BETWEEN THE WORLDS – THE STORY OF US
Once, a friend of mine was reading a particularly engrossing novel on a long flight. She was so absorbed in the story that she didn’t even notice the plane had landed and everyone was getting off. She only realized what had happened when a flight attendant tapped her on the shoulder and asked her to please exit the plane.
Feeling embarrassed, she quickly gathered her things and rushed off the plane, still clutching her book. As she walked through the airport, she was so engrossed in the story that she accidentally walked into a large potted plant! She stumbled and nearly fell, but managed to catch herself before she hit the ground.
Feeling a little frazzled, she looked around to see if anyone had noticed her mishap.
My friend couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all, and it certainly made for a memorable end to her journey.
“Unforgettable!” –Readers’ Favorite; Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers’ Favorite
“Credible, Compassionate, and Courageous” -PDX Author; Reviewed by Gregory S. Lamb for PDX Author
In celebration, I’m giving away a FREE audiobook to anyone promising to leave a review after they listen. Simply email sanela@sanelajurich.com and let me know you’re interested. I will send you a code to one free copy of Remember Me to listen and review.
Sample: Narrated by Lindsay Carrillo
To purchase, go to Audible.com or visit Amazon.com
Today’s story takes us to Vukovar, Croatia.
Those of you who are not familiar with the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s might not have heard about Vukovar, Croatia. This town, located on the border between Croatia and Serbia, has been a scene of one of the biggest and most cruel war crimes in the current European history.
Around eight thousand people (mostly civilians) died during the fights, afterward during the Ethnic cleansing the majority of the Croatian inhabitants were either murdered or driven out of town. 99% of the city was destroyed, making Vukovar the first place in Europe so heavily damaged since World War Two. You can see how the city looked like during the battle here.
Once upon a time, there was a young couple named Majda and Siniša who fell deeply in love and were married shortly after they met. Siniša was a journalist, and Majda was a nurse who cared for the wounded. They lived in a beautiful small town called Vukovar.
In the spring of 1991, the siege of Vukovar took place and suddenly, the whole world knew the name of this little town. First incidents started off small: homes and shops were attacked … The Serbian Army surrounded Vukovar and the real siege started in August.
The city was defended by less than two thousand soldiers, while the Yugoslav Army (de facto the Serb one) had between 27 and 80 thousand soldiers attacking. The siege took 87 days until Vukovar was captured by the Yugoslav Army and proclaimed the Serb city.
Despite the chaos and danger of war, Sinisa and Majda found comfort in each other’s company. They would steal moments together whenever they could, stealing kisses in the dark corners of the hospital or holding hands during brief breaks in the fighting.
One day, Sinisa was badly injured by a shrapnel of a grenade destroying a nearby school and was rushed to the hospital where Majda worked. Majda was devastated to see the man she loved lying on a hospital bed, his body riddled with wounds.
She spent long hours by his side, tending to his injuries and offering words of encouragement. Sinisa, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by his feelings for Majda, knowing that she was the only person who made him feel safe in the midst of the war.
As Sinisa slowly recovered, he and Majda grew closer than ever before. They shared stories of their childhoods and dreams for the future, imagining a world where war was a thing of the past so they could raise their daughter in peace.
However, their happiness was short-lived.
The most barbarian part of the siege was when the hospital, clearly marked with the red cross, was attacked and captured. During the siege, the building was strafed over 800 times until it was eventually captured in November 1991.
Many of those who were wounded were killed directly in their hospital beds, others (255 non-Serbian workers and patients) were taken to the nearby village, Ovcara, where they were tortured and eventually killed and buried in the mass grave. Only one man managed to escape, his testimony helped to recognize this war crime.
During the Battle of Vukovar, Siniša Glavašević was regularly reporting from the besieged city. He is particularly remembered for a series of stories he had read to the listeners, that talked about basic human values.
On 18 November 1991, Glavašević sent in his last report, which ended with:
The picture of Vukovar at the 22nd hour of the 87th day [of the siege] will remain forever in the memory of the witnesses of this time. There are infinite spooky sights, and you can smell the burning. We walk over bodies, building material, glass, detritus and the gruesome silence. … We hope that the torments of Vukovar are over.
Glavašević disappeared shortly after this last report. He had been beaten and executed by Serbian paramilitary forces, along with hundreds of others between 18–20 November. In 1997, his body was exhumed from a mass grave in a nearby farm in Ovčara. He was 31 years old.
