Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
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. […]
Earlier this week, my husband and I watched the first installment of a PBS drama that focused on the final years of slavery in early nineteenth century colonial Jamaica. As always, the portrayal of the brutality and injustice of slavery was jarring and unsettling. While we do not experience the type of slavery present centuries […]
Several friends enjoy working jigsaw puzzles. Often, they post pictures of their completed puzzles on social media and mention if the puzzle had an extra piece or a missing piece. When a piece is missing, the satisfaction of completing the puzzle is diminished. Our lives are as intricate and multifaceted as a multi-colored, many-pieced jigsaw […]
For the second week in a row, I spent the day in the ER with my husband. His health has been a rollercoaster ride since November and has left us feeling as if we are constantly on the edge of the next emergent situation. We would happily give up our ER frequent flier designation. Much […]
Several days last week, I saw a Ram Jack truck parked in the driveway of a neighbor’s house. Seeing that truck let me know the neighbors are having some sort of structural issues, probably with the foundation. In recent months, many of us have felt we were dealing with issues that rattled our foundations and […]