THE MEMOIRS OF SUMMER RAY

Wow! It has been six weeks since my last blog. I have been dealing with some health issues, moving and working on some crafts for an upcoming event. Also the books covers, manuscripts and writing periodically the new memoirs. The first book cover will be released on Friday the 29th. It’s very exciting as it promotes more of the story. I could have stopped with mediocre. But if you have been following along with my blogs, then you know that will never do for us here at Summer Ray. Mediocre is defined as, “moderate, not very good.” Yikes! Who wants that? We sure don’t. I have driven people crazy because the current book covers are actually very nice. But in speaking with a book designer, I needed to add covers that are more in tune with the story. So, I did that and will be, as previously stated will be releasing the first book this week.

My health took a very bad turn due to Post COVID Syndrome. But I am much better than I was last year at this time. I am not as healthy as I was before COVID, but I am thankful I am on my way. I am under that care of several doctors and therapists. I am determined to not let myself go. Trust me, feeling as bad as I did and still do at times, I just don’t want to do anything. But I know that if I just give up, it could be the end of a lot of what I hold dear, including Summer Ray. So, I push passed the fatigue. I cannot do the 4-5 mile walks that I once did before COVID, so I do a mile a day. I was diagnosed with depression too. It is hard not to be depressed when I could do so much before, and not now. I try not to get angry. But I am human and I am angry about it. Still, I try to remain thankful. I can still type. I can still work from home. I can still do a lot of things. I just can’t do a lot of those things for too long yet. I was able to have friends over and we did a sunrise photo shoot that turned out to be something amazing. (hint, hint – book cover). I am learning more about self-care like skin care, make up, exercises that I can do. I do not feel that time has been wasted as during this time, there was a strike in Hollywood and with the Writers Guild. Little Round Top in Gettysburg where we will need to film at, as been shut down for repairs too. I also feel like I have been shut down for repairs or a “maintenance shutdown.” It was hard at first as I felt my whole world was crashing and burning. But realistically only a few of those parts were. I still had so much to be thankful for; my loving family; wonderful doctors; amazing friends on and off Facebook who prayed for me and checked in on me, my skating etc. No one gave up on me, but I have to be honest. I came close to giving up on myself. Last year was extremely hard on me. It isn’t easy now, but it has definitely improved. So, I am learning to thank God for the improvements. I have to stop being so frustrated and bitter. COVID became a very horrific time in the way of the world and so many people lost their lives, or loved ones and many like me, are still dealing with the after effects of having this virus. For me, COVID made an already injured throat and airway worse. I am have been in Physical Therapy for the last two months. I am starting cognitive, speech and occupational therapy too. All the while, still working on Summer Ray. I think it truly has been a life-line for me at times. It is my heart felt prayer that it becomes a life-line to others who need it too. It is defined as, “a thing on which someone or something depends or which provides a means of escape from a difficult situation; a rope or line used for life-saving, typically one thrown to rescue someone in difficulties in water.”

To be able to throw someone a life-jacket and help them through their own storms of life, I truly believe is Summer Ray’s biggest purpose. But the life-jacket we throw is, of course, the only one who can save them and at that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Stan Lee once stated:

“I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives.”

If we can entertain you, and also throw out a life-line that helps you draw closer to God, we have done our job. It is why we work so hard a perfecting our craft because no one wants to spend money on a book or film that isn’t any good. We know due to inflation, how hard things are for people. Value is important to us because we care about you. But we also care about the value of our own work and I believe that if we keep raising the bar, you won’t be disappointed. You will be excited about our project and will want to come back for more of the story.

Till next time. Thank you for being a part of our Summer Ray world.

References: Google search, Twitter – Stan Lee quotes, http://www.dictionary.com