America’s first woman doctor was admitted to New York’s Geneva College in 1847 as a joke, and was expected to flunk out within months.  Nevertheless, Elizabeth Blackwell prevailed and triumphed over taunts and bias while at medical school to earn her degree two years later.  While in her last year of medical training, she was cleaning the infected eye of an infant when she accidentally splattered a drop of water into her own eye.  Six months later she had the eye taken out and had it replaced with a glass eye.  Afterward, American hospitals refused to hire her.  She then borrowed a few thousand dollars to open a clinic in New York City, which she called the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children.  She charged patients only four dollars a week, if they had it, for full treatment that might cost at least two thousand dollars a day at the going rate.  During the Civil War she set up an organization to train nurses, Women’s Central Association of Relief, which later became the United States Sanitary Commission.  In 1910 age eight-nine she died after a fall from which she never fully recovered.  I’ll be talking about Elizabeth Blackwell and women of the Old West who pursued a career in medicine at the Single Action Shooter’s Society convention in Branson, Missouri this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  The convention is being held at Chateau on the Lake Convention Center in Branson from December 4 through the 8^th.  Hope to see you there. 

Christmas Gift Idea #8 – The children’s book Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure, a kind hearted ranch hand stops to help a family in need and discovers the meaning of Christmas just when he thinks he´s missed the holiday all together.  Buy one and get a second copy for free.  Visit www.chrisenss.com for more information or email gvcenss@aol.com and ask about Cowboy True’s  Christmas Adventure. 

Christmas gift idea #5 – Tales Behind the Tombstones, a book for western fan who loves to read.  Tales Behind the Tombstones tells the stories behind the deaths (or supposed deaths) and burials of the Old West’s most nefarious outlaws, notorious women, and celebrated lawmen. Readers will learn the story behind Calamity Jane’s wish to be buried next to Wild Bill Hickok, discover how and where the Earp brothers came to be buried, and visit the sites of tombs long forgotten while legends have lived on.  Visit www.chrisenss.com for more information about the title and how to order a copy of the book today.

Cattle rustlers and women rustlers.  They’ll both steal what’s got another man’s brand on it. For more quips and other stories about love lessons learned by wild women of the west plan to read Love Lessons Learned from the Old West coming soon. Order your copy now through Amazon.com. Register to win a Love Lessons Learned gift package when you submit your own love lessons learned. The gift package includes a copy of Love Lessons Learned from the Old West: Wisdom from Wild Women, Love Lessons Learned coffee mugs, cocoa, soap, candles, day planners, pen, and a journal to keep track of every love lesson that comes your way. To enter Love Lessons Learned gift package giveaway visit www.chrisenss.com, click on Contact, and send a brief note about the love lessons you’ve learned. The best love lesson wins the gift package. A winner will be announced on February 14, 2014. Good luck!

The women always look beautiful when they get married, and the men always look scared. For more quips and other stories about love lessons learned by wild women of the west plan to read Love Lessons Learned from the Old West coming soon. Order your copy now through Amazon.com. Register to win a Love Lessons Learned gift package when you submit your own love lessons learned. The gift package includes a copy of Love Lessons Learned from the Old West: Wisdom from Wild Women, Love Lessons Learned coffee mugs, cocoa, soap, candles, day planners, pen, and a journal to keep track of every love lesson that comes your way. To enter Love Lessons Learned gift package giveaway visit www.chrisenss.com, click on Contact, and send a brief note about the love lessons you’ve learned. The best love lesson wins the gift package. A winner will be announced on February 14, 2014. Good luck!