On Friday, Ray and I made the train trip south to Oceanside to see a student of mine, her husband, and two of her closest friends, all vacationing from Washington State. Kathie and I know each other from Story Circle Network, a 27-year-old nonprofit that encourages women to tell their stories. Kathie has taken classes…
The Quiet Language of Touch
I have a strong memory of spending a lot of time when I was a little girl snuggled up in bed next to my mother, her skin warm and her smell comforting. In that memory, my mother is always reading, and her arm is around me so that I am nestled next to her. I…
All Abroad: The Train’s A’Coming
The anniversary of my mother’s death is tomorrow. She’s been gone 26 years. I wrote this piece a while back, but I think it expresses some of my thoughts on my mother’s passing. I loved her very much and miss her every day. A train is a means of conveyance that moves on a track…
Birthday Celebration Today
Our family celebrated the January birthdays of Nico, Liz, and me today. We gathered at Sarah and Gregorio’s and had lots of fun. Here are a few pictures of our time together.
On the Eve of Another Year
On this last day before my birthday, let me say a few things that I’ve learned this year. This is certainly not a definitive list, and the items are not placed in any particular order of importance. Many more could easily be added. However, for today, as I get ready to retire for the evening,…
Green Against Gray Skies
A long day of workStudents from morning ’til nightGreen against gray skies I love my studentsThey are smart and fresh and strongWhite flashes of light My life is enrichedThrough this “enrichment” I giveThe mourning dove coos How did this happen?This unplanned, but happy life?Sweet like gardenias Gratitude fills meThe gift of life so fragileFar off…
The Path I Didn’t Know Was Waiting
Earlier in my life, I thought I was being called to be an Episcopal priest. Sarah and Elizabeth were both little, and I don’t think Rachael was born yet. We were attending an Episcopal church out in Pottsboro at the time, and I was close to the priest, Father Forrest. When I spoke to him,…
A New Version of My Already Excellent Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
As a non-beef eater, I am happy to report that I learned a while back that I can produce a decent meatloaf made with ground turkey instead of beef. It’s been a staple since then and is excellent with mashed potatoes and green beans, or with a green salad. Perfect comfort food. But recently, I…
For Liz, on Turning Forty
Today, my middle daughter Liz is the big 4–0. It’s hard to imagine how that’s even possible, since it seems like just a minute and a half ago that she was a toddler. But whether I want to believe it or not, it is true that back in 1986, little Jean Elizabeth Beaty arrived in…
Happy Birthday to my 1st Cousin Lee
My cousin Lee is six days older than I am. We grew up together and have remained friends for all of our lives. The past year has brought some health challenges to Lee, but I’m very happy to say he is slowly on the mend. Lee lives in Austin, and I’m in California, but we…
20 Minutes a Day 