RuthAnn Hogue's Blog for "Goodbye, Walter"

NFPW honors RuthAnn Hogue in Denver, September 2006

2006-09-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that the National Federation of Press Women honored Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient with a Second Place Award in its 2006 Communications Contest's Religious/Inspirational Nonfiction category. I was able to travel to Denver to accept the award and participate in a book-signing event at the Adams Mark Hotel.

Goodbye, Walter wins first place award

2006-05-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hello,
I'm so excited to announce to my family, friends and readers I have not yet met that my first book release has just been named the best nonfiction memoir entered in this year's Arizona Press Women's 2006 Communications Awards. I've won many awards over the years, but this is the first one for a book, and coincidentally is also for my first book. So this one will always be the sweetest, regardless of what else might be in store down the road.

Here is the scoop on the award:

Karen Villaneuva served as judge of the nonfiction books, memoir category in Arizona Press Women's Communications Awards, in which Goodbye, Walter placed first. The book has advanced to national competition with the National Federation of Press Women's 2006 Communications Contest. Results will be announced in Denver this fall.

Karen Villaneuva, a book publicist with Author Care who has worked with best-selling authors regionally and nationally. She describes "Goodbye, Walter" as, "An intimate look at the process of death and the human heart and spirit. As Hogue struggles with her own "deaths" and rebirths, she finds salvation in her hospice care assignment. Hospice care "saves" Walter Schifter and Walter Schifter saves RuthAnn Hogue. Providing a rare glimpse into the mind of a dying man, Hogue's book also renders a moving portrait of the intimates involved: Their highs and lows, their joys and sufferings, as well as their moments of enlightenment. For those of little faith, and for those of great faith. Touching and commendable."

-- RuthAnn

Photos

2006-05-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Last Chance, before it's listed on MLS

2006-05-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

Hi,
You've probably read some of my columns about how sad I am to soon be leaving my beautiful home in Dove Mountain -- yet excited about the opportunity to finally live close to my family.

For those of you who are investment minded and interested in buying a property in Arizona, please take a look at the pre-listing for my home. It will go up on MLS listings soon and my real estate agent will be replacing my For Sale By Owner status. Please visit http://www.powerbott.com for more listing information.

The area is a great place to live with excellent schools, a small-town pace with big-city business and fun not too far away. See http://www.maranausd.org.
In case you missed it, please check out this column on why I'm moving. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/southwestvalleyopinions/articles/0315swv-hogue15.html.

In addition, you might want to visit the Dove Mountain Civic Group's Web site. They have information about what's happening, hiking club events and more. See http://www.dovemountaincivicgroup.org for information.

P.S. Thank you for checking out this site! For information on my son's home for sale in Phoenix and my daughter's home for sale in Queen Creek, please visit Ferris Realty.

RuthAnn Hogue appears live on Utah's AM820, Radio for Women

2006-04-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

RuthAnn Hogue appeared at 8 a.m. April 26 as a guest on Bookin' It, a regular feature each Wednesday on the Waking up with Rebecca & Kurt
show on Utah's AM820, KUTR radio for women.

RuthAnn talked about how she came to meet Walter, what it was like to spend time with him talking about his life while documenting his death, what Walter was like as a person and much more.

Audio has not been posted, but check back soon and we'll let you know if a Web link to hear the radio interview becomes available.

P.S. Barnes & Noble purchased books to have on hand for radio show listeners in Salt Lake. Please show support by visiting your SLC Barnes & Noble.

Special thanks go out from RuthAnn to Rebecca, Kurt and the show's producer. "I wish we'd had more time, but it was certainly a pleasure to be able to share Walter's story so it can hopefully continue to help others," she said.

Goodbye, Walter postage now available

2006-04-22T19:43:00.003-07:00

Goodbye, Walter Stamps

You can now send cards and letters to your family and friends using postage displaying the cover of Goodbye, Walter. Hey, why not use them to send your bills, too?

Anyway, you get the point.

Now get the stamps.

P.S. In case you need them, we also have post cards, greeting cards and more, also featuring the Goodbye, Walter cover. Enjoy!

-- RuthAnn

Happy Easter!

2006-04-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Good morning. I would like to wish everyone a great Easter holiday. I will be heading to church in a few hours, but my celebration of Easter actually began April 6 when I had the pleasure of attending the world's largest outdoor Easter Pageant with several members of my family.

The event takes place each year at the Arizona Temple in Mesa, Ariz., and includes a cast of 500 or so, I believe. The cast portrayed the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as told in the King James version of the Holy Bible. Dancers and singers and actors alike did a great job in telling the timeless story.

It was truly a sight to behold.

It's also a comforting reminder that all of those who have gone before me (including Walter) to the other side of this earthly existence into what is known as death, will one day live again. Because of God's grace, not because of anything any of us can or will do on our own, we will all live again.

And what better news is there than that?

Happy Easter!

-- RuthAnn

Arizona Press Women to honor Goodbye, Walter Author RuthAnn Hogue

2006-04-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

WP Syndicate

PHOENIX -- Arizona Press Women has announced that Goodbye, Walter author RuthAnn Hogue will receive an award May 20 in its annual Communications Contest banquet in Phoenix for the 2005 nonfiction release published by Mapletree Publishing Co. of Denver.

The judges' exact decisions have not yet been released, but Goodbye, Walter has placed first, second, third or will receive honorable mention, contest organizers said.All state entries which place first will automatically advance to national competition with the National Federation of Press Women's annual communication awards contest to be hosted in Denver.

Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient is an intimate portrait of how documenting the life and death Walter Schifter from Sun City West affected not only Walter, but a then-fledgling reporter, RuthAnn Hogue. The book is the offshoot of the award-winning newspaper series "The Journey Home: Diary of a Terminal Cancer Patient."The original series ran in early 1997 in the Daily News-Sun in Sun City, Ariz. It earned numerous state awards including the Arizona Newspapers Association's annual award for Journalistic Achievement and was instrumental in earning Hogue the Arizona Press Club's much coveted 1998 title of Community Journalist of the Year. It also placed first in state and national Press Women competitions.

