MOM AND DAD'S MARTINIS & Giveaway

 

Mom & Dad’s Martinis

by Jacelyn Cane

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GENRE: Memoir

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BLURB:

Jacelyn Cane's mom and dad liked their martinis dry: straight gin on the rocks with a dab of vermouth and a hint of water - and they liked them often. They also liked to party; they danced, socialized, and drank - they were good at all three. Sometimes this behaviour led to humorous situations - antics in the pool, at the club, the cottage or in the car, for example. Other times, however, the experiences were not so funny - family fights and times of neglect, trauma, and abuse. By weaving together a series of episodes that take the reader to light and dark places, author Jacelyn Cane tells a poignant cautionary tale for anyone affected by alcoholism and/or family struggles. The author is using a pseudonym and most of the names in the book have been changed to protect people's identities. "Mom and Dad's Martinis: A Memoir" is a great read for anyone who has experienced a childhood mixed with joy as well as sorrow. It is a story of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and hope.

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EXCERPTS:

Years passed, and my parents had three children: my brother, then me, followed by my sister. My parents were big on church, but not on religion - at least, when I was young, I didn’t think they were religious. Even though we lived in the suburbs, and my parents would party until four in the morning most Saturday nights, we continued to drive forty-five minutes to Timothy Eaton in Forest Hill for the earliest Sunday morning service.

On Sunday mornings, my parents rolled out of bed hungover.

“Jesus Christ. Get moving kids,” my Dad yelled one typical Sunday morning. “No time for breakfast. We have to be out of here in half an hour.” He stood in an usher’s getup of tails and pain-striped pants, gulping some Alka-Seltzer

“Dad’s wearing his penguin suit again,” my brother said.

My mother taught Sunday school each week, but first, her job was to make sure we three kids looked perfect in thirty minutes.

“Duncan, your blazer, shirt, tie, grey flannels, and oxfords are on your chair. And for God’s sake, make sure you wear clean underwear.”

My sister and I were more labour intensive; as girls, we had to match. We wore identical dresses, hats, coats, fancy ankle socks, and patent leather shoes. I always felt like I was getting ready for a big show. My mother dressed herself last in about five minutes. She usually left the house with mascara from the night before smudged under her eyes.

The five of us piled into my father’s Chrysler and he high tailed it across the 401, down Avenue Road and through the back streets of Forest Hill. “Jesus Christ, we’re hitting every red light,” he said in exasperation. “We’re never going to get there on time.”

As usual, there was no parking left when we arrived.

“Aw, for Christ’s sake, where am I going to put this car?” Dad always parked legally. If my Mom had been driving, it would’ve been a different story.

“Get out. Everybody out. I’ll find parking and be right in.” We all tumbled out and scrambled into church - stopping for just a second at the grand oak doors to straighten ties, pull up socks, and tidy dresses and hats.

I loved our church with its high cathedral ceilings and its stained-glass window of Jesus holding the light of the world. Solid oak beams reached to the ceiling, embracing the majestic stone walls. The pews were built of the same dark wood. The senior minister had to climb several stairs to preach in the intricately carved pulpit. The organist began playing a grand prelude followed by the processional hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” The choir processed down the centre aisle in their gowns, while the entire congregation sang along. The choral conductor followed the choir and then came the ministers in their black robes and coloured stoles. The senior minister entered last and climbed several stairs to the intricately carved pulpit from where he would preach.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jacelyn Cane was born and raised in Toronto. She lives with her husband, and near her three children and step-daughter. She is a retired elementary school teacher who also worked in social justice education with the United Church of Canada. She has worked in theatre and as a reporter. She was educated in Toronto, earning a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Canadian History from York University. Later, she earned a B. Ed. at the University of Toronto. She is passionately involved in numerous social justice issues such as climate crisis concerns and Indigenous rights. She loves meditating, writing, reading, music, laughing, and being around nature. She is motivated by a deep sense of spirituality. Her number one love, however, is being with family and friends.

Website: http://jacelyncane.com

Buy Links:

https://amazon.com/dp/0228805104

https://amazon.ca/dp/0228805104

https://amazon.com/dp/B07T7Z818H

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/mom-and-dads-martinis-a/9780228805106-item.html?ref=isbn-search

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mom-and-dads-martinis-jacelyn-cane/1132123904;jsessionid=35317AFA4CB43BE3A32DFB3DDB3E62C8.prodny_store01-va11

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mom-and-dad-s-martinis

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/944724

https://books.apple.com/us/book/mom-and-dads-martinis-a-memoir/id1469160761

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