HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS and Much More

“HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS and Much More” is Pat Morrell-Donnelly’s tenth (10th) book to publish. Pat published nine books in fifteen years. Pat’s first book was published when she was eighty years of age in 2009. “The Climb Up Life’s Mountain,” 122 motivational and inspirational poems. 2010, “Poems For Conservatives,” political-type poems Pat wrote between 2008 and 2010. 2011, “My Journey As A Realtor,” about Pat’s experiences over fifty-one years in the real estate profession as a Realtor/Broker in the Bay Area, Northern California. 2013, Pat’s fourth book, “Honoring,” Poems honoring God, Family, Friends and Country. 2016, “Poetry Breathes Life Into Bible Characters,” ninety poems about people’s lives in the bible from Abel to Zipporah. 2019, “Poems And Stories About Cats And Dogs And Various Critters.” Stories and poems Pat wrote about her animals, the joy they brought and the deep loss when they passed. 2021, “The Best For Last.” This book begins with fiction, then memoir about a portion of Pat’s life, ending in fiction. The book tells about verbal and emotional abuse Pat suffered in her marriage until that husband passed away. Thankfully, at the end of her life she would know fifteen very happily married years with the “love of her life.” 2022, “Poems For Conservatives Volume 2.” These are political poems Pat wrote between 2010 and 2022 about events occurring in the political world. “HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS and Much More” contains poems about different holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Thanksgiving. However there is “much more.” There are poems about anniversaries, birthdays, Fourth of July and different New Year’s poems. These poems were written in the eighties, nineties, and up to recent times. After some sets of poems there are pictures depicting that celebration. These pictures were taken as these events occurred. Pat was born in Texas and raised during the 1930’s depression era. She and her family had little in the way of material things. They did not have the luxury of electricity, indoor plumbing or running water in the home. The “outhouse” was some distance out behind the house. In those depression days some of the richest could not face the devastating circumstances they found themselves in and jumped from buildings committing suicide. But Pat’s family and relatives were rich in a different way. They had each other. They had love and faith. Pat’s belief is “keep doing your best, keep daring, keep desiring, keep dreaming and keep depending on God.” During World War II, when Pat was fourteen, her family moved to California. Pat immediately found a job at a cake and cookie factory. She attended school four hours a day, working four hours a day, Saturdays, holidays and summers. Pat graduated high school at age sixteen. There was no money for college. In those days people understood if they wanted anything monetarily in life you must work for it. There was no welfare or “give away” programs. No “free lunch.” Later in life Pat worked at various jobs such as office work, modeling in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles. As mentioned previously, Pat worked over fifty-one years as a Realtor/broker in the real estate profession. Pat obtained her broker’s license in 1964. Pat has written articles about the real estate profession and about different Realtor’s, their lives and career’s. These articles and Pat’s poems have been used through the years by her Board of Realtors. They have been published in the RealToro Magazine, SACAR Realtor Guide and SACBOR TODAY, real estate publications. Pat holds the unique distinction of being the only member of her real estate board to be honored “Miss Realtor” in a contest in 1960. Pat’s poems have been used in Church Bulletins and published in a paper called “Mountain Talk.” Pat has had more than forty of her poems read at memorial and funeral services, poems she wrote about the life of the deceased. Starting with nothing but hard work, some knowledge, borrowing on one property to purchase another, Pat was able to acquire twenty-eight rental units. Sadly, in the nineties, because of the real estate down turn in California she lost it all. She got “upside down” in her properties owing more than they were worth. At that point in her life it was too late to make it again investing. Pat has known many challenges, problems and losses. One such loss was the devastating loss of her mother who was killed by a drunk driver. Her mother was forty-five years of age. At the same time her father and young nine year old sister were critically injured. Then there were the sad losses of her older sister and only brother to cancer. There were overwhelming business losses and personal problems. Pat writes “Personalized Poetry” about people’s lives, personal events, as well as patriotic, political, religious, motivational, inspirational and poems on various subjects. Pat has had thank you responses to her poems from the Queen of England, four US Presidents, two-First Ladies, owner of a large clothing store chain and other individuals. She has written poems for a Governor, a US Senator, four US Congressmen and two Georgia Representatives. Pat’s education came mostly from the “School of Hard Knocks." It brings her joy to use her "gift" to inspire others, to describe people's lives and memorable events in rhyme. These "stories" can be passed on to future generations. Some poems have been used to advertise a company’s products. Her custom poetry describes a particular service being offered. Her desire is to glorify God with the gift He has given her to write poetry. Pat feels a person’s influence may last long after one has departed this earth. Pat is thankful for the “gift of life” and any talent hers to know that the Good Lord has bestowed upon her. Many in this country have turned their backs on God. We have taken God out of government, our education system and are forbidden to mention God’s name in many of our public forums. We have even been told “this is not a Christian nation.” Pat believes our forefathers would not concur. Believer’s of God have made this country great. Millions of lives have been sacrificed for our freedom. Sadly, we are a very divided country. Only if we turn back to God will our country remain great and free. Pat has written over eighteen (1800) poems. Pat’s ten books are available at authorhouse.com amazon.com/author/patmorrelldonnelly and most book outlets.