I have recently decided to expand my teaching of writing to include small groups for adults (I teach primarily one-on-one and online); so I am offering a writing class in my home for the first time. This will span 5 weeks and will be for 1 1/2 hours every Wednesday from September 25 – October…
Month: September 2013
Lessons I’ve Learned from Losing 4 Siblings
As some of you know, I am from a family with six children (seven, except my little brother, Robert Alexander, died shortly after birth). All my older siblings: my sister, Leslie (11 years older); and my brothers, John, 9 years older; Jim, 8 years older; and George, 3 years older; have died. The only sibling…
Back in LA, but So Tired
I am sitting here in LA with eyelids that will barely stay open. We woke up at 3:15 am to make a 6 am flight from DFW airport, which is an hour and fifteen minutes from Sherman. We flew to Phoenix, then on to Long Beach via US Air. I had students today so that’s…
When Life Changes Without Warning
This morning, I headed across the street here in Texas to see how progress was going on our renovation for what we call the Dimmit House (that’s the family who owned the house the longest way-back-when). I noticed that my husband, Ray, was over talking to our neighbors, a young couple who moved to our…
“Restore” in More Ways Than One
Today I struck up a conversation with a young African-American woman working at the McKinney “Restore,” a favorite spot of ours when shopping for building materials. I have noticed this young woman on previous visits because she is always attentive and proactive with the customers, as well as efficient. In fact, I’ve said to myself…
Scene 3 of Story
The distant shot-gun blast caused both Zachary’s and his mother to jump in surprised. “Oh dear,” Mary Catherine said, rushing over and sliding the bolt across the back door. “Zachary, run quick and lock the front door. Who knows what kind of hooligans are going to be out and about because of this disaster!” Zachary…
Tonight in Sherman
We are in our last days in Sherman before heading back to LA on Thursday. We are very busy trying to wrap everything up before leaving. So, tonight’s 20 minutes a day post is going to be brief since it is already 12:01 Central Time and I am sore need of going to bed. Here…
Thoughts on This story I’ve Been Writing
I am writing a first draft story that people are reading in its first draft form. This is good in that I get encouragement as I proceed; it’s not so good because I think of a new idea after the installment has gone out and I don’t quite know how to correct what I’ve just…
2nd Scene of Story
Zachary watched as Sadie slipped into the back seat of his father’s Pierce Arrow alongside her grandmother. He and his mother stood on the back porch and waved as they drove down the road in the opposite direction from downtown. “Oh, my Lord,” Mary Catherine sighed. “I can’t imagine the pain our sweet Johanna is…
20 Minutes a Day 