This is the time of year when I disappear daily into my office and don’t emerge until late evening. What am I doing? Working on Zoom with high school seniors who are writing their college essays, community college kids applying to their first choice universities for transfer, and college graduates applying to various post-graduate programs…
A Few Old Photos of a Post-College Adventure to Norway
Today, my friend Nick sent me a few photos of our trip to Norway in 1975. The summer right after I graduated from college, we worked on a farm there for six weeks for room and board. Here are the photos: This is a photo of Nils, who was in his 70s, and me at…
An Autumn Soup You’ll Love
As chilly weather approaches, there’s nothing better for lunch or dinner than a tasty soup that’s also good for you. Couple the soup with a green salad full of vegetables, and you’ll have a healthy and delectable meal that is easy to make and satisfying to eat. I love my Instant Pot for soups. Pressure…
A Walk with Little Ethan
I went on a walk with my 21-month-old grandson today He is a master of being in the here and nowHe saunters a while, then stops to pick up a rock on the gravel roadLIfting his new prize high for me to see, “Wock,” he says, then throws it down..”Yes, rock,” I say.He heads to…
A Childhood Memory
When I was growing up, the main meal in our household was served at lunch, and the cook was not my mother or my father, though Daddy could make an impressive breakfast. Instead, lunch was the domain of our housekeeper and cook, Lorene, a heavy-set black woman who wore a white uniform to work Monday…
A Family Favorite: Turkey Quinoa Chili
Yesterday, my nephew Jim, my sister Leslie’s son, texted me from Salt Lake City. “Could you send me your turkey chili recipe?” I wrote back: “Funny you should ask. I made turkey chili today.” That should tell you something about how good this chili is. The quinoa adds a light texture, the turkey is milder…
A Poem, Especially for Writers
It is almost midnight, and I’m tired. This afternoon, I hosted a writing webinar for Story Circle Network and then worked with students until 9:30 p.m. Below, I have posted a poem that is a wonderful antidote to taking oneself too seriously, especially as a writer. I hope you enjoy it. “Do You Have Any…
A Shared Memory Of Norway for My Old Friend, Nick
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…
Prompt: What Lesson Have You Learned about Love?
The best lesson I’ve learned about love is that the greatest gift I can give another person is to stop whatever I’m doing, really listen to what the other person is saying, and then make the added effort to see the world through that person’s eyes. That is easier said than done, especially if the…
On this Veteran’s Day Weekend, Let’s Also Thank Firefighters
Wildfire season has been in full swing in Ventura County this past week. Over 134 homes have been destroyed in nearby Camarillo since Wednesday morning by what is now being called the Mountain Fire. This blaze, fanned by 61 mph Santa Ana winds, went from 1/2 square mile to 16 square miles in just a…
20 Minutes a Day 