"I know it sounds trite, but its rewarding to know that judges in the only competiton I've so far been able to enter my first book found it interesting or compelling enough to at least earn it "a seat at the table," so to speak, on awards banquet night." Hogue said. "Of course, I'll be thrilled if it goes on to compete in the national competition. Either way, though, I think Walter would be proud just being named among the local honorees."

The mother of five who teaches English at Ja Loya Community High School in Avondale, Ariz., will join the radio air waves with Rebecca and Kurt of Wakin' Up with Rebecca & Kurt at 8:10 a.m. April 26 for the show's weekly Bookin' It feature. The broadcast will be available online through the station's Web site for those who live outside of the AM820 Salt Lake City radio station's broadcast footprint. Listeners may call in toll free from anywhere - 1-888-362-1820. She also writes an occasional guest community column for The Arizona Republic's Southwest Community section.

In October, Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore hosted an event where Hogue signed books in-between the morning and afternoon sessions of the LDS World conference. In August, she participated in the LDS Booksellers annual convention in Sandy.

Hogue, a former Salt Lake City resident, attended Beacon Heights Elementary School and later lived for a short time in Orem while supporting her then-husband while he attended Brigham Young University. She is the daughter of Lenny Hesterman and niece of "Daddy-O" Bill Hesterman, popular Wasatch Front radio disc jockeys in the 1950s and 1960s on radio stations including KSL and KNAK.

Her ties to the Salt Lake area still run deep. Her cousin Bill, who was named for his father and named his son Bill accordingly, is the father of today's radio host Billy Hesterman who plays music during the daily afternoon drive-time slot on a local SLC station. Her cousin David Hesterman is the father of DJ and Emily, members of the award-winning band Finally Friday.

On her mother's side, Hogue has aunts who've long been involved in everything from the Olympic committee, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and playing the organ in the Salt Lake Temple. Velma, Virginia and Jeanette Terry and Genevieve Lougee have lived in Salt Lake for most of their lives. Their father, Victor L. Terry, Hogue's grandfather, grew up in the same neighborhood as Thomas S. Monson of the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Naomi "Terry" Hesterman, Hogue's mother, who has lived in Phoenix for more than 30 years, still keeps in touch with Pres. Monson by postal mail multiple times each month.

In addition, Hogue auditioned for and earned a small speaking role in Halestorm Entertainment's "The RM" as the mother of the groom. The audition and filming took place in southern Utah. She contributes to Meridian Magazine and wrote a story on LDS film in LDS Living's premeire issue. She's had one story published in The Salt Lake Tribune, which was written during an audition for a job which the paper later decided not to fill."I love Utah," Hogue said. "Although I call Arizona home now, a part of my heart will always be here where I learned to read and write. I have family here. So it will always be a great place to visit."

For information, visit Hogue's Web site at http://www.goodbye-walter.com or her Amazon blog at http://www.amazon.com.

RuthAnn to appear on Wakin' Up with Rebecca & Kurt

2006-04-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

April 26
820AM Radio

RuthAnn Hogue will join the radio air waves with Rebecca and Kurt of Wakin' Up with Rebecca & Kurt at 8:10 a.m. April 26 for the show's weekly Bookin' It feature. Please join us for this broadcast and be sure to thank the show's hosts for inviting RuthAnn to be a guest. Listen online here: To be part of the show, call in toll free from anywhere at 1-888-362-1820. For information call Rebecca at 801-575-7643.

Go the distance for a perfect dress

2006-04-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Michael, Crystal, Dana, Jonathan, Sally, Ashley and Misti

By RuthAnn Hogue
WP Syndicate

My car was finally in the shop for its regularly scheduled maintenance and I was getting ready to settle in for the wait with a good book when Sally's phone number lit up my cellphone."Hello, Mom?" she said, in a questioning tone that seemed to suggest something was up."Hi," I replied, somewhat cautiously.

"So, I was wondering what you're doing today."

"Nothing much," I answered.

"Just getting my oil changed. Why? What's up?"

"Well," she said, hesitantly. "I was wondering if you could meet me in Mesa. I found the perfect wedding dress and there is only one in my size. I need to put a deposit on it today or they won't be able to hold it."

"Now?" I asked. "If you'd called a few minutes ago that might have been possible, but I already gave them my keys. Can it wait?"

She said it couldn't. If the bridal shop sold the dress of her dreams her spring wedding would have come and gone before another could be ordered.

"What are you doing in Mesa today anyway?" I asked.

After all, hadn't she and her sisters and I planned to go look at dresses together? A last-minute trip to the Valley with a roommate, however, led them past the brick-and-mortar bridal shop Sally had so often visited online. It wouldn't hurt to look, the two surmised. And before they knew it, she had fallen in love.

I suppose I had always known my little girl would one day dress in white to declare her eternal loyalty and love. I just never thought it would be so soon.

Granted, Independence Day 2006 will mark her 21st birthday. She's lived on her own since shortly after turning 18, supporting herself by teaching less-advantaged children through the Head Start program. She's well on her way to earning a degree from Pima Community College, from which she's already earned a certification in early childhood education.

It seems safe to say that Sally Michelle is well on her way to a rich and rewarding life.

So when she hatched a hair-brained scheme that involved having the car dealership drop me off at her Tucson apartment to meet another roommate who would give me the keys to her car, which I would drive at light speed (er, I mean, the speed limit, of course) to Mesa and back just in time to pay the dress deposit and retrieve my car before the dealership closed, how could I say no?

After all, isn't that just what moms do?

