Telemarketers Have Feelings Too

     I love telemarketers!  Said, No One Ever!

     My first mistake was answering my cell phone without looking at the caller.  Something I rarely do, but he caught me at a busy moment and I answered in a bright cheery voice," Hi, this is Carey."  That was instantly followed by a groan and eye rolling as he began his prepared introduction.  

     Each one of us has encountered these individuals, reacted similarly or have taken it farther by hanging up, being terse with them or taking out your day on the person who is at the other end of the call. 

     This man had no idea what kind of business he was calling, mine was just on a list with my name attached.  I let him get in two sentences when I imported the word, NO into our conversation.  Of course that does not deter these thick skinned creatures of the marketing world.  

     Finally I had to explain Why I could not run a full time photography business anymore and would not be needing a credit card machine on a continuous basis.

     Pause.

     When he responded his voice had changed.  It was soft, emotional and empathetic.  He says to me, " I completely understand.  When my daughter was four years old, I rolled our Tahoe.  She had taken off her seat belt and I did not know it.  She was thrown out of the window and we could not find her after the accident.  She died twice before reaching the hospital.  She has some handicaps but has recovered well for the severity of the accident."

     Pause.

     Well cripes, he is human.  He just made himself a person to me.  I was caught up in him interrupting my day with something that I was not going to purchase and I never really thought about him as a human being.  He was just a nuisance until that point in the conversation.  

     Not another word was spoken about why he was really calling.  We exchanged condolences and encouragement for each other and he ended the call with, "God bless." 

     Even if he had asked, he would not have made a sale that day, but this call had a purpose other than selling a product.  

     Each time I get caught up in life and don't take the time to pay attention, I get a wake up call.  Although this one was small, it was needed.  It is up to me to listen and take action. 

     There are those we never really see as people with feelings because we never look past their exterior.  There was no reason for me to get intimate with a telemarketer, that is just how it worked out.  I never would have viewed him as anything other than that.  I would not have thought about his family or that he needs this job to pay for his daughter's medical bills.  

     This call did teach me to slow down and look at those around me as I would my own family and friends.  They may be rude and crude, but underneath that rough surface is someone trying to survive, just like me.

  

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Book Review: Restless Angel by Sue Stewart-Brown

     So there is this woman, whom I have known for many years, not well, but when I viewed a post on Facebook from her daughter, about a book she had written, my immediate reaction was, "Say what?!!!" "Get out!"  I had to read the entire post to see what was up because I was excited and intrigued by this new knowledge I had.

     We all know her as Sue Stewart-Brown from Cuba, MO.  Grabbing my ipad and clicking on my Kindle app from Amazon.com, I searched Restless Angel in the "books" category and sure as the sun shines there she was with a listing of her very own!

     

Description:
Corrine James is a successful career woman at the point of burn-out. Looking to simplify her life, she starts with a leave of absence to find her focus. Hundreds of miles from home and on a whim she decides to take a job cleaning and cooking for a handsome cowboy and his family. Tyler Drake has seen his share of trouble in his life, but he has carved out a peaceful existence for himself and his "family" on his ranch in Montana. A widower with a son and two old cowboys for help, they are all quite satisfied with their lot in life. Other than the fact that someone has been trying to sabotage Ty's ranch operation, the men appear to only want for a decent meal. Their backgrounds and histories could make for them being at odds with each other, or it could draw them closer than they ever imagined.

     From the first chapter these characters had me enraptured.  Probably because I relate to them, but I know when a book has really gotten my attention because when I'm sitting at baseball practice, aggravated that I have forgotten to bring my ipad because I'm wondering what is going to happen next between Corrine and Ty!  

     Finding myself giggling because I can feel Sue's humor coming out in these characters, I loved that she wrote about what she knew, what she has experienced.  I could sense that she drew some of her story from our little town and loved it.  I believe I was in such awe because I actually know Sue, but had no idea she could write so well. 

Here is my review on Amazon.com:
     Well written with great flow of storyline! Couldn't wait to finish & loved the allure of passion without being a smut book.

     In asking Sue how she chose to write a story like this her response was: As far as what prompted me to write these types of stories, they are the ones I like to read.   I never like the stories where they separate the couple, where they put them with another person for a while (for any reason) or where they write explicit scenes.  (Yeah, I'm one of those old women who never read Fifty Shades of Gray).  I like a happy ending and I can't imagine ever writing something where the couple doesn't end up together at the end of the story. 

     Sue has been writing for thirty years or so, but like all of us, got busy with being a mother/wife and was not able to concentrate on it.  Restless  Angel began over thirteen years ago and finally came to life this year!  

     I want a sequel and in asking Sue if that will become a reality she stated:  Ty and Corrine have been so well accepted that I feel I need to write a couple more that include them. I pray before I write and I know that God has tried to lead me to write something wholesome!   

     I highly recommend this book and I believe it deserves to be read by many.  It should definitely have a higher price tag attached to it.  My only suggestion is that Sue should have hired me to photograph a cover for her.  I'm sure we could have scrounged up a rugged cowboy from Crawford County to be her Ty!

      For her sequel,

Who would like to volunteer? 

     You can order directly from Amazon.com, paperback or downloadable version. Link Restless Angel  

You can find Sue on Facebook and Twitter if you have any questions for her.