Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
Years ago, when my mother was alive and still living in my childhood home, the swimming pool stayed covered one summer while she was in and out of the hospital. The next year, I knew it needed to be uncovered. I expected it to be a mess, and it was. As I struggled to remove […]
March is usually the month with the most unpredictable weather. While wind is a given, temperatures are erratic. March teases us with a warm and sunny day followed by a return to cold and dreary. A chilly morning gives way to a hot afternoon, or a warm start to the day ends with blustery cold. […]
Last weekend, I taught and met with conferees one-on-one at a writing conference. I always learn at these conferences, even when serving on faculty. Not only do I learn about the craft of writing, but I gain insight into human nature. I see those with deep hurts, quirks, and a desire for self-expression. But I […]
Any time you have a dramatic life change, if you are willing, you learn from the experience. The death of a loved one presents that opportunity. Following are reflections on what I’ve learned in the last year and two months: Expect Times of Loneliness Recently, I woke up and smelled coffee brewing. Then, I realized […]
The Latin phrase tempus fugit (time flies) seems more poignant with each birthday added. No matter in what life situations we find ourselves, there is no stopping the progression of time. Time barrels forward whether we like what it brings, or not. Time-Wasters Many of us tend toward procrastination. We have plenty of time for […]
This week, I attended my oldest grandson’s basketball game. The team was excited and ready to play. A school friend was there to cheer for them, waving her glittery gold pompom and yelling encouragement. Last week, my grandson practiced shooting hoops for hours at my house. He hardly missed a basket. In the actual game, […]
Often, we use the word “love” loosely. We tie “love” to a certain food, a coffee brand, a song, a clothing line, and many other things. Then, we use the same word when we refer to people. But love is deeper than things, attraction, or passion. Love is based on foundational elements that allow love […]
I found last week’s helicopter and plane crash upsetting and disturbing, followed by a second crash and more lives cut short. The reality of the instantaneous loss of that many lives clung to me all week like a cold, wet blanket, heavy and oppressive. Perhaps, the fact that the emotions felt so familiar factored in. […]
Many years ago, our church choir was invited to sing at the county fair. Most people go to the fair to ride rides, take a chance on winning a cheap prize, and eat food that’s bad for them, so as expected, when our time to shine arrived, our audience was sparse. Back then, we were […]
Jim and I spent the first part of January 2023 in Israel, while the situation there was less volatile than it is now. Jim had a penchant for getting lost in thought (or absorbed in photography) while on this trip. At one stop, the bus pulled away from the curb with me yelling, “We’re not […]