See below for an excerpt from “The News from Arkansas,” by Valerie Katz.

“The News from Arkansas: Sense of Humor Required” by Valerie Katz is a humorous memoir detailing the author’s adventures relocating from California to Arkansas. After living in the same home for over 30 years without ever intending to move away from California, she decided to resettle in Arkansas.

Katz’s entire family lived in California – her mother, sisters, brother, children and grandchildren. However, after taking a weekend trip to Arkansas, she decided to make the move. Inspired by the emails she sent to friends and family about her new home, Katz shares her first-hand adventures and stories she experienced during her move to Arkansas. 

“The News from Arkansas” presents an honest and humorous outlook on the culture shock that can occur when somebody moves to a different state after living in the same place for decades and encourages a sense of humor.

*** Excerpt from “The News from Arkansas” ***

Rookies, that's us. Motor homing is great. No packing, unpacking, strange beds... we love it. However, some things that are not the usual fare for us needed to be watched.

We were all cozy, slides out, levelers deployed. Then the question came from David, "Honey, have you checked the tanks lately?" My report went as follows, "Black tank full”, Grey tank full”. Uh oh, that’s not good! Propane?  “Well that one says empty”. David went to the Yellow Pages to find a place to dump the tanks. I went to get my nails done.

When I got back (My nails looking lovely) David had found a place that had all the things we needed. I drove our 35-foot home on wheels in to what turned out to be an entirely too small area. David went to inquire as to the location of the dump station. It was in a rather narrow area on the side of the station and I was headed in the wrong direction. At that point, 2 men from the station came out to assist the "little lady", more than likely hoping to avoid what was starting to look like an incident that would require a call to their insurance company.

I was happy for their help on many levels. One, if I ran into anything it was less likely to be "All my fault!” When I am moving the coach around, David gets nervous and the flailing arms and hollering lead less and less to any kind of usable help. I thought I was turning around to pull back on to the street, and try it from another angle. They were positioning me to back up to a dump site I had not yet located!

When the black and grey tanks are full, the fresh water supply is diminished. It was already dark, and I was tired and cranky! Filling the fresh water tank was not going to happen until the next day.

The next morning, I was up and looking good. This was sort of important as I had worked at the school for 34 years prior to the Arkansas move. I wanted them to see I hadn't turned into a hick.

As I was stepping out of the coach David said, “Aren't you going to get me some fresh water before you leave?" I went out, got the hose hooked up, shoved the business end into the tank and turned the water on, hard! As I was walking up to the coach, the force of the water shot the hose out of its hole, and water was going everywhere.  It was making absolutely no effort at all to miss me! David said now maybe a hat was in order, better yet a paper sack with the eyes cut out. Yes. His sense of humor is a killer. I gave myself a quick swipe with a towel and off I went.

My ex-boss was happy to see me and called me up to the front of the auditorium when Kalyn's award was given. The hick thing is still in question.

About the author

Valerie Katz, a native Californian, was transported to Arkansas at age 67. She has 4 children and 6 grandchildren who are still astounded and amused by the move. To learn more, please visit www.womanyouinspireme.com.

“The News from Arkansas: Sense of Humor Required”

By Valerie Katz

ISBN: 9781532048074 (softcover); 9781532048098 (hardcover); 9781532048081 (eBook)

Available at the iUniverse Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble