is it just the knowing that does us in? How willing are you to risk it?
What of the number 13? How much evil can a mere number carry with it? Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names – pure evil or coincidence? More than 80% of high rise buildings do not include a 13th floor, most airports won’t use 13 as a gate number, 13 people at a table are considered unlucky. Have you ever woken from a dream shuddering and wondering if it was premonition or just bad food the night before? How often have you labeled an unexpected occurrence an omen and changed your plans because of it? Do you believe in Karma?
There are many people who will cross their fingers for luck and yet deny that they are superstitious. What is superstition? Beliefs. People believe that some habit or happening will make a difference to their fate. Chain letters get passed on because readers are warned of dire consequences if they “break the chain”. For as much as we want to believe that we are in control – we really don’t know; and we really don’t want to chance it.
Louisiana Voodoo is a spiritual belief in one deity and many less powerful spirits, spirits that can be channeled to cast spells. Professional spell casters are called bon couer’s. “The main focus of Louisiana Voodoo today is to serve others and influence the outcome of life events through the connection with nature, spirits, and ancestors.” (Wikipedia) Deanna Blair, the heroine of Hostage Heart, grew up in Louisiana among Cajun beliefs. Ryan Hunter is a wee bit skeptical, but even he begins to wonder about her premonitions and superstitions.
If you are worried that you might befall some harm or a voodoo curse has been placed upon you, here’s a simple preventative remedy to keep you safe: “To stop a Voodoo spell being placed upon you, acquire some bristles from a pig cooked at a Voodoo ritual, tie the bristles into a bundle and carry them on you at all times.”
See, nothing to it.
Showing posts with label louisiana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label louisiana. Show all posts
Monday, 26 October 2009
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
The Inspiration Behind Hostage Heart
In 2005 my hubby spent six weeks in Louisiana as part of a Federal medical team giving aid to thousands of injured and displaced victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. When he came back home, he spoke of all the wonderful folks he had met and related some of the horror stories of what they had endured. And after six weeks down there, he picked up, and brought home with him, many of the colloquialisms of the area.
Listening to his stories I envisioned more than what the TV news had been reporting. I heard about people who had lost homes, possessions and in some cases loved ones. And I learned what it meant to have an indomitable spirit to “pick yourself up” and rebuild. Despite all of the suffering and loss, there were amazing stories of generosity and kindness; people who had lost their homes cooked kettles over campfires as a thank you to the rescue workers and so much more.
To this day the TV news images of the flood waters and people on rooftops seem unreal. I certainly don’t mean to trivialize what had happened, but those scenes seemed more appropriate in some horrifying disaster movie than one of our American cities. Tragedies happened all over and not just from the failed levees in New Orleans. Tornadoes, high winds and torrential downpours wreaked havoc on property and the economy throughout the region.
Then again in 2008 Hurricanes Gustav and Ike struck the Gulf Coast. And hubby spent another five weeks down there; this time he was based in Texas. And again the folks down there were examples of humanity. This time hubby came home with tales of people who had been rebuilding their lives only to have waves, wind and rain tear apart their efforts. Some of the Texas victims had been relocated Louisiana survivors. Still, they were determined to rebuild.
The hurricanes of 2005 and 2008 were the inspiration for Deanna Blair and her family. In Hostage Heart Deanna’s “mamere”, the matriarch of her family, was lost when the levees overflowed. Her parents’ business was destroyed along with the home she grew up in. With her parents living in a FEMA trailer outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and no money to rebuild their once flourishing business, Deanna takes off for the call of New York City and the possibility of a salary to send back home. There wasn’t much, but she did what she could.
As for the inspiration for Ryan Hunter, well… suffice to say I used to date a guy (obviously long before hubby) who did undercover work in law enforcement. There was the evening I was visiting friends in an area of the city I normally didn’t frequent and I saw him. I was so surprised and excited – I had no idea he was working until that stranger ran out of the shadows…
It’s electric when Deanna and Ryan first get together. I hope that you enjoy their journey.
Life was hard after the hurricanes swept through, destroying her parents' home and livelihood...Deanna did the only thing she could do. She moved to New York City, found a job, worked hard, scrimped and saved to send what little she could manage back home to Louisiana to her parents.
An errand for her boss - a chance encounter with a crew of bank robbers - a kind man who tried to help her and deserved her courageous help in return...
But he wasn't the man she thought he was...no, he was so very much more!
Hi all - there has been a time change on the Blog Talk Radio Show on Sunday - it's at 8PM EST (NY time)
I hope everyone will join Kimberlee Williams and me this Sunday 7/26, at 8PM EST at http://tr.im/thJG
Listening to his stories I envisioned more than what the TV news had been reporting. I heard about people who had lost homes, possessions and in some cases loved ones. And I learned what it meant to have an indomitable spirit to “pick yourself up” and rebuild. Despite all of the suffering and loss, there were amazing stories of generosity and kindness; people who had lost their homes cooked kettles over campfires as a thank you to the rescue workers and so much more.
To this day the TV news images of the flood waters and people on rooftops seem unreal. I certainly don’t mean to trivialize what had happened, but those scenes seemed more appropriate in some horrifying disaster movie than one of our American cities. Tragedies happened all over and not just from the failed levees in New Orleans. Tornadoes, high winds and torrential downpours wreaked havoc on property and the economy throughout the region.
Then again in 2008 Hurricanes Gustav and Ike struck the Gulf Coast. And hubby spent another five weeks down there; this time he was based in Texas. And again the folks down there were examples of humanity. This time hubby came home with tales of people who had been rebuilding their lives only to have waves, wind and rain tear apart their efforts. Some of the Texas victims had been relocated Louisiana survivors. Still, they were determined to rebuild.
The hurricanes of 2005 and 2008 were the inspiration for Deanna Blair and her family. In Hostage Heart Deanna’s “mamere”, the matriarch of her family, was lost when the levees overflowed. Her parents’ business was destroyed along with the home she grew up in. With her parents living in a FEMA trailer outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and no money to rebuild their once flourishing business, Deanna takes off for the call of New York City and the possibility of a salary to send back home. There wasn’t much, but she did what she could.
As for the inspiration for Ryan Hunter, well… suffice to say I used to date a guy (obviously long before hubby) who did undercover work in law enforcement. There was the evening I was visiting friends in an area of the city I normally didn’t frequent and I saw him. I was so surprised and excited – I had no idea he was working until that stranger ran out of the shadows…
It’s electric when Deanna and Ryan first get together. I hope that you enjoy their journey.
Hostage Heart by Chelle Cordero
Life was hard after the hurricanes swept through, destroying her parents' home and livelihood...Deanna did the only thing she could do. She moved to New York City, found a job, worked hard, scrimped and saved to send what little she could manage back home to Louisiana to her parents.
An errand for her boss - a chance encounter with a crew of bank robbers - a kind man who tried to help her and deserved her courageous help in return...
But he wasn't the man she thought he was...no, he was so very much more!
Hi all - there has been a time change on the Blog Talk Radio Show on Sunday - it's at 8PM EST (NY time)
I hope everyone will join Kimberlee Williams and me this Sunday 7/26, at 8PM EST at http://tr.im/thJG
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