There are no words, however, to describe how it felt when I watched her step onto a wooden box to pick up some of the slack as she adjusted a magnificent train bordered in lace with pearl beads and sparkly sequins. Somehow, it didn't seem to matter that she and Jonathan hadn't yet been officially engaged. The ring and proposal would surely come. And when they did, she'd be ready.

We've since been back for one of two required fittings, and the wedding shower was a smashing success, thanks to Sally's soon-to-be in-laws who hosted the lovely affair. Sally and I still haven't found the perfect mother-of-the-bride dress, however.

Then again, it is about time to take my car back in for service. Perhaps I should stop putting it off and dig up another paperback to devour. You never know. It might be just the inspiration we need.

RuthAnn Hogue teaches high school English and American literature in Avondale. She can be reached at ruthann@ goodbye-walter.com.

Editor's note: Sally Hogue and Jonathan Hays will be sealed at 11:15 April 8 in the Arizona Temple in Mesa. The reception will be later that day at the Rancho Vistoso chapel in Oro Valley.

Post Script:
The wedding was beautiful! Here is a photo of Sally and me posing outside just afterward.

Goodbye, Walter now available in online library

2006-03-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

WPSyndicate

Arizona Author RuthAnn Hogue's 2005 release "Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient" is now available from an online library service, at least one high school library and has earned yet another rave review.

Booksfree.com, a service similar to Netflix, except that it specializes in loaning and selling books instead of DVDs, charges users a set monthly fee to borrow a specified amount of materials. Borrowers who wish to keep items rather than return them may do so by following the library's loan-to-purchase policy. For details on how to borrow or purchase "Goodbye, Walter," visit:
http://static.booksfree.com/gongoo/goodbyewaltertheinspiringstoryofaterminalcancerpat/

In addition, East Dubuque High School of East Dubuque, Ill., has added Goodbye, Walter to its library collection. Schools acquire a limited number of titles each schoolyear, so it's always an honor to be among those selected, Hogue said. For more information visit: http://www.edbqhs.org/HIGH_SCHOOL/Library/ReviseNewBooks.htm The National Book Network and Midwest Book Review seem to agree that Hogue's book deserves merit. The following review appeared in its March 2006 publication:

Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story Of A Terminal Cancer Patient by RuthAnn Hogue is an influential biographical depiction of a struggle for life and the many barriers required for survival. Hogue's personal story will enrapture the reader in its telling of a difficult and inconceivably strenuous time for both the author and Walter Shifter, her friend dying of cancer. Goodbye, Walter is very strongly recommended for its inspirational content for readers looking to overcome their own difficult situation, as well as readers who have friends with cancer or other terminal conditions.

Hogue said the tone of the review echoes her purpose in writing the work, which was to illustrate how "life has value, whatever stage it's in or how much longer it might last." She maintains a Web site at http://www.goodbye-walter.com which includes a link to reader forums where guests and members can network on related topics, an author's blog and numerous links to resources and reviews. Hogue is available for guest appearances and radio interviews. She can be reached at ruthann@goodbye-walter.com.

Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient
RuthAnn Hogue
ISBN: 0972807128
$13.95 1-800-537-0414 www.mapletreepublishing.com

Family lures writer from desert haven to SW Valley

2006-03-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

Bryce Hesterman

The Hogue children pose for a photo April 8 shortly after the wedding of Sally Hogue and Jonathan Hays in the Arizona Temple in Mesa. Pictured from left to right are Michael Hogue, Crystal (Klock) and Dana Hogue, Jonathan and Sally (Hogue) Hays, Ashley Hogue and Misti Hogue.

Family lures writer from desert haven to SW Valley

By RuthAnn Hogue
WP Syndicate

Henry David Thoreau escaped to Walden Pond. Fellow literary giants Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott and family and Nathaniel Hawthorne found their muses in 17th-century New England while living on fertile farmland not far from Boston.

It's no wonder then that when presented with the opportunity to secure a piece of desert paradise in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains in Pima County, I jumped at the chance to create a writer's hideaway of sorts of my own.The cactuses grow tall and the coyotes run free.

The sunsets against the Tucson Mountains rival any immortalized on postcards. And when the sun rises above Pusch Ridge, well, let's just say it's difficult not to be taken in while enjoying the subtle dips in the somewhat winding road named for tangerines instead of the plentiful ironwood and desert broom trees that sweep the sky.

I'll admit I was skeptical at first glance.

After all, the threat of summer storms washing debris beyond the road's sandy shoulders seemed to whisper warnings of missed workdays at the local daily newspaper. The nearest gas station was a six-mile trek. The nearest convenience store was further still, at eight miles, with the closest grocery store and medical help 10 and 15 miles away, respectively.

The proximity to hiking in Wild Burro Canyon, however, and the sheer natural beauty of virgin desert visible in nearly any direction quickly stole my heart - and a generous portion of my bank account - when I dashed out an earnest deposit check after a single visit.

Who could blame me?Doesn't every writer need a private getaway to hole up in and fine-tune his or her muse? Don't we all deserve a place we can call our own as we struggle to find words to convey messages and the proper punctuation to keep it clear?

With a sports club, three world-class golf courses and two country clubs; tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, a grassy park and playground, winding walking trails and more, I can't imagine finding a better place to call home.

So why, oh why, when my once-tiny mesquite has now grown broad and tall and my formerly fledgling saguaro has extended itself into its branching arms would I pack up my canopied swing and move back to the West Valley?

Within months, gas pumps will feed my neighbors' tanks, and restaurants will feed their families when a shopping center, complete with an anchor grocery store, opens a mile away at the entrance to our upscale-yet-rural enclave. A hospital and medical center are now only minutes away. Home delivery from pizza joints surely isn't far behind.

And, make no mistake, I did complete and sell my first book manuscript within the very walls now worth just less than triple what I paid for them.

Actually, the reason for the move is fairly simple.

