9-27-2022 7:34pm

Harley's Great Adventure by Edie May

Christine Larkin Editor

SKYLARK'S FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - HARLEY'S GREAT ADVENTURE

At 60 and beyond, we may think it's too late for our dreams to come true, but that's not the case for accountant, travel agent, and now author, Edie May. Edie is a graduate of Bay Shore High School and recently wrote her first children's book, Harley's Great Adventure, about her beloved parrot, Harley, who went missing in July 2021 while she was on vacation. I sat down with her recently to talk about her book and the success it's having around the world.

Skylark: You're a lover of animals, aren't you.

Edie May: Yes. I have three cats and two parrots, Harley and Peanut.

Skylark: When did you get these parrots?

Edie May: I purchased them in 2006. They became house birds, and they love each other. They are like kindred spirits.

Skylark: How did Harley get away?

Edie May: I was vacationing in Cape Cod for the 4th of July holiday and a friend who was taking care of my animals while I was away left the front door open, and Harley flew out.

Skylark: When did you find out Harley had gone missing?

Edie May: My friend called me the next morning and said she couldn't find Harley. Peanut was still in the house. I canceled the remainder of my trip and drove home. I was a wreck. I was very upset. I was anxious to get home because the sooner I began searching for Harley, the better my chances of finding him. I knew he could survive the summer months, so I wasn't fearful. I remained positive, but I knew I had to find him as soon as possible.

Skylark: How many days was Harley missing, and how was he found?

Edie May: He was gone 42 days and was found 52 miles away on August 15, 2021, at the Port Washington marina. I put alerts on Facebook and other social media sites and put posters around my town. Every morning, I'd put Peanut in my car with the top down and we'd drive around my neighborhood looking for Harley. He was eventually found by a friend who worked at a law firm in Manhasset. She was talking to a co-worker who noticed a similar bird hanging out at the Port Washington marina. They caught my bird when a woman came up in a boat and Harley flew onto her shoulder. She had blond hair like me. They put Harley in a cage and contacted me. I was there the next day to take him home.

Skylark: What did Harley do when he saw you?

Edie May: He was still in the cage and started flapping his wings. He was very skinny. I put my hand inside the cage, and he began to play with my rings. He came up my arm and started twirling my hair. I knew in that moment it was my Harley.

Skylark: You must have been so relieved to find your bird. Did you start to write your book right away?

Edie May: No. Two days later, News 12 called me and so did Ch. 2 News in New York City. They wanted to interview me, but I declined. A day later, the Port Washington Patch reached out to me and said these two news channels were going to contact me. I said they already did. I explained that I felt this was a personal story, and I didn't want to exploit Harley or myself. I was protective of my private life.

Skylark: So, what prompted you to write the book then?

Edie May: While I was talking to the reporter at Patch, she said to me, "Why don't you write a book about Harley?" I laughed it off, and it was a few days later that I began to write. I decided to make it about Faith, Hope, and Love. Through the parrot sites that I was on, I read about other people who lost their birds, and I read a lot of success stories. That gave me a lot of hope.

Skylark: The illustrations are beautiful. How did they come about?

Edie May: A teacher friend of mine offered to illustrate the book, but she got sick. Another friend offered and he just couldn't find the time to do it, and my publisher wanted too much money to do the illustrations. Another friend told me I should call the high school art department. I left a lot of messages, and no one got back to me. I finally received a call from the head of the Art Department at William Floyd High School, and they loved the book and decided to have the students do the illustrations. A senior illustrated the cover.

Skylark: Your book is selling around the world. Did you ever expect this kind of success with it?

Edie May: Absolutely not. I've always been a woman of faith and that is what inspired me to write this book. Writing it was a labor of love and the fact that others love it, too, is a blessing. It was a year almost to the day from start to completion.

Skylark: Will there be a sequel?

Edie May: It's in the making.

You can purchase Harley's Great Adventure at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Walmart.com, Sandmanbooks.com, and at Westbowpress.com.

I've been reading Harley's Great Adventure to the children from The Children's Center on the campus of Farmingdale State College where I work. They love it, and I love reading it to them.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and beyond, your real-life experiences can inspire you in ways you never imagined.

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SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - PORT WASHINGTON MARINAS

Port Washington's marinas aren't just a place for docking the boat. It's a wonderful community full of life and culture waiting to be explored. Sailors, fisherman, locals, tourists, and people from all walks of life come to enjoy Port Washington's marinas, which may include restaurants, craft stores, and more! Experience the picturesque village of Port Washington and the breathtaking views of Long Island's waters at the marinas! Visit www.longisland.com for more information.

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - SITTIN' ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY by Otis Redding

Sittin' in the morning sun
I'll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch them roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
Cuz I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothing's gonna come my way
So, I'm just gon' sit on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
Looks like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, listen
Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen
Two thousand miles I roam
Just to make this dock my home, now
I'm just gon' sit at the dock of a bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write articles geared to the 60 and beyond population. Topics include human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been to in and around Bay Shore. I also write about restaurants and stores in the area. You can also watch my first Monday-of-the-month vlog, “60 and Beyond with Skylark" on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live, that features topics covered in my articles from SLTN. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well as my free STLN newsletter that gets delivered directly to your email each Wednesday morning. To support SLTN, you can make a recurring monthly donation ($5 Friend or $15 Advocate) or a one-time donation of any amount. It's up to you, and it's easy to do on my feed. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.