I Was One of the Thousands of Children Adopted from Greece During 1955-1957

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JOANNA

There were three thousand children adopted from Greece during 1955-1957 period who are now middle aged or older. Many were sold.  Governments falsified documents so that there was no way to trace their journeys. Those who were babies recall little about the separation from their birth families, but this girl, who entered the United States  at ten years old, recalls every detail. 

After much soul searching, and due to extreme poverty, parents agreed to put their youngest children up for adoption through a special program run  by Queen Frederica of Greece and the government of United States.  Parents wanted to give their children a better life.   After all, going to America was special.  America  was for  the select. America was the land of gold, where people had walking and talking dolls, chocolate, and  lived happily ever after.  There were many difficult farewells and well wishes.

Parents trusted that all children would be looked after well--trust was their driving force. But what parents didn't know is that they would never see their children again. The moment their child left,  the connection with their Greek family and their old  life  was cut.  Some grown children don't remember the separation.  Some don't even know they have Greek biological families.

Now fifty years later, many who  were adopted continue to  look for their biological extended families.   Families on the other side, in Greece, continue  looking for that child that left them so many years ago.  Mine is the  story of one child's journey back to  her Greek family, a story I tell  in  "The Girl from the Tower."

 

Author: Dancing Skeleton, A Journey Through Stage IV Cancer http://www.lls.org/pages/calso/DancingSkeleton
The Girl from the Tower, A Journey of Lies
Wellness Coordinator for Juice Plus
Joanna Giangardella 949-291-2290
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"A healthy person has one thousand wishes and plans, a sick person has one"

UNRAVELING YOUR BALL OF TWINE



BLOG 26
Elaine

On a sun-scattered Monday morning I face the blank page, first in a string of Mondays since last settling at my computer poised with the intention to write. Like a concert pianist I stretch my fingers and place them upon the keys; then I conjure the mantra I love the process! all the while reminding myself that a non-outcome for my effort is better than no effort at all.

Being in the midst of a dry spell is no picnic for an author. It's the last place I expect to find myself, dragging my heels through the parched, white metaphoric desert sand. While I experience this slump (aka period of rejuvenation) here are a few activities I purposely engage in to keep my writing fresh. I've discovered that writing isn't always about filling the blank page; the blessing is to find joy in the little things.

1) Never underestimate the power of an email! It's an opportunity to express yourself with an economy of words. Consider emails to be an exercise in effective communication. To compose a clear and concise email is good practice, while proofreading and editing will hone your writing skills.

2) Posting to social media is not considered writing (or is it?) If you are an author and have a Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, or blog, your posts are a potential reader's first exposure to your style. So take pride in what you post. Consider it an opportunity to make a difference, provoke a thought, or gain a new admirer.

3) If you're able to express yourself creatively, chances are you're able to express yourself through other channels, too. Photography is one of my favorite means of expression. Lately, I've also delved into the abundantly rich world of anything-goes mixed-media collage where the possibilities are endless and no rules apply. The rebel in me loves it. The author in me rejoices in its tactile simplicity. To wile away the hours cutting, pasting, and arranging rather than tapping away at a keyboard is a breath of fresh air.

So if you find your words have become a tremendous jumble (think: twisted ball of twine), do not despair! Every day I tug at the knots, and little by little I've begun to unravel the mess. When the time is right, there will be one continuous thread. And that thread will have amazing stories to tell.

FALLING IN LOVE WITH MADELEINE L'ENGLE ALL OVER AGAIN

POST 20
Melissa

I remember catching the spark from Madeleine L'Engle.  Madeleine L'ENGLE had just published  A Wrinkle  in Time in 1962.  I read it in 1966.  I related to the adventurous girl in the story. I was an adventurous  12 year  old.  I explored the land around my house and  imagined monsters in creeks, mysterious  strangers in abandoned cabins, and hideouts in trees.

