Many of you know that I wrote recently that my friend Peter is dying. What I didn’t tell you was what happened right after I found out about this news. The gist is this: My husband Ray withheld from me for two day the news of Peter’s terminal illness. I was working long hours with several students…
Category: Los Angeles
Hot Here in SoCal
Ray is sound asleep on the bed beside me. The dogs are asleep on the floor. William, the cat, is outside and, no doubt, busy hunting. We are in our only air-conditioned room in CA – our bedroom – with the air conditioner on along with the fan. It has been hot here by Southern…
Well Worth Seeing: “Life Itself”
If you liked the late film critic Roger Ebert, then this documentary is one you might one to see. Poignant, brazenly open, and deeply touching. You will see a passion for life that is hard to equal. Roger Ebert provides an example for living while dying that is beyond anything most of us have ever…
Flagstaff
It is 10:49 pm and we have made it to Flagstaff. That is 15 hours of driving. Hopefully, that makes tomorrow a fairly easy day. That will depend on the 4th of July traffic going into LA. We already know that the traffic leaving LA will be horrific tomorrow afternoon. Do people actually go to…
Rachael: Back in CA
My daughter Rachael ended her year in Texas today. She flew back to LA to start her new job as nanny to her niece Luna for the year and to start a LSAT preparation course so she can apply to law school for entrance in 2015. This is a win-win for Rachael and for sister…
Life Shifts
Cool night. Nice westerly wind. Late. Sounds of the highway off in the distance. Crickets nearby. Tired after a long day’s work. Organizing junk, mowing, editing, visiting, renting out an apartment, and eating dinner with friends. Not much detail tonight. Just a chance to get this down before a quick bath to wash off the…
A Friend Who Is Dying
My friend Peter is dying. He is 56. He hasn’t felt great for the last few months, but thought he might have some low-grade bug that was dragging him down. As it turned out, he had cancer that started in his colon and has since infiltrated his liver and his lungs. The doctor has given…
At the Viper Room Tonight in LA
Tonight Ray and I went to the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard with Liz and Ron to hear several Australian bands that are currently on a “Passport Approved” tour headed up by two of our friends, Monte Malone and Ryan Benyo, who are music producers with A & R Worldwide, Musexpo. We know Monte and…
“Chill Out” Anniversary Evening
Last night, Ray and I watched two movies to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. Since we are always on the move, true luxury for us is doing nothing. The old “chill out” remedy is most often the best for both of us since our daily routine doesn’t build in a lot of chill time. So,…
My Writing Teacher Life…
I had students this afternoon, two of them, cousins, who are both sweet and well-mannered boys. One is going into 6th grade, the other is in college, and both need help with their writing. As it turns out, I have two more of their extended family I also see regularly, two older boys, one still…
20 Minutes a Day 