Family.

My oldest son and his wife announced in August they were building in Goodyear. My oldest daughter's same declaration wasn't far behind.Meanwhile, my mother's health had begun to concern my siblings and me.

By October I'd traded my title of newspaper editor in Southern Arizona for that of high school English teacher in the West Valley. That's what it took to commit to living within walking distance of my children and their families and a short drive from my mother.

It doesn't hurt that my sister and her family, along with numerous friends, dot the Valley, from east Mesa to nearly Buckeye and Paradise Valley to South Mountain.

So goodbye, Dove Mountain.

After all, Louisa May Alcott (the only female writer among the aforementioned New England group) had more than beautiful countryside to whet her palette.

She had family.

And, in the end, isn't that what really matters most?

RuthAnn Hogue, who is building a home in Goodyear and teaches high school English and American literature in Avondale, is the author of "Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient." She can be reached at ruthann@goodbye-walter.com

Contact Tim Bott for sales information on RuthAnn's Dove Mountain property at: http://www.powerbott.com.

President's Day

2006-03-13T08:52:00.000-08:00

Honor all American patriots

By RuthAnn Hogue
WP Syndicate

My parents, Lenny and Naomi Hesterman of west Phoenix, raised my siblings and me to always search for and honor the true meaning of holidays. From keeping the birth of Christ in Christmas to remembering the bloodstained cloth that wrapped the freezing feet of the first American revolutionaries, no holiday was simply a vacation from school or work.

While my appreciation for my freedoms and the roles our nation's greatest presidents played in securing them will never be lost on me, my father unwittingly gave Presidents Day an entirely new meaning when he died Feb. 16, 2004.

I suppose it shouldn't have been a surprise that he made his final exit on a national holiday. After all, my father was just the kind of man who did small things in a big way and big things in a small way.

His music baton always danced with panache, for example, to the beat of the bounce in his knees as he led his church congregation in hymns of reverence or praise.

Theresa Cornett Sorrell, my best friend who attended Sevilla Elementary and Alhambra High schools with me, recently reminded me of the afternoon when rather than lecture on appropriate music, my dad simply pulled the plug on my radio, silencing Rod Stewart's Tonight's the Night.

This small action, no doubt meant more for me, left a lasting impact on Theresa.

I, on the other hand, wasn't always a willing pupil.

True, I adored him as a small child. There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps by becoming a radio personality - in a time when women weren't exactly welcomed into the business.

As I grew, however, the inevitable rebellious teenage years took their toll. I'm probably single-handedly responsible for the majority of gray hairs and worry lines my dad developed as I tested his patience nearly daily between the ages of 13 and 18. It often seemed to me like any trailblazing that needed to be done by children in our home was left to me.

Time mellowed our differences as I bore and raised five children of my own. When my oldest daughter turned 13, I was finally able to comprehend the pain of watching a loving child become suddenly and inexplicably belligerent.

Somehow, like my dad, I learned to see each child's potential, even when he or she kept it well hidden.

It's just what parents do.

So, on this Presidents Day, as the nation marks the great lives of those who helped found or mold our nation, I'd like to dedicate a portion of the day to a man who provided a firm foundation for each of his five children. After all, didn't George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and others dedicate their lives to the creation and expansion of freedom to help all heads of households do just that?

And, as you wish the happiest of birthdays to our presidents past, may I suggest sending the warmest of wishes in memory not only of my dad - but to everyone who's played a role in perpetuating the lifestyle we as Americans hold so dear.

After all, I have a feeling our nation's greatest leaders wouldn't have their national holiday spent any other way.

RuthAnn Hogue, who is building a home in Goodyear and teaches high school English and American literature in Avondale, is the author of "Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient." She can be reached at ruthann@ goodbye-walter.com.

Hang in there, it's going to be OK

2005-12-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

Did you know that suicide rates double during the holidays and in the days and weeks immediately thereafter?

It's no wonder, with all of the heightened emotions that those who have suffered a loss feel a corresponding spike in pain at the precise time those around them seem to be glowing with joy.

For some, it's the departure of the holidays when things become particularly hairy as the sparkle of the season fades and the reality of freshly acquired (or increased) debt comes more clearly into view.

That's why I've chosn to make this somewhat-peculiar posting on Christmas Day, in hopes of, well, giving someone hope who just might need it most on this day more so than any other.

Just yesterday, while driving with my two youngest children to meet with most of their older siblings, the golden voice of Bing Crosby brought tears to my eyes as I related to Michael and Ashley that hearing him sing is just like hearing my late father sing. I believe my father could easily have stepped into his show business shoes, I said, had he not been struggling to support my mother and siblings in various radio jobs across the Western United States.

Given the choice, I like to think my father would make the same sacrifices to be a husband and father to our family rather than lead the glamorous life Crosby lived under the white-hot spot light (no disrespect intended to Crosby's family life, which I am not familiar with and in no way mean to demean in the least).

If feelings of loneliness threaten to overcome you or someone you know as we wrap up this holiday season, please reach out. Seek help. And make sure you are here to ring in what could possibly be a much brighter and happier New Year.

-- RuthAnn

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Merry Christmas!

2005-12-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

-- RuthAnn

"Goodbye, Walter " compared to blockbuster best seller

2005-12-21T19:50:00.000-08:00

Title: Goodbye, Walter
Author: RuthAnn Hogue
Publisher: Mapletree Publishing Co.
Genre: Non-fictionYear
Published: 2005
Number of Pages: 192
Binding: Trade PaperbackISBN: 0-9728071-2-8
Price: $13.95

Reviewed by Jeffrey Needle
Readers of Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays With Morrie" will resonate with this offering from independent publisher Mapletree Publishing.

