I am very tired after a long, but wonderful day. Sweet Liz and Ron graduated this morning from Southwestern Law School with the ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium. Friends and family were there for the celebration. This is my great niece and nephew, Sophie and Eli, holding granddaughter, Luna. Rachael, Sarah and Gregorio Ray…
Author: lenleatherwood
I am a native Texan who has lived for the past 30 years in Southern California. I am a published author of both short memoir and fiction, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a nationally award-winning writing coach, an editor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. In addition, I am the mother of three grown daughters of whom I am extremely proud, a grandmother of four darling children and the wife of a man I still love after 44 years.
Thank You, Mom
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and I am sorry that my mother – Helen W. Leatherwood, Ph.D. – will not be present to see her granddaughter, Elizabeth, walk across the stage to receive her Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School. I will feel this way again next month when Rachael receives her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA,…
Graduation Day
This is a graduation weekend here at our house. Our daughter, Liz, and her boyfriend, Ron, will graduate from law school on Sunday at 10 am. They will walk across the stage at the Shrine Auditorium to receive their JD degrees after completing a rigorous accelerated 2-year program. Our nephew from Utah, Jim, his wife,…
A Few Glimpses of Childhood in No Particular Order
I remember: Warm pavement under my bare feet Doodle bugs tickling my arms Train whistles in the distance My father’s biscuits and gravy My mother’s typing The smell of chlorine at the pool in summer Chicken and dumplings Incense at church Freshly mown grass My dad’s old farm truck My Uncle Doc’s café My Uncle…
4 Star Honey-Sweetened Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
This recipe is from Rose Levy Birnbaum’s The Cake Bible, my favorite book for cakes, hands-down. This cake is moist and delicious. Don’t let the addition of mayonnaise throw you off. This is a cake you can depend on with company coming. I have never had one problem with it even when substituting honey for…
After a Long Day and a Pesky Cold
I need to go to bed. We have been up and running since early this morning. My nose is also running from that malady that my family had last week, which is apparently contagious. I am alternatively stuffed up and then drippy-nosed. I say, “Pick a position and stick with it, for goodness sake,” but…
Sitting in My Living Room in Texas
I am sitting in my living room in Sherman, Texas. It is 10:35 and I need to write for 20 minutes. I have had a long, but good day seeing old friends and making at least one new one. Tomorrow, we will be up early so we can attend to business that needs to be…
Lost Innocence
My recent jury experience brings one lesson home to me loud and clear: we are not in the 1960’s anymore. Gone are the days of anti-establishment thoughts and feelings, Us against The MAN. No, this is a time of strict adherence to the rules, coupled with a distinct distrust of the motives of the little…
It is Done!
Jury duty is over! Hurray. I can’t say that I am happy with the verdict, but it was certainly a fair process – everyone taking turns to express their opinions and standing up for important points. Still, my side was voted down. This was a civil case about a young woman who believed that a…
On this May Day
Ray is sniffling and coughing in the next room. His eyes are red and he looks tired. I am certain he is suffering from a hefty allergy attack. Rachael has already gone upstairs to bed after deciding to take the day off from work so she “can feel better” after throwing up several times two…
