Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
Spring came early this year, and I am glad. I needed the return of color to brighten the solemnness of loss. Following are observations on the healing power of nature: Light One of the joys of spring is the change in light and the return of warmth. Although there are days when winter’s chill lingers, […]
Music has always been an important part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on the glider, between my aunts, my mother’s sisters, on the front porch of my grandparents’ house on Cornell Street. On summer evenings, the porch was a place to escape the heat of the unairconditioned house. Invariably, […]
With each passing year, Thanksgiving becomes less and less recognized. Merchants haul out Christmas decorations, and advertisers warn of supply chain issues and shipping delays, while encouraging early shopping. I love Christmas—it’s meaning, observance, and celebration, but ignoring Thanksgiving on a November Thursday, and year-round, is a misstep. Giving thanks is an action that is […]
Do world events disturb you? The turbulence of hostile government takeovers, an ongoing pandemic, and personal challenges loom large and threaten to rob us of peace. Often, it takes effort to avoid being pulled into the vortex of tumult and succumbing to fear. I’m not suggesting we shut ourselves off from what is going on […]
Last week, our family gathered to celebrate the life of an amazing woman. Technically, she was my cousin-in-law, but I thought of her as blood kin because she was like us. Any time you were with her you felt special. Her laughter and smile were contagious. She was a great storyteller, but more than that, […]
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 […]
Years ago, a TV commercial portrayed a hectic day in the life of a woman. It ended with her pouring bath beads into a filling bathtub. She looked toward the camera and said the name of the product followed by the words, “Take me away.” In the years since that commercial, I’ve used that phrase […]
As I sat on our deck early one morning, I experienced peace for the first time in many weeks. A gentle breeze rustled the trees. Alternating cicada chatter and birdsong filled the air. Dappled sunlight painted patterns on the lawn and puffy white clouds floated by in a bright azure sky. For those moments, to-do […]
Years ago, the trademark symbol of one of the television networks was a stylized peacock with vivid multi-colored tail feathers. The words “brought to you in living color,” along with the peacock, preceded programing. Perhaps the trademark originated when television transitioned from black and white to color. Regardless, it was a vivid visual image that […]
None of us probably dreamed of a time in our lives when we’d be instructed to remain in our homes and not interact with others. Yet here we are, doing just that. Initially, time at home, away from a demanding schedule, is freeing, but similar to being snowed in for a few days, the slow-down […]