When I was fifteen years old, my whole life changed in a blink of an eye…
I truly believe that I survived for one reason and one reason only: to tell our story, to give a voice to those who don’t have it anymore. I was there as a witness. As a survivor, I have an obligation. I have to talk about what happened in Bosnia (former Yugoslavia), back in 1992, no matter the cost.
SARAH AND TOM
Once upon a time, there was a couple named Sarah and Tom who had been together for three years. They had met on a blind date that was set up by mutual friends and had hit it off immediately. They were both kind-hearted and adventurous, and loved to explore new places and try new things together.
One year, on March 8th, Sarah and Tom had planned a special day to celebrate International Women’s Day, which was an important holiday for Sarah as she was a strong advocate for women’s rights. They started off the day by attending a march in support of women’s rights and equality.
After the march, they went to their favorite coffee shop and enjoyed a warm cup of coffee while discussing the importance of the holiday and their hopes for the future. Tom surprised Sarah with a bouquet of flowers and a heartfelt letter expressing his love and appreciation for her and all the women in his life.
As the day went on, they decided to take a spontaneous road trip to the countryside. They drove through the rolling hills, stopping at small towns along the way and taking in the beautiful scenery. They found a secluded spot to have a picnic lunch and spent the afternoon laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
As the sun began to set, they found a cozy bed and breakfast to spend the night. They shared a bottle of wine by the fireplace, cuddled up under a blanket, and talked about their dreams and aspirations for the future.
It was a perfect day filled with love, adventure, and meaningful conversations. Sarah and Tom knew that they were meant to be together and that they would always support each other’s passions and goals. From that day on, March 8th became a special day for them, a day to celebrate their love and the power of women.
Hope you enjoyed this short love story. Come back often for more.
Sanela
“When I was fifteen years old, my whole life changed in a blink of an eye…”
Joan Crawford once said that love is a fire, but whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell and I felt that.
Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure.
According to history.com, one legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Another legend says that an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself right before his death, after he fell in love with a young girl—possibly his jailer’s daughter who visited him during his confinement. It is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400.
READ MORE: Victorian-Era Valentines Could Be Mean and Hostile
…The blue shade of his eyes doesn’t exist anywhere else in any universe. It only exists inside of him and when he’s calm and content, his eyes deepen and darken just a tiny bit. No one else can see it but me. I watch him so closely all the time. I soak him in. His beauty is indescribable to me. I don’t just physically see it; I feel it deeply. I know him so well that the beauty of him–all of him inside and out–overwhelms me. Soulmates. — The story of us
…The sun was setting as they reached the desolate field. Back when they were just teenagers in love, this was their special place. It was a secluded field hidden deep inside of the woods; far, far away from anywhere. That was its beauty. They used to come here often to love, to talk, to laugh, to cry, and to live. — My happy Valentine
Sample:
To purchase, go to Audible.com or visit Amazon.com
I am giving away an audiobook to one special Valentine. To claim your gift, you must email sanela@sanelajurich.com, and I will send you a free code to your own copy of Remember Me. In order to listen, you do not need to have an account with Audible. All you need is your Amazon sign-in information. Claim your code and listen for free!
Read in the Bathtub Day is a holiday dedicated to taking some time for yourself. In America, February 9th is National Read in the Bathtub Day. Although I found this out recently, reading in the bathtub has been one of my favorite secret pastimes since childhood.
Have you ever sat in a nice warm bath, and read a book?
February 9th is dedicated to two relaxing pastimes: taking a bath and reading books. It is unknown who started the day, but troubles and stresses are sure to be eased by all who participate.
What books will you be reading on Read in the Bathtub Day?
“When I was fifteen years old, my whole life changed in a blink of an eye…”
Click the “Digital eBook Download” below to purchase today!
If you prefer to listen to stories while relaxing in a bathtub instead of reading them, Remember Me is available in audio as well.
Sample
Purchase at Audible.com
“This book was awarded the AudioBookReviewer’s Choice Award as it was deemed to deserve a higher rating than the standard 5-star review allowed.”
THE WAITING GAME
When all the best things feel miles away
Thought I’d pop in for a minute to talk about things worth waiting for.
A little while ago, I shared the exciting news of Remember Me coming out in audio. Even though it was only about a month ago since I shared this news, for some reason, it seems like a lifetime ago since then and I’m slowly losing my patience playing the waiting game.
But what is delayed is not lost and sure enough even waiting will end … if you can just wait long enough.
It’s only a few short days until it’s available for purchase, but until then, here’s a short snippet sample narrated by the talented Lindsay Carrillo. Enjoy.
