Recently, I was reminded of a time in my life when I was deeply hurt because I was excluded. I wasn’t chosen to participate in an activity while most of the teens in my age group were. No explanation was given for the selection criteria, but for the first time in my life, I felt […]

After several days of heavy rain and wind, a neighbor’s tree uprooted and fell across our street. Until the public works folks arrived to cut it up and haul it off, it was interesting to watch the reaction of drivers when they encountered this obstacle in their path. Some drove up and stopped several car-lengths […]

  I’ve noticed I don’t have the drive I once did for completing projects. Whether a craft, home-improvement, or writing project, forward motion often lags and procrastination wins. I seem to have no problem gathering supplies or information, but then distraction or laziness or lack of enthusiasm throws a monkey wrench into the actual implementation. […]

I once heard the story of a man whose car got stuck in reverse. Instead of calling a tow truck to transport his car to the shop, he backed all the way home on the forward moving traffic side of the road. Needless to say, he got some pretty strange looks, heard lots of horn […]

I just returned from a conference in New York City. While I learned a lot, was presented with some excellent opportunities, and enjoyed the experience, it didn’t take much of all-night noise, bustling crowds, loud voices, honking horns, sirens, and words that came at me faster than my southern ears could process to know New […]

As a writer, I’ve learned to expect critique and editing of my writing. At times, I don’t agree with the comments or the edits, but I try to take a step back, get an overview of my words from the editor’s perspective, and be receptive to the editor’s changes. Often, the edits improve my work, […]

Recently, I celebrated a new-decade birthday. I happily assumed successful navigation into this next tens bracket with a low-key family dinner and a minimum of fanfare. When my daughter called a few days later and suggested getting together for casual dinner at a local restaurant, I didn’t think the invitation was anything unusual. She met […]

When I was a child, my uncle had an in-ground swimming pool. At the time, this was somewhat of a novelty. I had taken swimming lessons and was confident swimming in the shallow end of the pool, but was afraid to venture beyond the line that separated shallow and deep water. I watched my cousins […]

Recently, I arrived at the gym for my usual morning workout and realized I didn’t have my phone. I changed my normal routine that morning, and instead of going straight to the gym, I searched the house for something I needed later in the day. When I realized I was phone-less, I thought about going […]

I love spring, that time of year when a dull, bleak landscape puts on a new outfit. Bareness gives way to an almost imperceptible green. Daffodils show sunny faces among brittle leaves. The dead-looking sticks of the hydrangea bush are suddenly dotted with specks of growth. Birds chirp a tune—a one-note drone alternating with a […]