Positano on Italy’s Amalfi Coast I awoke early one morning and walked out onto the balcony of my hotel. The sun was rising, the air cool, the sweet scent of orange blossoms wafted from the blood-orange tree. I saw  the sun-dappled blue of the Mediterranean,  the muted green of olive trees, the vivid fushia of…

I participated in a Story Circle Network poetry webinar today with poet Sharon Charde. The title of her presentation was, “Transforming Your Trauma into Art.” I don’t consider myself a poet but am drawn to this short form of expression. At the end of the 1 1/2 hour presentation, Sharon gave us the prompt: Describe…

Here is a tried and true recipe for an exceptional chocolate cake. The secret ingredient is mayonnaise, which substitutes for the oil and the eggs in the recipe. This is from the Cake Bible and is moist, rich, and “Double-D” delicious. Ray and I don’t eat refined sugar so I substitute one cup of honey…

The bentwood rocker is brown with age and the color of its thin wooden arms – where human arms have rested – is lighter than the rest of the wood. The back has five wooden rungs that are attached to two rounded wooden pieces that stretch three inches above the highest rung and all the…

Over the past two days, I have had three separate church experiences. Last night, I attended the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood, where I read two of the nine readings and then participated in the Mass. This was a marathon event of two hours followed by a dessert potluck and time…

Good Friday BY MARIA MELENDEZ KELSON Jesus, I want my sins back. My prattle, pride, and private prices —  climbing, clinching, clocking —  I might loan you a few for the evening, so you don’t show up at your own crucifixion naked of all purpose. But for God’s sake, don’t spill any redemption on them! They’re my signature…

Tonight I will share Mary Oliver’s poem entitled Gethsemane. I believe she describes this night better than I can. Gethsemane Mary Oliver The grass never sleeps.Or the roses.Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning. Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept. The cricket has such splendid fringe on…

I spent more than a few Friday nights in the drive-in theater in Bonham, Texas in my teenage years. Yes, I was there with my boyfriend, Sam, and I would be less than honest if I said that we ever saw more than half of any movie. There was something so private – despite having…

Today is the 10th birthday of my beloved oldest grandchild Luna Isabella Pacheco Beaty. She is in 4th grade in a dual immersion program in Spanish and English and is an avid artist, reader, writer, and filmmaker. She also is quick-witted and the first to tease me about my “terrible” accent when I try to…

Today, I spent several hours finishing up my book that will be printed by StoryWorth. This was a gift given to me by Sarah, Gregorio, and the kids for my birthday last year and I have been edging up to the deadline of getting it completed. However, as of today, I have a completed book…