Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
This week marks another step forward in closing an important chapter in my life. The remaining furniture and other items in my aunt’s house were removed for donation. I haven’t been back to the house to see it empty because I know it will be hard emotionally. I also know it is a necessary step. […]
Life events pass by quickly and we don’t always have opportunity for reflection. Often, we are so task-oriented we don’t allow ourselves time to ruminate on meaning, emotions, and impact. This has been the case for me regarding our trip to Israel. Our schedule was relentless. Then, when we returned, I hit the ground running. […]
Both of my parents loved photography. During World War II, following the departure of all the male photographers, my mother became the photographer for the local newspaper. She was on call 24/7 and learned a lot about telling a story through pictures. My father also enjoyed photography and owned a variety of cameras, including movie […]
On our trip to Israel, we saw lots of walls—torn down walls, damaged walls, still-intact walls, rebuilt walls, walls to keep in, walls to keep out, and sacred walls. As I scan through all my pictures, and see various walls, I think about the walls we erect in our lives. Following are some thoughts: Protective […]
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Israel. The sights, sounds, smells, food, culture, and history bombarded our senses and overloaded our brains. Information poured at us with little time to absorb or process, somewhat akin to drinking from a fire hose. And yet, what we saw and experienced is etched on […]
Some people approach a new year with uncertainty and dread, fearing what is ahead rather than viewing a new year as a blank, white screen, or tablet, on which to craft a fresh story. A new year is refreshing, full of possibilities and hope. You can choose what you will do with the year ahead, […]
With the close of another year, do you look back with joy, or are you happy to view 2022 only briefly in the rearview mirror? Personally, I am happy to bid farewell to a year of uncertainty, caregiving, surgery, and grief. However, in sifting through the remnants of family members’ lives, I experienced joyous moments […]
Last week, someone I don’t know took the time to email me, telling me how much an article I wrote five or six months ago meant to her. As a writer, knowing your words have a positive impact on others is a great gift. If this person hadn’t spent those few minutes writing a brief […]
What does holiday hospitality mean to you? Do you think of a spotless home, a lavish spread of food, fashionably dressed guests, elaborate party favors, and amazing gifts? What if, instead, hospitality conjured images of your home filled with family and friends, but also those who would otherwise spend the holidays alone. Recently, we hosted […]
In recent months, I have spent lots of time sorting, cleaning out, and throwing away at my maternal grandparents’ home, where two of my aunts also lived. It’s been an arduous task going through the remnants of multiple lives. Sifting through photos and other memorabilia has also been emotionally overwhelming at times. But as I’ve […]