I am reposting this story after revising it this evening. A student of mine wrote a story with a similar theme, and her story inspired me to go back and take one more look at mine. Thanks, Joy. Mary Louise awoke at three am to the distinct smell of bacon frying. For just one moment, she wondered…

Surrender and acceptance. I actively work on these acts of faith pretty much daily. I would love to report that I have evolved to a point where I am no longer bothered by “earthly” concerns, but that would be far from the truth. I have strong opinions, a quick temper, and resist “rising above it,”…

At the end of July, I’ll be teaching a 5-week online class for Story Circle Network entitled “Food and Memoir, A Delectable Combination.” I’ve taught this class before, and it’s one of my favorites since food is such a great catalyst for memoir writing. After all, many memories are tied to food, such as my…

Once a year in the summer, the alpacas have a day when the shearer comes to remove their heavy coats, trim their teeth, and cut their nails. They also get wormed and checked for parasites. Last Saturday was that day. LeRoy, Buttercup, and Finn had their beauty treatment and now they look significantly smaller than…

Today is my son-in-law Gregorio’s birthday. He and my daughter Sarah have been together since 2009 and were married in 2013. They have three beautiful children and have created a happy and healthy life for themselves and their kids. Gregorio is open, honest, hardworking, and a devoted husband and father. He has a wealth of…

Growing up, life settled into rituals and routinesGet up, wash face, brush teethCereal for breakfast except for Saturdays whenDaddy made eggs, bacon, biscuits, and gravySunday dinner was roast beef or ham with green beans and potatoesWeekday meals were steak, pork chops, chicken, or meatloafFriday meant fish sticks or tuna casseroleSaturday was leftover day or toasted…

For the past several days, I have been organizing our storage bins for part of every day. This means equal parts, putting things away, and tossing what is no longer needed. I like this activity. I like to get things straight. I am one of those people who can walk into a completely chaotic space,…

My friend, Judy Alter, died unexpectedly on Saturday after a short battle with cancer. She was 85. She and I were part of a Works-in-Progress group through Story Circle Network, and we also read and commented regularly on each other’s daily blogs. I never met Judy in person, but that didn’t keep me from holding…

Dear Friends, This is my attempt to catch up with you after a tumultuous two weeks. I admit I am feeling a bit lost, and so I plan to use this time to simply get my thoughts on the page. I have no idea where this is going or where I will end up, but…