As I thought of writing a second book my mind drifted toward a theme to draw out my thoughts. I don't know when numbers** became the tool, the angle I'd use to tell my stories. Perhaps it was my frequent trips down Hertel Avenue that suggested the use of numbers. I would glance to the left at a small shop and memories of my dad and his watch repair shop would quickly emerge. Vivid pictures flashed in my mind's eye- dad bent over his work bench or standing in front of the shop near a window marked "Jewelry Repair." Today my eye rests on the number- 638...the same number, the address of the shop of my memories. The first episode I wrote thus emerged- "638 The Watchmaker's Shop." It was a deciding moment. I would reach into my life to tell the stories based on the numbers that would be associated with each. Thus I began to seek out those numbers. They might refer to dates, years, months, addresses, age, room numbers, school numbers, grades in school, a count of items or people....and on and on. The point- each provoked a story to tell. However, the real story- the story intended for the reader is hidden in the scriptural reflection that follows each episode. Here the reader is exposed to the Word of God. Here the reader will find the place for his story and is able to find God in the rubble of his own life and numbers if he but listen. ..... Although each episode is related to a number, they were written randomly. The reader will read them in numerical order beginning with "1" and ending with... "?" Something came to my attention as I was well into writing. I received an email that asked the question: "Do you know why 1 is "one," 2 is "two," 3 is "three," 4 is "four..".. I enjoyed the logic that traced them 1-9. that attached number with its numeral. The answer is "There are angles " Very interesting is: "0" For a peek at numbers from this angle, for your information- be it fact or fiction, I have included pictures and internet info showing the primitive forms of numbers known as Arabic algorithms*** rather than roman algorithms. However the queen of internet encyclopedias- Wikipedia, debunks the theory as urban myth. For me, myth or not, as I reflected on my writing, I realized that I had been doing just that- checking out the angles associated with each number that told a story and finding God in the rubble of those numbers.

What's "The Scoop on Ruth"? When you open the book you will enter my world and discover what I have been about. It is a tell all, an honest revelation. That world begins with "All in the Family' and the people and events where growing up happens. In "Sense and Nun-sense" you will be privy to some events even to this day hidden from Sister Superior- like "The Chocolate Cover-Up." Then "Along the Way" there are defining moments and people that ultimately influence us to become who we are.Yes, even when a good Catholic girl flunks Communion. The final section "The 'P' Source" began in the novitiate when no talent me was encouraged to write "gospels." My creative pen found other modes of expression, into writing prayers, greetings, or capturing events. And, there is room for your story to come alive here. It's because I was a copy cat. I borrowed Jesus' style. So, if the parable fits....