But it was more than an adventure story.  A Wrinkle In Time,  gave 12 year old me permission to experience the deeply profound issues that swirled around me as I entered the bigger world.    I still remembers her chilling portayal of conformity:

"As the skipping rope hit the pavement, so did the ball. As the rope curved over the head of the jumping child, the child with the ball caught the ball. Down came the ropes. Down came the balls. Over and over again. Up. Down. All in rhythm. All identical. Like the houses. Like the paths. Like the flowers."
- Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

Her  advice on writing resonates with me today: "You are given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. What you say is completely up to you."  

Thank you Madeleine L'Engle for sharing your imagination and insights with an adventurous twelve year old girl. I will always be grateful.

A POEM IN YOUR POCKET

POST 19
MaryAnn

April is National Poetry Month and it's time to celebrate poets and poetry.  The bestfiction writing uses the same literary elements as seen in poetry: metaphor, symbolism, alliteration, and subtext.

Where do poets get their inspiration? "Poems come from ordinary experiences and objects, I think," Sharon Olds, winner of the 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award for her book, The Dead and the Living, says. "Out of memory—a dress I lent my daughter on her way back to college; a newspaper photograph of war; a breast self-exam; the tooth fairy; Calvinist parents who beat up their children; a gesture of love; seeing oneself naked 
over age 50 in a set of bright hotel bathroom mirrors." 

How do we read poetry?

First of all, we turn off the television. Secondly, we're prepared; we have a book of poetry on hand for those surprising moments when we have a chance to read. Third, we read silently and then we read the poem once again out loud, paying attention the rhythm of the lines as we slowly absorb the poem's meaning. 

Poetry demands our attention and concentration. Being able to concentrate in today's hectic world is sometimes impossible. Waking up in the middle of the night unable to sleep is the perfect time to turn on a light and read a few poem. Time spent having to wait 
for an appointment can be better utilized by pulling out a volume of poetry.

Good poetry has clarity of language that will help us in our own writing. The closer we 
look at poetry, the more we will discover about excellent writing. Poetry is, after all, words put together in the most perfect order.

Put a poem in your pocket during National Poetry Month. Read one, write one, and share one with others. We have 26 letters to play with and mold into art, and poetry makes the best use of those letters.

BRINGING THE SCENE ALIVE THROUGH THE SENSES

POST 17
KRISTEN

A friend of mine recommended an “excellent book—a simply must read!”  Oh, how I hate those.  They interrupt my life.  Do I write or read?  Load of laundry or read?  Go to gym—or read?  It’s an addiction.  Be it flame to moth or winno to whiskey, I went to my Kindle and three clicks later, I got my fix.  True to tale, amazing book.

​Not only is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerrbeautiful and engaging from every possible pore, one of the main characters is blind.  Doerr tells the story in third person omniscient; therefore, this character comes to us through sounds, smells, and touch.  Not only is this a refreshing way to know a character, it could be a great writing technique for our sighted characters as well.

​I’m going to experiment.  I’m going to have my characters enter rooms and I’m going to write the scene as if that sighted character is actually blind.  As writers, we struggle to bring the scenes alive through senses—always adding this and that.  It never occurred to me to actually to take something away.  

​I may or may not add vision to some of the scenes altogether.  Maybe it will be energizing for the reader to come back into a room visited many times before with the character (say the character’s kitchen, living room or office) but to experience this room through the other senses.  As I continue to brainstorm, maybe those smells can also “reflect” what is happening to the character.  For instance, tough times can have the smell of rot whereas good times can smell of roses.   If my character closed her eyes, what would she hear?  Close by and far away?  Are some sounds more comforting?  

​Looking forward to a much needed Writing Group fix where I will bring my newest experiment to be poked and prodded.  

ABOUT WEBSITES AND BLOGGING - PART II

POST 16

 Elaine

Louis Tigh, veteran of the United States Marine Corps and website designer, is the founder of Prometheus Design (www.prometheusdesign.com). Louis graciously 

donated his time to participate in the following Q&A about websites and blogging. This is part II of my Q&A with Louis. 

4) One of the biggest challenges for the aspiring writer/blogger is to attract an online audience. There are many useful tools that can enhance Search Engine Optimization; what would you classify as the number one most important blogging tool?

