“Thank you,” Mary Ellen called out to the locksmith as he climbed into his utility truck. “Enjoy your new treasures,” he said, then slammed the truck door and drove away. Mary Ellen hurried back to her den, where the newly-unlocked chest sat waiting for her discovery. She was just lifting the lid when her husband…
Happy 43rd, Ray!
Today, I made a chai anniversary cake with cream cheese frosting for Ray and me and wrote in raisins on the top, “Happy 43rd.” What I didn’t realize until I stepped back to examine my handiwork was that the 43rd looked as if it was about to slip off the top edge of the cake….
Repost: Get Me to the Church On Time
I wrote this several years back when Gregorio and Sarah first got married. It’s a sweet story and I couldn’t resist sharing it again, particularly since it’s June and this is the month all of this happened. They’ve had two more children since that time. Luna is now ten, Nico is seven, and Lyla is…
Poor Librarians These Days!
This cartoon comes from FunnyTimes.com. I think it says more in one glimpse than I could convey in a couple of thousand words. With that in mind, I’ll just say, “Point well made,” and “Enough already.” Let’s honor classic literature and also live and let live. May we overcome our fear of the “other” so…
Grandpa and Ethan Gardening
Liz was right behind Ethan in case he fell. He stood up quite impressively for about thirty seconds. Not bad for a 5 1/2 month old. Looks like he might like gardening based on his eyeing that potting soil. Of course, he may have been thinking how good it might taste if he could get…
Singing at Carnegie Hall – A Memory
Written June 2002 I sang last Monday night on the main stage at Carnegie Hall. Len Leatherwood from little Bonham, Texas, sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City. How did THAT happen? I am not an exceptional singer. I wish I were, but I’m not. I’m a good singer with a decent soprano voice….
What I’ll Pick If There Actually Is Reincarnation
A few weeks back, I was riding with Rachael and saw a hawk soaring through the sky above a wooded area we were passing. “If there’s reincarnation,” I said, “then I’d love to come back as one of those birds.” Rachael shook her head, “Mom, who says stuff like that? Only you.” My thought: I…
Poem: A Dent in Life Today
Today, I attended to details of one kind or another. Sorted through household items to donate; Returned tools to their rightful spots; Haggled with an insurance company over an inaccurate bill; Answered time-sensitive emails; Cooked; Tidied; Worked with a high school student on his Macbeth final exam Though insignificant in themselves, these details add up…
5-Star Recommendation for “Somebody Somewhere” on HBO (Max)
I am in love with the series “Somebody Somewhere,” which is produced by the Duplass Brothers, who are only getting better and better at creating masterfully written television shows. The best part of this series is that it depicts ordinary people in a small farming community in Kansas and allows them a whole range of…
My Day in Photos
Our family had a lovely day up in Ojai today. Here is a portion of our day in photos. Liz, Sarah, and the Kids at the ice cream store Gregorio, Rachael, Andrew, and Chula, the Scottie. Nico and Lyla Rachael and Andrew Liz and Ethan Nico, Luna, Gregorio, and Lyla Ron and Ethan
20 Minutes a Day 