An older friend of ours, an antique dealer in Texas, was buried today. She was 83 and up until 2 or 3 years ago, she was out and about in her Camaro convertible, always on the look out for antiques. She had a great sense of humor and a real joy of life though she…
Category: Timed Writing
Practical Lessons of Jury Duty After One Week
I can’t talk about the case since we are still active jurors, but I can mention a few things I’ve learned so far that won’t go against the judge’s orders. When you’re a juror: 1) Lunch becomes VERY important. 2) Sunshine becomes VERY important. 3) Breaks become VERY important. 4) Learning your fellow juror’s names…
A Delicious Honey-Sweetened Flourless Chocolate Cake
My husband loves dark chocolate. I made this cake recipe specifically for him since I knew that it would make him exceedingly happy. It did, by the way. This is EASY and fast and delicious. It is not for anyone who is not completely in love with dark chocolate, but for those of you who…
My Mother’s Gift
I was twelve years old when I scanned through the beautifully bound books that comprised our family library. I don’t know why I decided on that particular day to look through these volumes. Perhaps it was cold outside and the idea of curling up with a book in a cozy room was alluring. Whatever the…
When Life Gives You Lemons…
I am sitting outside my back door in a small alcove that we’ve furnished with two chairs, a bench and three small glass-topped tables. There is a lemon tree to my right filled with Meyer lemons, a wonderful variety that is sweeter and has a thinner skin than regular lemons. The dogs are out back…
Two Weeks Since Luna’s Birth – What I’ve Learned
I have been a grandmother for a little over two weeks now. This is what I know in this very short amount of time: 1) I have not felt this sort of feeling for 22 years since my youngest child, Rachael, was born. 2) Babies have the softest skin imaginable. 3) Luna turned and somehow…
Jury Duty, a Beautiful Park, and Boston
It is 11:17 pm and I better hurry if I’m going to honor my commitment of writing for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. Ah, but what to write? I am on jury duty for what will be 7 to 10 days. I can tell you that much, but no more. We received very…
Jury Selection and Rachael’s Birthday
I have been selected to serve on a jury in a civil case. The judge said we can expect the trial to go from 7 – 10 days. We had jury selection today and we begin tomorrow. I am happy to do my civic duty though the timing could have been better. Ray and I…
A Happy Day at the Getty
My niece, Katie Leatherwood, and her friend, John Allen, are visiting us from Texas for the next few days. They have been to Coachella to the music festival and have come to LA before heading up Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco. (One of the prettiest drives anywhere in the world!) Anyway, today we headed…
The Worst and the Best
A sad day indeed when people watching a marathon are injured or die from a bomb blast. Worse yet, when children are hurt or killed, or their parents fall victim right in front of their kids’ eyes. A joyous occasion turns tragic in an instant While the world watches from their television sets. Part of the…
20 Minutes a Day 