The author, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tells a tender story of faith, courage and ultimate redemption. "Walter" is Walter Schifter, who has lived a vibrant life with his wife Lillian, enjoying success as an entrepreneur. When he is one day diagnosed with prostate cancer, Walter sees nothing but darkness ahead. The pain is unbearable, and he is even considering suicide. But then he discovers hospice, and puts himself into their caring hands. The experience is a life changer for him.

The author is a reporter for the Arizona newspaper The Daily News-Sun. When her editor offers her staff the opportunity to interview Walter, who had written to the paper about his situation, RuthAnn accepts the assignment. Little does she know that for her, too, the experience would be life-changing. Her hours spent with Walter cause RuthAnn to take a new look at her own life. A member of the Church from birth, but lately inactive and not much interested in renewing her activity, she is also estranged from her husband. Her life seems to be in a holding-pattern.

But her interaction, not just with Walter, but with others involved in hospice, helps her to refocus her life and ultimately brings her some peace. We learn much about Walter as the story winds on. His law school education(although he has never chosen to practice), his world travels, his conversion from Judaism to the Unitarian Universalist faith, his love for"Fiddler on the Roof," all work together to paint a picture of a man who haslived life to the full, and is now facing the end of that life.

Interesting characters populate the book: Fr. Tom Xanthos, the Hospice chaplain, is skilled in communicating with the dying. Through his words, RuthAnn sees her own spiritual dying. We learn about Jason, a broadcast journalist, in whom RuthAnn finds a soul mate. There's even a born-again nurse who tries to bring Walter to Jesus, much to the consternation of his wife. And there are others, of course, who fill out the story.

"Goodbye, Walter" works on many levels. It is primarily the story of a man who has learned to both live and die with dignity. But it is also a storyof a reporter who enters fully into the experience of a dying man, learning so many life lessons. And, on an important level, it speaks to the importance of hospice and the valuable work they all do. The author offers resources at the back of the book for dealing with death and dying. Readers interested in the unique needs of those facing death will really enjoy this book. Although I don't know that "enjoy" is the right word. Perhaps I should say they will be informed and moved by Hogue's memoir.

Jeff Needle
Association for Mormon Letters
jeff.needle@gmail.com
http://www.aml-online.org/
www.LDSBookLovers.com/Needle.html

Warm Memories Can Bring Holiday Cheer

2005-12-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,

Holidays, as emotionally charged and wearisome as they can sometimes be, more often than not also hold memories we each hold dear.

If they didn't, there wouldn't be any reason to lament the loss of a loved one's presence. Whether hanging mistle toe or enjoying a warm glass of spiced apple cider under the soft glow of holiday-scented candlelight, it's thoughts of holidays past that can either bring us joy or mist our eyes with tears.

For me, tip-toeing downstairs to see what Santa Claus had left under the tree in our small home near Foothills Boulevard and 21st South in Salt Lake City always reminds me of a simpler time when I didn't need to know how to read to know that the Raggedy Ann peering up at me was mine, all mine.

After all, who else would Santa have left such a treasure for, considering my two older siblings were both brothers and my mom and dad, well, they had no use for cuddly dolls with black buttons for eyes and a red embroidery thread smile.

Annie, (that's what I named her so she wouldn't have to go around with some raggedy ol' name) still proudly wears the same blue cotton dress and matching white pinafore and bloomers today that she did that first Christmas morning. Her button eyes, however, have long since been replaced with felt. Her original black felt shoes are now made of corduroy. Her colorful red-and-white striped stockings, well, they've been covered with a layer of fabric striped in white and pink.

Granted, she doesn't get much sunshine hiding away among scrapbooks, school ribbons and the like in that wooden chest mom and dad gave each of their children to store sentimental treasures. But underneath it all, I know she's there keeping alive the memory of innocence past, and the child who ultimately grew up to be me.

I wonder if I'd known then what trials life would bring if I would have held Annie a bit more closely in my dreams or if I would have given up childhood dreaming altogether.

Then again, maybe, like for Annie, it's OK that my once bright and wandering eyes have been replaced with a more practical version forever focused on what's most important. Maybe sometimes my shoes are worse for the wear and my stockings, well, might not be exactly the perfect color.

Through it all, however, I have learned to keep my smile in place. Year after year, learning experience after another, that is one feature Annie and I have worked hard to maintain in original form and shape.

For Annie, the secret to doing so is clear. After all, she has "I love you" etched permanently inside of a tiny heart she hides cleverly under her outward appearance.

I, too, have something similar hidden inside my heart. I don't often show it openly to the world, but for those for whom I care, the love inside me is more than real.

It's that love, that feeling of warmth deep inside, no matter how obscured by the years, that I wish for those around me to experience this holiday season. Even if it means digging into a long-forgotten spot in their souls, may Annie's memory light the way to those of your own.

Happy Holidays, and may you have the happiest of new years.

-- RuthAnn

Seasons Greetings and Peace for the Holidays

2005-12-11T19:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,

It's the time of year when our lives should, and often are, filled with joy, cheer and the remembrance of celebrations past and hopefulness for those yet to come.

If you've lost someone, however, the holidays can be a solemn reminder of how much you miss someone whose now-empty shoes can never be filled. Sparkling lights and sacred music that once filled your heart with warm wishes might trigger unexpected feelings of loneliness.

You're not alone.

Believe me, I know what it feels like to stand in a store during Father's Day sales and be barraged with gift ideas for a dad I buried less than two years ago. It seems sort of empty looking at the ties and shirts and rows of cards that scream to be noticed when I would much prefer to look away, not to think about how I nearly missed seeing my dad on the last Father's Day he was able to recognize my presence. I didn't know at the time he was beginning to succomb to Alzheimer's disease. It was storming with buckets of rain driven by strong winds, as it often does in Arizona during June, and visiting my father before returning home to Tucson would mean braving the storm from my then-boyfriend's condo in Tempe to my parents' home in west Phoenix. On top of that, my windshield wipers were useless, having been melted to my windshield by the hot Arizona sun since the last time I was out in such a storm.