Both Remember Me and Haunting from the Past are available as an eBook download at a reduced cost and within minutes you can be reading these books on your computer, PDA, cellphone or a stand-alone eBook reader.
I think that’s just about all the news from this desk. Back to waiting on the audio file. Stay tuned!
Sanela
…The blue shade of his eyes doesn’t exist anywhere else in any universe. It only exists inside of him and when he’s calm and content, his eyes deepen and darken just a tiny bit. No one else can see it but me. I watch him so closely all the time. I soak him in. His beauty is indescribable to me. I don’t just physically see it; I feel it deeply. I know him so well that the beauty of him–all of him inside and out–overwhelms me. Soulmates…
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Fun fact:
According to today.com, there’s a scene in “The Shining” that writers — including Nicholson — know all too well: Wendy approaches Jack at his typewriter and he scolds her for trying to get in the way of his writing process. Nicholson later revealed that his character’s reaction, although exaggerated, stems from his own personal experience.
“That scene at the typewriter — that’s what I was like when I got my divorce. I was under the pressure of being a family man with a daughter and one day I accepted a job to act in a movie in the daytime and I was writing a movie at night and I’m back in my little corner and my beloved wife, Sandra, walked in on what was, unbeknownst to her, this maniac — and I told Stanley [Kubrick] about it and we wrote it into the scene,” the actor told The New York Times.
What is Halloween to you? For some, October is the time for moody reads that take place in dark mansions or fog-shrouded country lanes. For others, Halloween means slasher horror films, vampire reads and creepy Stephen King novels. Some, however, prefer stories of real monsters that live among us disguised as humans.
Remember Me and Haunting from the Past are available as eBook downloads.
Within minutes you can be reading these books on your computer, PDA, cellphone or a stand-alone eBook reader–at a reduced cost!
Click the “Digital eBook Download” below to purchase today!
“Ms. Jurich is a master story teller with a historically important background that must be read in its entirety to be appreciated – Don’t worry, once she’s introduced, you’ll hang on every word.” – iSTAR
As the warm temperatures start to leave us for the winter, it’s the perfect time to put on some cozy slippers, have a cup of tea and curl up on the couch with a good book.
Reading is one of the best things you can do for your mental health, and research shows it also greatly improves vocabulary, spelling, and even memory. I know I never would have learned English if I hadn’t read so many books when I first moved to this country back in 1993. Back then, I didn’t care that I didn’t understand what I was reading, I read anyway and, to this day, there are some words I keep mispronouncing because I had only just read them.
To an American, it sounds like gibberish, but to me, it’s a real word. For example, the word badminton. I still always pronounce it as bad-min-gt-on, not bad-min-tn like my American peers do. Of course they laugh and make fun of me when they hear me say it, but that doesn’t bother me much for I know that my love of reading was what helped me learn another language and I can’t help but feel proud of that fact.
Reading books provided free entertainment back when I was a child — pre-internet and video game era — and it certainly reduced stress in the darkest hours of my life back when I was stuck in a country plagued by a war.
It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and forget to enjoy the little things. This month, pick up a few new books and make time to read them. It’s a great hobby to get into!
“Ms. Jurich is a master story teller with a historically important background that must be read in its entirety to be appreciated – Don’t worry, once she’s introduced, you’ll hang on every word.” – iSTAR
The very first Easter taught us this: that life never ends and love never dies.
Easter season has finally arrived, so grab your baskets for festive egg hunts!
Somebody once told me that the earth laughs in flowers and I cannot agree more. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be hitting my favorite nursery for plants—I can’t wait! The storm has finally passed. The spring has come. Love, hope, and renewal are in the air. It is time for a second chance!
I haven’t done many blogs over the last few months because not much has been going on. My life is finally calming down after a storm that hit it so hard and lasted for so long — a storm I thought I would not survive, but here I am. Reborn again. Some day I will tell you all about the latest storm that was determined to destroyed me, but not today. Today, I am happy. I’m happy to report that not much has been going on. I write, work-out, cook. On the weekends I clean and make it a point to visit my parents.
That’s pretty much how it goes.
The rest of my time is spent with these two gorgeous humans.
Tomorrow I’m making beignets, my guilty pleasure.
So, while celebrating with the yummiest Easter candy and snapping pictures of you and your family looking your Sunday best, it’s also important to remember what this springtime holiday is really about: the season of renewal. This day marks rebirth in so many different ways, whether you celebrate the religious origins of the holiday or not, one thing is for certain, spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.
“Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all of your eggs in one basket.”
And with that being said, I’m going to curl up with a book for awhile. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and safe Easter weekend.
Sanela