Life has its mysteries. You know some real life mysteries; so do I. We never know the answer to some puzzles; we will always wonder “why?” Maybe that is the allure of cozy mysteries. We meet the problem, go with the lead character as she tries to figure out “who dunnit” and then, at the end, there is the comfortable, satisfactory feeling of knowing that the snarl is untangled, the knot is made smooth again, and all is well.
Since I write cozy mysteries, it is no surprise that they are my favorite sort of book to read. I waited for months for Emily Brightwell’s latest, Mrs. Jeffries Wins the Prize. The books in this series are set in Victorian London and they all follow the same pattern. The employees of Inspector Witherspoon, who appear in each book, always help their employer bring a murderer to justice. I like the way scraps of information gathered from many different sources all come together in Mrs. Jeffries’ mind and lead her directly to the culprit.
Going back a few years, I am also reading The Mystery of the Ivory Charm, a Nancy Drew cozy published in 1936. With her pals Bess and George, Nancy sets about solving another fascinating problem in her own particular way. To me, the Nancy Drew books are sort of like drinking a glass of milk before bedtime. They are a relaxing link to my childhood.
Departing from the subject of fiction and taking a long leap into reality, the death of Nancy Reagan yesterday brought back many memories of the past. As I watched old news reels and saw President and Mrs. Reagan as the vibrant people who stood at the helm of this Ship of State, I realized how swiftly years pass and times change. To me, that is a real-life mystery, the fast passage of time. Something else is becoming clearer and clearer as years go by; we are all allotted a certain number of days. They are like a gift we are handed. How we live those days, how we spend our time, is of the utmost importance. When we leave this life, will we leave a world that is better for our having been here? Many books have been written about the Reagans. You might enjoy My Turn: The Memoirs of Nancy Reagan.
Life does have mysteries that tickle the imagination. I find myself asking, “What if?” Sitting down 
at my computer, I try to answer that question by writing my own version of what happens when curiosity meets a secret. Unlike life, by the end of the book, the yarn will be unsnarled and all the loose ends tied up into a neat bundle. Cozily.
Two of my favorites to read. Memories are great. This week it has been a year since my Dad died suddenly and we have been sharing lots of memories.
I’m really sorry about your dad, Deb. Thank goodness for those memories. I ask the Lord to comfort you.
Thank you Blanche
Mornin’ Blanche, I do so enjoy your conversational style morning chats. Life most certainly is a mystery. I decided I would take my British Social Security and savings to Sorrento, Italy when I retired. I met an American, he was working in England, Joe brought me back to the USA as a souvenir….I do hope he doesn’t return to London for any more souvenirs 🙂
That is so interesting, Josephine! I’m sure he won’t go back after more souvenirs since he found a priceless treasure.
Memories are so precious! Family times together, listening to you and Mom laughing together rate right up there with some of the best!
Yes, those were good times! We used to laugh about the rain I almost always brought to Texas when I came for a visit. Once, Wes and I came through that little German town just after a small tornado had torn through and had done some damage. My sister was always upbeat. When I was a child, I looked up to her as my mentor. When faced with a problem, I would ask myself, “What would Helen do?”