The Countdown
The countdown begins sometime in early October, usually brought by the first crisp days of autumn, taking us from our memories of long summer days to the anticipation of the holidays. My daughters love many of our traditions, including decorating the tree, making homemade rolls and pies and cookies, hanging stockings, and Christmas Eve festivities [...]
New Book Announcement and Contest
Some of you have waited for over a year to hear from me regarding my next novel. Well, I finally have news! As you may remember, I’ve been working for what feels like forever on an historical fiction set in the American south during the Great Depression. That book, titled, Duet for Three Hands, is [...]
This Season of Slings and Arrows
I have long thought that anyone who does not regularly – or ever – gaze up and see the wonder and glory of a dark night sky filled with countless stars loses a sense of their fundamental connectedness to the universe. ~Brian Greene, American Physicist If we lose love and self-respect for each other, this [...]
The Wind Howled
He who loves 50 people, has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes. ~Buddha But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected to everything. ~ Allan Watts I have a lot of friends. [...]
Deer in the Grass
The dark consumes me for weeks. Depression. Despair. Something I cannot name. I have trouble getting out of bed. I cannot work. I cannot eat or sleep. I cannot see hope. During this I have an annual checkup. A result from the blood work alarms my doctor. I go in for more tests and the [...]
Roast Chicken and Unravelling
2 AM and she calls me ’cause I’m still awake, “Can you help me unravel my latest mistake? ~ Anna Nalick, 2 A.M. My maternal grandmother’s house smelled of bacon and maple syrup. Born and raised in Alabama, she was a product of the southern tradition. There was nothing that could not be undone or [...]
With or Without Our Panties
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. ~ Buddha There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. ~ Buddha It is an unusually sunny October morning and world communion Sunday at our Presbyterian church. My six-year-old [...]
One Phone Call From Our Knees
She got the call today One out of the gray And when the smoke cleared It took her breath away She said she didn’t believe It could happen to me I guess we’re all one phone call from our knees ~ Matt Kearny – Closer to Love The day begins with Patches needing to go [...]
Love and Loss
All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson A renowned actress was asked on national television, “What is the meaning of life?” “Loss,” she replied. I was young then and everything in me screamed – No! Not loss. Love is the meaning of [...]
Go North
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” Oscar Wilde It was September 1992. Everything I owned was packed in my 1985 Honda Accord and I was headed out of Los Angeles, its downtown in my rearview mirror – destination Seattle, Washington. I was filled with excitement, with [...]
