Rocks Make the River Sing is joyous and heartbreaking, funny and frightening. It is a celebration of life, learning, and strength to carry on. The first story, Love After Life, is a short personal history of the author's family and their poignant goodbye to parents . This story gives the reader background on a comfortable acceptance of the inherent tension between science and religion. In this blend of poetry and short stories is a poem about race in Why I Love Louie, about poverty in Cross My Heart, and teaching with love in the poem On the Banks of the Boise River. There is a story of gender identity in Transgendered Nylons, of breast obsession in Boobs, and a wry look at bra-as-flask humor in The Double D Bra Gap Blitz. Breast cancer becomes an unlikely topic for tender poetry in the Orchid Cloche, as does the love/hate relationship entitled Chemo: Let Me Count the Ways. Hunting becomes the stage for endurance and introspection in The Moose Adventure on Diamond Ridge. Canadian Gifts is just one of the many poems highlighting nature's diversity. These poems are simple and touching, the short stories direct and concise. Rocks Make the River Sing is a tribute to parental love, learning compassion, questioning authority, and the overwhelming appreciation of Idaho's, wilderness, wildlife, and survival. While the rocks in the river create the river's song, the rocks in our own personal river's course give richness and depth to the life we lead. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it hurts. But we are breathing.
About the Author: Eileen Thornburgh grew up near the Pacific Ocean in Newport Beach, California. She was a member of the South Coast Gun Club Rifle Team during high school, traveling with her father and the team to California state rifle matches. She attended North Idaho College and Boise State University, and graduated BSU with a Doctorate in Education. In 2001, Dr. Thornburgh was Idaho Teacher of the Year. Her career has included teaching music and reading, as well as classes at the elementary, middle school, and university level. Dr. Thornburgh is a breast cancer survivor of nine years, participating in several women's fitness run/walk celebrations. Eileen and John, her husband of 35 years, enjoy freshwater fishing in Idaho, and deep sea fishing out of Homer, Puget Sound, Depoe Bay, and San Diego. She hunts waterfowl and big game in Idaho, thriving on the outdoors and meals of wildgame. Her poetry and short stories come from her love of teaching, her experiences in the outdoors, and her enthusiasm for Boise State University. She currently serves on the Bronco Athletic Association Board of Directors. In retirement, Eileen enjoys volunteering with the Idaho Humane Society, delivering dog and cat food to elderly pet owners in the Meals on Wheels for Pets program.