Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
Early each weekday morning, a squeaky-braked school bus squeals to a halt at the corner across from our house and expels a loud air-brake hiss. After picking up passengers, it backs into a side street, emergency lights swirling and backup warning buzzer blaring. Most days, I don’t care, but when I’ve been wide awake in […]
As I entered our neighborhood last week, my mind was occupied with complicated issues, but the sight before me filled me with joy. The late afternoon sun highlighted multiple shades of green—the trees above and the shrubs and grass below. Interspersed in the verdant hues were bright pops of white and purple. It’s easy to […]
I am currently in the final stages of edits for a book that will publish soon. When I submitted the manuscript in October, I breathed a sigh of relief, although the work wasn’t finished at that point. In many ways, 2020 was a hard year for our family, without factoring in COVID-19 and all its […]
This week I learned of the death of a childhood friend. We were the same age and first met in kindergarten. We both took piano lessons from my grandmother and shared stage nerves sitting behind the gold curtains at Case Brothers Music House. We whispered teenage secrets and confided young adult angst. I hosted a […]
Last weekend, I taught at a writing conference. The fact that I was teaching doesn’t mean I wasn’t also listening, learning, and gaining valuable inspiration. One message that came through repeatedly, and clearly, was to move forward, to take the information obtained, do the work, and, as one speaker said, “Just get on with it.” […]
No one disputes the fact that last year was difficult. For our family, as for many others, the hard stuff spilled over into the new year. That’s the way it is. Difficult life seasons don’t follow the calendar, advance with any sort of orderly progression, or resolve in the time frame of our choosing. While […]
My parents have been on my mind this week. If they were still living, they would have celebrated their 74th anniversary March 1. They had the kind of relationship most of us aspire to. Their genuine love and affection for each other were obvious in words and actions. Their relationship was laced with humor and […]
As a wordsmith, I enjoy acquiring new words and using them in my writing. Although I was familiar with the word “hinterland,” I recently ran across it again and its usage piqued my interest. The word is German in origin and was first used in the late 1800s. Hinterland is defined as an uncharted area […]
Growing up, I always dreaded piano recitals. No matter how much I practiced and how well I knew the music, nervousness and self-doubt always managed to take control. Sitting backstage, behind the curtains, staring at my fellow recitalists, waiting for my turn to walk out on stage, made my stomach twist with dread. Etched in […]
The month of February is associated with love. Hearts abound: decorations, in advertising, and on clothing. The bakery section of grocery stores is filled with heart-shaped cookies and cakes, and florists garner some of their biggest sales in February. But while many celebrate with great joy during this month, others are dealing with hurting hearts. […]