I believe you can learn a lot about how people find and interact with your website or blog by looking at the numbers. The best way to gauge this traffic is by using Google Analytics, a free tool offered by Google. It may seem intimidating at first, but I always encourage my clients to explore this tool to discover the viewing habits of their audience. For example, if you make a change to the site and people stay on that page longer, it may be wise to incorporate similar changes throughout the site to increase the amount of time people spend there. These numbers represent the culmination of direct marketing and you can quickly test and implement changes that will improve a users’ experience.

5) How often should a blogger add new content to a blog?

Realistically, I believe any regular interval is better than never adding new content. I have found that most people write one post per week, or one every two weeks, or even once a month. The important thing is to find an interval that works for you and stick to it. Before you know it, you will have added a large amount of content!

6) When a blogger provides a link to a website that is relevant to their own, does this help move their blog up the search engine train?

It may, however you usually want other websites to have links to your content. This not only looks good from a search engine perspective, but it will also lead people from their website to yours.

7) It's well-known that tagging helps link posts to the Internet. How does one go about selecting a relevant keyword or tags? What's the appropriate number of tags to add, and is there such a thing as adding too many tags?

Tags or keywords can boost your search engine ranking. To select keywords, compose a theme or a central idea behind your blog post. Choosing a few key terms that are associated or support this idea should be used. I would recommend no more than five tags per post.

8) Is it important to add images to a blog? What is “alt” text and why is it necessary?

Yes, I believe it's very important to add pictures because they break up the monotony of text. 'Alt’ text is short for alternative text and is used either because the image cannot load or the web user cannot see it, in which case their web browser will read the ‘alt’ text. ‘Alt’ text is also a great way of sneaking in some extra keywords that relate to your post.

9) Lastly, what role does social media play in optimizing a blog's exposure?

Social media is a great way to spread the exposure of your blog or website. While some people may feel comfortable trusting Google to provide them with the most relevant information, other people prefer to rely on humans instead of computer algorithms. By sharing your post or website on a social media platform, you effectively reach an audience you might otherwise have missed.

Louis, a veteran of the United States Marine Corp, is the founder of Prometheus Design launched in 2014. The company prides itself on offering powerful web solutions to small business owners throughout Southern California. In addition, they focus on providing timely service, cost-effective solutions, and outstanding customer service. Prometheus Design will sit down with you and combine imagination, strategy, research, and experience to craft a unique solution to fit your needs. To view a portfolio of their work go to

ABOUT WEBSITES AND BLOGGING - PART I

 

 

Prometheus is a Titan In Greek mythology, best known as the benefactor who brought fire to mankind. 

POST 15

Elaine

 

Louis Tigh, veteran of the United States Marine Corps and website designer, is the founder of Prometheus Design (www.prometheusdesign.com). Louis graciously donated his time to participate in the following Q&A about websites and blogging.

When I stepped into the world of writing after a thirty-year hiatus, little did I know what I was getting into. Words like blog, website, platform and platform-building intimidated me. I struggled to write a coherent paragraph let alone create a website, and I sure as heck didn't want to write a blog! What could I possibly write about: Learning to love my delete button? The joys of writing in pajamas until noon?

I fancied myself a fiction writer, but a 2013 trek in Nepal led me down a different trail. Combining my lifelong love of journaling with travel, I wrote and published a memoir about the trek entitled Footsteps of Gopal. Blogging about my adventures soon became second nature, and the concept of a website no longer seemed foreign to me.  

Right around this time, I met Louis Tigh (pronounced tie) at a social gathering. He informed me that he'd just launched his web design company, Prometheus Design. Impressed by Louis' passion about web design, I hired him to create my website. Not only is my domain a place where I can blog and share my photos, but it's also  the perfect venue to advertise my memoir. Much to my delight over the past couple of months, I've also been able to track and watch my audience grow.

Louis graciously donated his time to participate in the following Q&A about websites and blogging. I share this information hoping to inspire future writers, bloggers, and website owners to reach for the stars!

1) For an aspiring writer, which is preferable: a website or a blog?