It was dark, late and rainy.

It seemed so much easier to just call and explain why I would mail his card on Monday and drop by his gift sometime in the near future.

My then-boyfriend, however, insisted that I go see my father. He always had a way of putting family first and was not about to let me do anything less.

He'll never know how grateful I am for his advice that night, when I stood at an auto parts store line that seemed to snake completely through the aisles with customers desperate to replace melted windshield wipers. Once I had them in hand, the battle began against Mother Nature's silver dollar-sized rain drops and the latches that did not want to cooperate on both the old wipers and the new ones. I was not in much of a mood for celebration by the time I reached my parents' home where my father spent most of the time on the phone with my sister who lives in town while I was there visting after having braved the storm -- with a drive home more than 100 miles ahead of me, to boot.

It just didn't seem fair for him to ignore me when I was there in person, and he could chat with my sister on the phone any time.

I wish I had known then that it would be the last time I would be able to wish my dad "Happy Father's Day" in person. I might have been more patient. My then-boyfriend was not my boyfriend by the time fall came around and we learned shortly before Thanksgiving that my father's odd behavior was related to a disease that would forever steal him from my life before taking his. He'll never know that his encouragement to face the storm meant the difference between having one last memory of sharing Father's Day with my dad, even if it wasn't the Norman Rockwell picture-perfect visit.

At Christmastime, oddly enough, is when I most miss the former romantic figure of my life. He knows who he is, so I shall not name names. I did not lose him to a disease but rather to indifference as our once-happy relationship slipped away.

The last time we saw each other, even after separating, was to exchange Christmas wishes and gifts over a holiday dinner shared halfway between my home in Tucson and his parents' home in the greater Phoenix/Mesa metro area he was visting during a brief break from the graduate school he was attending on the East Coast.

Maybe that is why it's Christmastime when I remember how things used to be, and wish that in some small way we had been able to work through the issues that made staying together impossible.

Then again, we've each moved on and found our own version of happiness. So maybe I should be looking at Christmas as a time for new beginnings instead of focusing on what once was that is now lost.

After all, I have the most wonderful children, most of whom are now grown and successfully independent. My life is good. I truly can't complain. I own a beautiful home in a neighborhood where I never dreamed I'd be able to live. I finally can drive the cute sports car I've always wanted now that I don't need a huge SUV or minivan to tote around the family. I have childhood memories of Christmases past and a mother and siblings still around, albeit spread from here to Colorado, Florida and South Carolina. I have aunts and uncles and cousins from Utah to Illinois and points in-between. My friends, while not many (I don't seem to have the time to devote to much outside of my family and work) are the best I could imagine. They, too, know who they are.

In short, I don't think there is a single thing about my life I would change (with the obvious exceptions that if diseases could all be cured and the world could enjoy peace on earth).

So, as difficult as it sometimes seems, I am choosing to focus on the better part when the feelings of loneliness come knocking on my door this holiday season. My wish for each of you is that you are able to do the same.

May God, however you worship Him, bless you with the deepest desires of your hearts this festive season. May you find comfort in what you have when feelings of what you've lost try to overshadow the good.

Always,
RuthAnn

Professionals Review Goodbye, Walter

2005-11-27T05:03:00.000-08:00

Walter and Lillian Schifter

What are people saying about Goodbye, Walter?

Here is a sampling:

Reporter RuthAnn Hogue's 1997 newspaper series of daily interviews with terminal cancer patient Walter Schifter during his final three weeks of life was itself a remarkable and beautiful piece of journalism. In her new book, "Goodbye Walter," Hogue revisits those three weeks much like a "The Making Of..." documentary film. This time, she inserts herself and her
feelings as her friendship with Walter grows even as his health deteriorates. Her candor about her own emotions and her sensitivity to Walter's hopeless plight are touching and gentle. Her skillful story-telling draws you in and won't let go. Hogue quite literally lets you see into her soul. A very honest and gutsy book as well as a very good read.
Anthony Sommer, newspaper reporter (The Phoenix Gazette 1972-1996 and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin 1998-2005).

"Goodbye, Walter" is a story about living as much as it is a chronicle of one brave man's march toward death. Author RuthAnn Hogue turns journalism into a powerful story of friendship and self-discovery. In taking us along on this intimate and personal journey, she reminds us--and herself--of the great gifts of love and of faith and of how the two are eternally entwined. Somehow, by celebrating life, she makes facing death a little less frightening for us all.
Phil Alvidrez, former executive news director for KTVK Channel 3 in Phoenix, Co-Owner MagicDust Television

"This book is a necessary read for anyone pondering what our existence on earth is about. This story is a reaffirmation of life."
Mark Potter, independent film director, MPotter Productions.

"RuthAnn Hogue’s secret is her commanding use of specific, concrete detail to draw the reader into the world she creates. Much like a maestro, who note by note builds a symphony, she is a master at her craft. "
Linda Shelley Whiting, Author/Historian

"Few things are so certain nor so frequently avoided as having to face our own mortality. In a brief but remarkably deep relationship, journalist RuthAnn Hogue and cancer patient Walter Schifter take us through Walter's journey home to the edge of the veil and provide us with the knowledge of the only thing that is truly important in our earthly existence — love. Hogue was forever changed by the experience, and so was I."
Paul M. Howey, author of "Shoah: Journey from the Ashes" and "Freckles: The mystery of the little white dog in the desert".

"Speaking as one who has experienced the grief of losing a father to Alzheimer's Disease and a grandfather to nursing-home abuse, Hogue's book struck a deep chord within me. Her work celebrates the end of life instead of having us fear it. It will be a Godsend to those who are left behind -- as well as those who are traveling their own journey home."
Bob Stump, R-District 9, Arizona House of Representatives, Health Committee Co-Chair.

