One of the classes I teach at Story Circle Network, a non-profit organization that encourages women to tell their stories, is on Flash Nonfiction. (“Flash” means works that are no longer than 1200 words.) One might think that nothing important could be expressed in so few words, but I am here to tell you that…

I was walking the other day in downtown Los Angeles when I saw him – a man in his mid-forties, slight of build, with a square jaw and dark eyes. My heart jumped in my chest, John! I wanted to shout out, but did not. My brother, you see, died back in 1991 and this…

I am tired but happy after meeting the Pacheco Beaty family at 10:30 this morning for breakfast and then bringing Luna and Nico home for an overnight visit. The kids will head home mid-morning tomorrow to see Mama, Daddy and baby Lyla. We went to the Habitat for Humanity “Restore” after breakfast in Glendale, then…

In the spring of 1975 when I was 22, my boyfriend Nick and I decided we would go to Europe after I graduated from college in June. (He was already finished with school and up for an adventure). The goal was to go for a year and the original plan (or at least the one…

Today, I have been attending to details in my life that usually fall through the cracks. For example, I looked up my insurance benefits to see if I am covered for a new pair of glasses. (I am). I also made a doctor’s appointment for a physical and blood work (first opening April 20th. That’s…

I made this chicken pot pie today since Ray is still sick and I thought he might like a little something special. I used the recipe below, which I found on sallysbakingaddiction.com, a spot where I’ve found quite a lot of recipes I like. I made my own pie crusts (a goal of mine instead…

Well, I don’t know if I can call this a relapse or simply the next phase of this particular flu, but Ray is back in bed with a terrible cough now, red runny eyes and a low-grade fever. These are the same symptoms Sarah and Lyla experienced a few weeks back and a variation of…

This is a delicious cake that I made last week. I have included the original recipe and put in the alternative sweeteners I use in parentheses. Bake it as long as you can so that it gets done through and through. This is something you can serve for company and it can be made a…

Ray had a fever-free day today. He was moving slowly at first, but by mid-afternoon was back to life as usual.  I guess the good news is that particular strain of the flu is over in 2 – 3 days and is primarily body aches and fairly high temperatures. It could be worse! So far,…