As a writer, your goal is to get your work out there and a blog is a great place to start. Once you develop permanent content you begin to attract users, and that’s when a website comes in handy. Hosting a blog on a website is a great way to keep the site fresh. As you add new content, it gives your blog a more professional feel.

2) What features does a website offer that a blog cannot and vice versa?

In my opinion, the key difference between a website and a blog is how the information is organized. With a blog, you have a lot more leeway in adding posts that are unrelated in sort of a ‘stream of consciousness’ manner. With a website, you're looking at how to take a lot of information that will more or less remain static, and organize it into a hierarchy that makes sense to you, your visitors, and the search engines.

3) What is Search Engine Optimization and how does it work?

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO as it is commonly referred to, is a collective term for incorporating strategies into your website that will allow your website to increase in rank on a web search. For example, if you have a website about haiku, you would optimize your website so it will rank high when someone searches for “poetry” on Google. While there are many different ways that you can optimize your website for search engines, the primary idea is to add relevant content. The easiest way to increase your website's search engine ranking is by writing unique content, or text, for the pages on your website or blog.

(To be continued in Part II)

FIGHTING "PLOT PUPPETS"

Blog Post 14

Kristen

My struggle is fighting the instinct for my characters to become “plot puppets.”  I have this great plot in my mind—and yet, I know when I’m forcing my characters into that story line because that’s when my writing feels flat and unauthentic.  Yes, it’s positively painful.    

My characters are always right.

I’m reminded of the saying “Happy wife.  Happy life.”  And I suppose I should concede to “Happy Characters.  Good story.”

I try to reassure myself by thinking of stories I’ve enjoyed.  Books I’ve read all the way to the end verses the ones I shelveunfinished.  I recall movies I don’t mind watching repeatedly opposed to the movies that make me want those two hours of my life back.  The difference, of course—It’s character.

Upon closer examination of the stories, the plots are pathetically simple.  A Few Good Men—two marines kill a third and are on trial. It’s the character arc of Daniel Caffey (Tom Cruise) that keeps us engaged.   Oppose this to The Gambler (with MarkWalburg) where life and limb is on the line for the Walburg, and yet I could care less. Both movies feature outstanding performances from A list actors, but that isn’t enough for The Gambler. Walburg’s character (whose name I don’t even remember) motioned through the script to get to the ‘dramatic end’ of a single bet on roulette.  I could’ve skipped the two hours in-between and went right to the wheel.  Okay, ball landed black, or maybe it was red.  In any event, he lived.  Check please.  I’m sure you’re thinking of a hundred such examples—damn those fancy movie trailers.  

In my current project, the simple librarian has rewritten my story.  Oddly, I took a great deal of thought as to who I wanted this librarian to be—even though the librarian should be a very minor character.  My first idea was a lesbian librarian, but the character walked onto my page as a rickety old man.  With a past.  I couldn’t move on with my story until he told me about it.  He pushed up his long ragged sleeve to reveal the six tattooed numbers of Auschwitz.  A man who was once a Priest.  A man who was once in love with my main character’s mother. Atormented soul who tried to save children from the fires of hell only to be betrayed.  Now, there’s a story.

The only problem is—that wasn’t the story I intended to write.  I was writing a bully revenge story about a Gypsy girl with special powers.  But, even she isn’t cooperating with this idea and is spending way too much time in the library.  

As I let go of my precious plot, and give my characters more and more reign, I fear I may never finish this story.  What if they keep changing their minds?  What if they take me down a path that is endless?  What if the rabbit hole is just that?  

And to my writing group I bring my precious, tortured pages.  “Yes this is working” they say to the parts the characters wrote and “This is a little contrived” they say to mine.  “This part excited me,” they continue where my characters took flight and “I get a little lost here” to where I pushed plot yolks back into broken egg shells.  

Writing the back story helped tremendously.  My characters let me see where they were coming from and therein included me intheir journey moving forward.  I also outlined the 15 plot beats from the template of ‘Save the Cat’.  These two exercises gave me peace—by reminding me of my honor in crafting the story.  Characters and plot can no more lay next to each other and make a story then can water and flour sit in a bowl and make a pancake.

