I spent more than a few Friday nights in the drive-in theater in Bonham, Texas in my teenage years. Yes, I was there with my boyfriend, Sam, and I would be less than honest if I said that we ever saw more than half of any movie. There was something so private – despite having…

Today is the 10th birthday of my beloved oldest grandchild Luna Isabella Pacheco Beaty. She is in 4th grade in a dual immersion program in Spanish and English and is an avid artist, reader, writer, and filmmaker. She also is quick-witted and the first to tease me about my “terrible” accent when I try to…

Today, I spent several hours finishing up my book that will be printed by StoryWorth. This was a gift given to me by Sarah, Gregorio, and the kids for my birthday last year and I have been edging up to the deadline of getting it completed. However, as of today, I have a completed book…

“You’re mother lied to you. That’s the truth.” Those were the first words my father said when he came to see me in the hospital. Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your sensitivity. Why was I in the hospital you might ask? I was having a delicate brain operation to remove a tumor. I had been suffering from…

Sometimes money is not what it’s cracked up to be. I have met some of the poorest rich people and some of the richest poor people. An external focus seems to be the key. Self-absorption does not a lovely person make. An example of a poverty-stricken rich man was someone I had the occasion to…

My son-in-law Ron makes this dish without greens or jalapenos and serves the roasted sweet potatoes on a flour tortilla with feta cheese and freshly grated cabbage. He calls his dish sweet potato tacos and I could eat them all day. I think the addition of greens, pickled jalapenos, and brine could deepen the delicious…

“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” -Alan W. Watts I believe this quote from Alan W. Watts is the absolute truth. The operative words are “engaged,” “here and now,”…

Consistency is a trait I value. I grew up in a home where people were not always consistent, so knowing what to expect on a day-to-day basis is something I find comforting. When I was growing up, there was a certain consistency to life: Lorene arrived every weekday at 8:30 without fail, she was consistent….

Lyla Gabriella Pacheco Beaty turned four today and I am very happy to celebrate her life in a few photos tonight. She is a darling little girl with a big smile, lots of energy, and a sharp mind. She is also one of those kids who likes to dance around a room, stay close to…

My older sister died in March 2012 of what looked like Alzheimer’s but was instead dementia that resulted from brain trauma. At 50, she hit her head while biking and suffered a debilitating concussion. Though she appeared to fully recover, over the next nineteen years we watched as her memory slowly faded. This poem was…