Tiny Pineapple

ananas comosus (L.) minimus

Sign of the Apocalypse #238: Giving Thanks

Sign of the Apocalypse #238

We know him as the Painter of Light™, the world-renowned artist who has captured the spirit of America on canvas. Now, for the first time ever, Thomas Kinkade© himself is featured as a true-to-life sculptural figure in “Giving Thanks.”

The remarkable likeness of the beloved painter is handcrafted and hand-painted to capture the smallest detail. As he gazes off into the distance, chin in hand, you can imagine Thomas Kinkade envisioning his next masterpiece…

Government Nurse

by Felicia Bryce (1976)
Government Nurse

The massive, gold-domed capitol building of her East Coast home state represented the culmination of a dream to Jennifer Sawyer. The blue-eyed blonde, orphaned at an early age, had worked hard to earn both a bachelor’s degree and an R.N., and her civil service position at the first-aid station serving statehouse employees and visitors gave her financial security as well as pleasant working conditions.

When lanky redhead Any Dunbar, a state-employed psychiatrist, came into the station for minor first aid, Jennifer knew she had met her dream man. Or had she? Only months ago she had looked forward to a happy future with Dr. Dick Austin. His hasty marriage to the daughter of a prominent physician had shattered her plans and precipitated her decision to transfer from bustling City Hospital to government service.

Even though Jennifer decided to trust her intuition, the chance for romance with Andy was thwarted on two counts. Cathy Allen, her good-natured supervisor, seemed to have a prior claim on Andy, and good-looking George Fullmer, a deputy attorney general and friend of Andy’s, was determined to date Jennifer. She had no desire to intrude on what might be Cathy’s territory, nor did she wish to hurt the lawyer’s feelings. Although she liked George, he did not ignite in her the same excitement Andy sparked.

As time when on, Jennifer’s confusion increased. Only when a mishap at the lavish State Ball triggered an extraordinary series of events, did Jennifer find her true love.

Florida Nurse

by Peggy Dern (1961)
Florida Nurse

She was dedicated to helping the helpless…but could she heal the break in her own heart?

The daughter of a doctor, Leona Gregory had known since earliest childhood that she wanted to be a nurse. She had always thought that that would mean working with her father. But now that Dr. Gregory had married a young wife, Leona felt out of place in the household.

The young R.N. gratefully accepted a position in a hospital in Cypress City on the Gulf Coast, even though she was afraid it would cut her off from everything she had known. Meeting the cold, beautiful supervisor of nurses, Paula Ingram, and the stern disciplinarian, Dr. Foster, who headed the hospital, seemed to confirm her fears. But Leona also found an opportunity for service she could not have had elsewhere. Then too, there was the handsome, charming senior intern, Cole Jordan…and, working with him, Leona began to feel that her heart night find wings again.

Flight Nurse

by Nell M. Dean (1963)
Flight Nurse

Rhonda Sterling — First Lieutenant Rhonda Sterling — straight and slim in her tan uniform, jaunty cap and immaculate white gloves, stepped with military bearing from the United Airliner at the Sacramento Airport. Her spirits were high for it was a day to be excited. At last she was reporting for duty at her first base hospital, McClellan Air Force Base, in California, to begin her career as an Air Force nurse.

Walking from the aircraft, she was unmindful of eyes focused admiringly on her. She knew that the trim uniform which she wore with such great pride complemented her raven black hair, her dark eyes. And that the silver bar on each shoulder, signifying her rank, was as lovely as a jewel.

As she came abreast of the gate she saw another girl about her own age in an Air Force uniform waving to attract her attention. She waved back, smiled, wondering if she should salute as she had been taught at training school at Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama, from which she had departed only five hours ago.

The girl, a blonde and quite pretty, threaded her way through the little group of people. “You must be Lieutenant Sterling!”

“Yes, I’m Rhonda Sterling.”

“I’m Kay O’Dell,” she replied warmly, grasping her hand. “Major Bartlett, the chief nurse, asked me to meet you.”

“Oh, how terribly nice,” Rhonda said, realizing as they shook hands a salute would have been out of place in such an informal atmosphere.

“No cab for a new recruit at this base,” Lieutenant O’Dell said and pointed to the parking area. “See! A staff car, no less. If you’ll give me your baggage ticket, I’ll have the driver pick up your gear.”

Rhonda retrieved it from the purse that hung from her left shoulder, and Lieutenant O’Dell handed it to the uniformed airman waiting at the fringe of the crowd. “Airman Brown,” she ordered politely, “will you please get Lieutenant Sterling’s hand luggage at the claim station?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The young airman jauntily saluted the two nurses. Rhonda wondered if she would ever get used to being saluted.

First Year Nurse

by Diane Frazer (1964)
First Year Nurse

“You’re leaving us, Dr. Troy?”

Taffy closed her eyes and took a deep breath.. “You let me know if there’s an opening in your hospital, Doctor.”

Dr. Troy stared at her. It was the stare of a boy seeing all the toys he had wanted under the Christmas tree. There was a silence that seemed to last forever.

“No need to check,” he said hoarsely. “I know there’s an opening.”

“Is there?” she said, and looked directly into his brown eyes.

What happened next was completely her doing. It wasn’t possible that she had put her arms up to his shoulders and put her mouth on his. It wasn’t possible. But there she was in his arms, which had promptly wrapped themselves around her, as if he’d been waiting for her to do exactly that. And maybe he had been waiting, waiting a long time.