As the artist, I stir and season, blend and mix.  I choose the temperature and the bake time.   Presenting my creation, I hope it is endlessly enjoyed.

GETTING TO KNOW WHO'S WHO IN THE MONSTER WORLD

POST 13

Melissa

My teenage son—think Comicon, World-of-Warcraft, -- called me out one morning,  “Ogres Mom? Really?  I’m pretty sure you’re writing about Golem.” 

I decided to set him straight by sharing my idea for the monsters in my story with him.  

I proceded with earnest enthusiasm,  "I’m picturing these monolithic Ogres called Mudders,  rising out of the ground dripping greasy mud and mold.   These  giant mud men  pull themselves out of  the ground like huge tubers. They appear at the slightest threat to their master,   emitting shrieks of anger, stinking like rotten flesh,  farting and burping. They are loyal to their masters, but  the bad news is, their judgement is not so great.  They are easily conned into going against  their own interests."

My Fantasy Gamer son,  looking the picture of patience,  said, “I’m still pretty sure you're thinking of  Golem.”  

"Oh no," I insisted.  

My son walked out of the room, shaking his head and  I quickly  Googled Ogres and Golem. Darned if the boy wasn't right.  Aargh!

Wikipedia describes Ogres as hideous, hairy giants  found in fairy tales.  They  terrorize humans and even tear them limb from limb to eat them.  

Golem, on the other hand, are more sympathetic creatures. They are found in Judeism’s earliest stories. Adam is a Golem, created by God out of dust.  Those who are  very holy can also create Golem out of mud, though these Golem are  a shadow of the life God creates. 

There are lots of stories featuring Golem, but one of the most famous is  a nineteenth century legend that  involves the famous  16^th century Rabbi of Prague, Judah Loew ben Bezalel.   He created The Golem of Prague out of clay to protect the Jews from Anti-Semitic attacks.  The Golem succeeded in his mission until he  became  too powerful and had to be stopped. 

Why didn't I know all this?  My creatures are more Golem then Ogre.  I must have heard about these Golem creatures sometime in my past.  Apparently  they’ve stayed  in the far recesses of my mind until my story called them forth. It’s kind of cool how our imaginations reaches into our dormant memory for material to use in its creations.

Okay,  so now I know, the creatures in my story are  based on Golem  and not Ogres---Just don't tell my son I said so.

WHY JOURNAL?

Anne Frank's Diary

 POST 12
MaryAnn

WHY JOURNAL?  A page of my journal is like a cake of portable soup. A little may be diffused into a considerable portion. - James Boswell

There are certain things that make me relax, like writing my journal. That's the only time that I'm relaxing. It's the only time I really get to examine myself. -Jessica Simpson

I write journals and would recommend journal writing to anyone who wishes to pursue a writing career. You learn a lot. You also remember a lot... and memory is important. -Judy Collins

Is not the poet bound to write his own biography? Is there any other work for him but a good journal? – Henry David Thoreau

The only thing I have done religiously in my life is keep a journal. I have hundreds of them, filled 
with feathers, flowers, photographs, and words - without locks, open on my shelves. -Terry Tempest Williams

I keep a quotes journal - of every sentence that I've wanted to remember from my reading of the past 30 years. -Richard Powers

Writing the little daily journal is fun. I have set my usual two pages of writing as the day's work. I don't know if I can keep this up from the beginning, but I will try. – John Steinbeck

The nicest part is being able to write down all my thoughts and feelings; otherwise, I might suffocate. – Anne Frank

My journal is off limits to anyone but me ... I can't wrestle on paper if I fear what someone else might think of my wrestling. – Nicole Johnson

JOANNA LAUNCHES HER SECOND MEMOIR

Joanna signing her memoir  for Elaine at her Book Launch.

 POST 11

MaryAnn

Joanna Giangardella, author of Dancing Skeleton: Journey Through Stage IV Cancer will be speaking to my memoir writing workshop on Thursday February 19th in Orange County. This follows her recent book launch held in her home in San Clemente for family and friends.

She has many reasons to celebrate.

Twice in her life, Joanna Giangardella beat the odds.

 In her previous memoir, Girl from the Tower, she recounts how she was born on the Greek island of Pergos and was separated from her family at the age of ten through a UNICEF adoption program.

Finding herself in a dysfunctional family in America where she was not allowed to embrace her coming of age years in a normal fashion or even speak her own language, she had to rely on her own internal strength to rediscover herself and her birth family.

Later in life, as the hard-working owner of a hair salon, Joanna discovered she had Stage IV Cancer. Her road to recovery meant battling medical misdiagnoses and dealing with her own worst fears. Now an artist and a nutritional consultant, Joanna actively supports cancer research and nurtures others cursed with a similar diagnosis.

Her second memoir, Dancing Skeleton: Journey Through Stage IV Cancer recounts her personal journey. The book is available on www.amazon.com.

Here's one comment of many:

"Joanna Giangardella's Dancing Skeleton is an excellent depiction of her determination to beat the odds against an ugly disease and the unnecessary obstacles, walls, and buildings she had to climb for her sweet victory."

- Roni Teson, Author of Twist

HOW DO I FIND THE TIME TO WRITE WHEN I HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB?

POST 10
Melissa

How do I find the time to write when I have a full time job?  I like the rhythm of writing at the same time everyday. But when do I have time?  I teach elementary school.  I'm exhausted when I get home. I'm too tired to do anything. 

However  the next morning its a different story.   Writing gets me out of bed when its still dark outside. Soon after Peet's Coffee Shop opens, at 5:30 a.m., I'm  sitting in front of my laptop with a large cafe au lait in front of me.  I'm immersed in my writing.  


I recognize the regulars that come into the coffee shop every morning. After  so many mornings,  we share an early-bird-coffee-drinking bond.

By 6:45 a.m.  its time to close my laptop and go to work.  I listen  to talk radio in the car while I  finish off the last bit of  coffee. No matter what else happens for the rest of the day, I feel at peace  with the world. I've immersed myself in my story.
 

IS A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS?

POST 9
Elaine

Is a picture truly worth a thousand words?

Without a doubt, some photographs lend themselves to a story. Others fall into the category of maybe,such as this one I snapped on my 2013 Himalayan trek in Nepal.

Which prompts me to wonder: How much more effective is a photo when accompanied by a passage of words?

Take, for example, this photo from July 2012, which depicts me standing on the summit of Forester Pass (13,200 ft.) in California's Sierra Nevada.

While one might guess that my joyful expression results from our successful completion of the pass, the following lines from my trip log add a new dimension to the scene:

“Having only eaten oatmeal in the morning, I ran out of steam and was STARVING! Not only that, but all I wore (on my way up) was a T-shirt, and because of the wind and the sun ducking in and out from the clouds, I froze . . . but it was amazing when I finally made it to the top!”

Isn't it so much more satisfying to read a firsthand account detailing what I went through to get there?

I'm not saying that every photograph should be accompanied by words, but a photo-journal is a wonderful creative outlet for the aspiring writer and amateur photographer to combine their love of the two. Both are easily transformed into books through online websites such as Shutterfly where it's a cinch for people to preserve their photo memories while embellishing the pages with text. In recent years I've designed several Shutterfly books linking photos to my journal passages, and I've experienced incredible results.

By the way, the photograph that opens my piece—the nondescript scenery shot? Allow me to share my background story, and see for yourself if you think it turns a so-so shot into a great one.

“My day began before the sun's first rays appeared, and ends as it dips into the fog. Pastel pink and purple cotton wisps beckon from beyond the teahouse windows luring me out of the smoke-filled common room to expand my lungs with fresh air. The snow-hardened peaks and razor-sharp ridges appear to round in the fog. Hello Ama Dablan I say as I greet the contours of Mother and Child's familiar profile. Imposed upon her flank is an enormous, rectangular-shaped shadow, an anomaly reminiscent of Shiprock in the New Mexico desert or the square mast of some ancient vessel.”

Does it enrich the photo? I'll let you decide.