I post my daughters’ birth stories pretty much every year on their birthdays, so if you’ve read this one, feel free to skip it. However, for me, it is a special ritual to commemorate the events that occurred on the day all three of my girls arrived on this earth. It makes me happy to…
Happy Birthday, Ron!
Today is our son-in-law Ron’s birthday. He is the husband of our daughter, Liz, and the father of our grandson, Ethan. Ron is a successful lawyer, an excellent cook, a talented sourdough bread maker, a fantastic gardener, a fine son, and an honest, decent, and kind person. We are exceedingly lucky to have him in…
Shifting Worrying to Thoughts of Things I Love
Lately, I’ve discovered that I need some new coping skills. Between the constant news about yet another distressing national or international concern and juggling a few too many plates in the air, I have found myself worrying much more than usual. I also feel a bit overwhelmed at the many details that seem to demand…
Congratulations to Diya!
My writing student Diya had a hard choice regarding colleges since she was accepted at the University of Arizona, Arizona State, Pepperdine, Syracuse, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Merced, San Diego State University, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State LA, and waitlisted at USC, Loyola Marymount, and U Miami. She wrote me late last week…
Bringing a Little Comfort
Growing up, my dad made me milk toast when I was sick. This consisted of two slices of toasted Mrs. Baird’s bread torn up and placed in a big bowl, then covered with warm milk sweetened with sugar. One pat of butter went on top to add a little extra richness. Milk toast was my…
A Poem by Charles Bukowski: Worth Reading for Lots of Reasons
I shared this several years ago, but came across it today and thought it was worth posting again. You’ll see why once you read it. Charles Bukowski died at the age of 73. He was a prolific writer who published 60 books of poems and short stories, in addition to 6 novels. Although he was…
Poem: Several Iterations of Spring
Spring green vibrant, rich, verdantlife-affirmingSpring water babbling, clear, nourishingthirst-quenchingSpring in one’s stepjaunty, bouncy, joyfulenergeticSpring showerscleansing, refreshing, drought-ending earth-quenchingSpring cleaningsweeping, washing, scouringa fresh startSpring forthspontaneous, emerging, inspiring life-enhancingSpring rebirth, renewal, resurrectionrainbow-colored
Winds
The winds of my life have been persistent, like the winds in Texas can sometimes be. Constant, blowing your hair in your face, pushing your car door shut, sending that needed piece of paper in your hand skittering down the street as you chase after it. Not devastating winds, not tornadic whirlwinds or bend-you-double-with-their-force winds,…
Happy Return of my Lost Phone
Last Thursday, Ray and I took the Amtrak train into LA from Ventura to work at the church, clearing out and cleaning the kitchen. The caterer, Scott, who had been renting the kitchen, fell on hard times due to a literal fall, a trip to the hospital, and the contraction of a life-threatening infection while…
A Few Thoughts on Flash Fiction and Nonfiction
I teach a flash fiction and nonfiction class for Story Circle Network. Right now, I am teaching flash nonfiction. Flash is usually a piece that is limited to a maximum of 1000 words. Here are some thoughts on this type of writing. Flash fiction and flash nonfiction differ clearly in content, but given the conciseness…
20 Minutes a Day 