"This is an important story, beautifully and sensitively told."
Bev Harvey, Write Visions

Final Farewell
Lee Allen, The Tucson Weekly

http://www.arizonabeehive.com/featurestories.html
Cecily Markland, The Arizona Beehive

Your Turn:
Post a review at epinions.com.

RuthAnn Hogue to Appear in Mesa

2005-11-26T16:10:00.000-08:00

RuthAnn Hogue will present "Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient" with a public reading, question-and-answer session and book signing from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Dana Park Barnes & Noble Store (No. 2143) in Mesa, Ariz. For information contact B&N Customer Relations Manager Donna Powers at crm2143@bn.com or contact the author directly at ruthann@goodbye-walter.com.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1758 South Val Vista Drive, Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 545-8507
http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com

Next Book-Signing, Public Reading Event

2005-11-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

RuthAnn Hogue:
November 19
Barnes & Noble
Store 2211 Happy Valley Towne Center
2501 W. Happy Valley Road in Phoenix
Begins 3 p.m.
Store Contact: Kelly Wise crm2211@bn.com
RuthAnn Hogue: http://www.goodbye-walter.blogspot.com

Brandeis University National Women's Committee Welcomes RuthAnn Hogue to Skyline Country Club in Tucson

2005-11-18T18:12:00.000-08:00

The Tucson Chapter of Brandeis University National Women's Commitee hosted RuthAnn Hogue Nov. 17 as its first keynote speaker for its Breakfast with the Author study group.

RuthAnn joined the group for a light breakfast featuring bottomless muffins (tops only), assorted fresh fruits including kiwi, grapes, melon, orange slices and more, and the traditional hard rolls the Skyline Country Club is known for preparing well.

Following breakfast, RuthAnn talked from the heart about her experiences surrounding the coming forth of "Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient." She opened the floor for questions and then signed books.

Turning the tables on the situation, however, RuthAnn also invited her hostesses to sign her book with feedback regarding the presentation.

Here are the results:

"It was a wonderful talk - memories of family and greatness of hospice came back."
Adrienne P.

"Thank you so much for sharing these experiences with all of us."
Dee-Dee Green

"Your presentation was outstanding. Thank you so very much."
Elaine K.

"It is so clear about your wonderful friendship with Walter. Thank you."
Charlene Rosman

"Thank you for a very good presentation."
Marilyn Lobell

"Very enjoyable."
Dottie T.

Buy Goodbye, Walter from Amazon.

Free Bookmark Now Available Online

2005-11-12T03:06:00.000-08:00

Share the good news about "Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient" with your family and friends with a free downloadable bookmark now available at www.GoodbyeWalter.com.

Enjoy!

RuthAnn Hogue adds dedication page link for Goodbye, Walter

2005-11-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient should have included the following dedication within its pages. Due to circumstances unknown, it was not. It is my intent to make it available to everyone who wishes to download a copy and insert it in their book by way of the following link:

http://www.goodbye-walter.com/dedication-page.PDF

Enjoy!

Right place, right time? Things tend to happen for a reason

2005-11-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

Barbara (left), RuthAnn, Naomi (top right), and Debbie pose for a photo following RuthAnn Hogue's public reading from "Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient" Nov. 5 at Barnes & Noble in Surprise Marketplace on West Bell Road at Grand Avenue in Surprise, Ariz.

Barbara, a cancer patient, met RuthAnn at Sky Harbor International Airport in September as they both waited for a flight to Seattle. RuthAnn was on her way to a book signing. Barbara was meeting her mother for an Alaskan cruise. It didn't take long for the two to find out they had something in common - by virtue of RuthAnn's relationship with Walter and Barbara's own battle with cancer. It turns out the two had also lived in the same West Phoenix neighborhood for years before each moved elsewhere. They exchanged phone numbers so they could begin a friendship.

Naomi Hesterman is RuthAnn's mother who was proud to support her daughter in person for the first time since she began touring and signing books as an author. Although she had bought two copies previously, Naomi bought two more copies to give to friends. She also picked up where RuthAnn left off after reading from Chapter 10, to make sure those in attendance knew that the book intertwines RuthAnn's spiritual journey with Walter's physical one.

Debbie, who recently suffered the loss of a loved one, happened to enter the store to let her 12-year-old son use a $25 gift certificate minutes before RuthAnn's presentation and decided to stick around to listen. Apparently, she was glad she did. She and Barbara, among others, left the store as RuthAnn's newest customers.

Another guest, a former hospice nurse and current hospice volunteer who had previously purchased "Goodbye, Walter," dropped by to have it personalized. She took advantage of the opportunity to invite RuthAnn to speak at an upcoming class for a grief support group.

Welcome, to all! We hope you'll take advantage of this site to post your comments and share journeys of your own.

(Note: RuthAnn signed a few extra copies of "Goodbye, Walter" for the store to keep on its shelves for those who missed the event. Hurry while supplies last.)

Tucson Weekly Reviews Goodbye, Walter by RuthAnn Hogue

2005-11-05T07:17:00.000-08:00

The Tucson Weekly reviews Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient by RuthAnn Hogue: Final Farewell

Cancer has unexpected effect of bonding strangers nearly instantly

2005-11-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

By RuthAnn Hogue

The book store in Seattle was delightful. The ambience of the red-brick arches, hard-wood floors and aisles and aisles of books and the friendly people of the Elliott Bay Book Co. both exceeded my expectations.

One woman I met who bought a signed copy was a vacationing hospice worker from Minnesota. She and I talked a bit about pain management and the sad truth that there is still fear about taking enough meds to ease the pain because it might cause addiction. I hardly believe someone who is terminally ill is going to become a threat to society because of their pain meds. It's ridiculous, to say the least. She was so sweet and genuinely interested in the topic.

