It’s Good to Laugh: Exploits of Edna and Gertie

It’s been a rough few years. No one can deny that the combination of pandemic blues plus the uncomfortable political divisions in our country have left most of us longing for peace and quiet and, yes, some hearty laughter.

Finding the humor in everyday life is essential for those of us who will never again look down and see our feet. Life has its challenges, but it’s also rich, full and good.

The Exploits of Edna and Gertie

In 2015 I attended a writer’s conference in the beautiful state of Oregon. I sat in a workshop led by a prolific writer who decided to take pity on us one hot afternoon and send us outside to write from a prompt. I don’t remember the exact prompt, but it had something to do with creating two new characters and their conversation.

Wonder of wonders! Out popped two full-blown women of a certain age. They were great friends, but opposites in personality and lifestyle choices. Edna was brash, over-the-top and unafraid in the midst of minor disasters, while Gertie, the calm, sensible one was well-dressed, quiet and preferred a garden club meeting to Edna’s wild nights at the Elks Club dances.

I was happy to meet these two new friends. Edna spoke a bit like my mother used to—loud and opinionated, but with a streak of wicked humor running through her words. Gertie, was, I suppose, more like me. But occasionally she harkened back to my great grandmother, Stella Rose, with her old-fashioned phrases like “Mercy,” and “Oh, my goodness.”

I tend to be a seat of the pants writer. I honestly don’t know what my characters are going to do until they do it. For careful plotters with storyboards and copious outlines, I am their worst nightmare. But my methods work for me. Of course, I do have to rewrite many times to fill plot holes, flesh out personalities and behaviors and add a little oomph to the conflict in each story. But mostly Edna and Gertie just go about their business, and I hurry to catch up.

I let the two old girls rest after that writer’s conference and then a year ago decided to spiff them up and send their stories to publishers. The stories are novellas, not full-length novels, but Elk Lake Publishers loved the antics of these two old gals and decided to publish three stories in one, thus The Exploits of Edna and Gertie was born.

So far, I’ve taken them on three adventures: Edna and Gertie do Vegas, Edna and Gertie: A Singles Cruise to Nowhere, and finally, Edna and Gertie Ride the Range. In typical Edna fashion, the first story begins when Edna receives a phone call giving her the fabulous news that she’s won an all-expense paid trip for two to the MGM in Las Vegas. It’s a senior special and all she has to do is pay the $79 bus fare.

Gertie, her sensible friend, smells trouble. But who can argue with Edna when she wants to have a little fun?

“The whole trip is free to seniors. What’s not to like? Trust me, you won’t miss your Hallmark movies. We’re going to Vegas, Baby.” And off they went on their first hair-raising trip.

Oh, and Edna will get around to explaining about the Elvis Impersonator Contest.

So, yes, our world is filled with trouble. But every day we get to choose to live and love and laugh. Edna and Gertie have no time to mourn the fact that they’re getting older; there is fun to be had.

I hope you learn to know our two “women of a certain age” as well as I do and that you see beneath the exteriors to two steadfast hearts who understand the value of friendship as we live our lives to the fullest.

The Exploits of Edna and Gertie is available at Amazon in either kindle version or paperback here.