I met others who have recently lost family members who would come up to my table and take a quick peek at the display and then as if to avoid some horrible fate would quickly turn away. A few of them took a few steps back and then with their arms safely wrapped around themselves would apologetically explain that they recently lost a loved one and that while they want to read my book, that it is just "too soon" to even pick it up and thumb through the pages. They gladly accepted book marks which they generally tucked away carefully in a purse.

One explained she'd recently lost her husband. Another was in the process of losing one, and had a neighbor down the street who was losing his wife. The latter bought a copy for her neighbor and had me personalize it in his wife's name. She said she would buy another copy for herself when she got home because she only had room in her luggage for one and wanted to be sure her neighbors received the personalized volume.

Others were in a stage in which they wanted -- perhaps desperately needed -- a listening ear. I got to hear about battles with cancer that sometimes ended with the disease being in remission or the sufferer having long since departed.

Once again, my trip confirmed what I have learned during previous "Goodbye, Walter" events: The bond between strangers who have witnessed the pain of cancer is not only immediate, but surprisingly strong.

May God bless each and every one of them who read Walter's story (or don't because they can't, as the case may be).

-- RuthAnn
http://www.goodbye-walter.com

Mrs. Kenney, top left, stands in with her 1969-1970 second-grade class at Beacon Heights Elementary School in Salt Lake City. RuthAnn (Hesterman) Hogue is pictured in the third row down, sixth from the left.

Author RuthAnn Hogue searches for the teacher who inspired her to write

Mrs. Kenney likely had no idea that colorful construction paper cutouts of white snowballs in January and yellow umbrellas in April would instill lessons that would last a lifetime.

The Beacon Heights second-grade teacher tantalized students all year with the opportunity to print our names on them for each poem they wrote, and staple them to a cork bulletin board.

Back then, when my family and I lived on Texas Street at about 21st South in Salt Lake City, I used to count my name on display each morning. If anyone was ever caught nipping at my heels, I would dash out several more lines of prose.

When we weren't otherwise occupied with writing or art assignments, we used to sit in a circle and read aloud from the "Dick and Jane" series.

I have to wonder if little Sally in "Sally, Dick and Jane" has anything to do with the fact that my child who shares the same birth order and name as Sally did with her older brother and sister.

There are some things we'll never know for sure.

In any case, I learned to enjoy public speaking, in a manner of speaking, while discovering some new adventure of those silly kids and their dog, Spot.

Of course, having broadcasting in my blood, I always tried to read with proper pacing and voice inflection. My father was then a DJ at KNAK, then a local middle-of-the-road format station and my classmates never let me forget it.

That competitive spirit, born in Mrs. Kenney's classroom, served me well long after I left Utah when my family moved to Arizona in 1970.

Once settled in a Phoenix neighborhood, I quickly became friends with the librarian at Sevilla Elementary School. Being separated from my lifetime playmates and not willing to immediately brave the desert heat to find new ones, my passion for reading and writing continued to blossom.

After taking time to start a family and work full time after high school, I eventually returned to school.

My program of study?

Journalism, of course, which just happened to be offered at nearby Arizona State University's prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Telecommunications and Journalism.

By then, however, I was no longer composing poetry by hand on large- ruled school paper. My work early work as a student and professional journalist often appeared simultaneously in student publications and in The Arizona Republic, the largest daily newspaper West of the Mississippi, save The Los Angeles Times.

Numerous academic and professional awards later, the Department of Journalism at the University of Arizona invited me to join its staff as an adjunct journalism instructor.

Just like Mrs. Kenney, I had the chance to instill in my students a love of writing and a passion for doing one's best.

I like to think Mrs. Kenney would be proud.

My secret wish, now that I've joined the ranks of published authors whose books I once curled up with for hours on end as a child?

To be reunited with Mrs. Kenney or a family member and have the chance to thank her or someone on her behalf, for in her own small way inspiring me toward my most recent success.

So, Mrs. Kenney, if you're out there, please be in touch. I'd love to hear from you.

Oh, and if you are able to, please accept a complimentary signed copy of "Goodbye, Walter" at my upcoming visit to from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Sam Weller's Zion Book Store, 254 South Main Street in Salt Lake City. Your money won't be any good there.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

-- RuthAnn
http://www.goodbye-walter.com

Mark Hesterman, RuthAnn (Hesterman) Hogue and David Hesterman pose for a photo on Oct. 1 during the book-signing portion of RuthAnn's public reading from "Goodbye, Walter" at Sam Weller's Zion Book Store in Salt Lake City.

Bill Hesterman enjoys a moment on stage with the band he helped launch to success and fame.

Signing books, seeing family turns out to be fun, fun fun
My Uncle Bill, Aunt Barbara and Cousins Mark and David are in the news again with their fun-loving, beach partying friends. It shouldn't really be a surprise, considering that the Beach Boys are deeply imbedded in the fabric of the Hesterman family.

It should be no surprise, then, that the Beach Boys are mentioned in
the epilogue of "Goodbye, Walter," when I tell my father's story. After all, my earliest memory of choosing a favorite song was when the Beach Boys released the ballad "In My Room."

It was no surprise either when David had familiar Beach Boys tunes blaring in his Cadillac Escalade when he came to pick me up after a recent book signing at Sam Weller's Zion Book Store in Salt Lake City.

Who they were then will always be a part of who we are.

My oldest brother, Bryce, called the following two articles to my attention. We Hestermans are passing them around to each other by email to make sure no one misses out.

I have a feeling that we aren't the only ones enjoying this visit down memory lane. You can join all of the fun, fun fun by visiting the following
links:

Shirley's had fun, fun, fun with her 41 years of 'fame'
By Doug Robinson
Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,625152574,00.html

Beach Boys are fun, fun, fun friends
By Doug Robinson
Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635154125,00.html

Enjoy!
-- RuthAnn
http://www.goodbye-walter.com