I have often and sadly noted the distance between what I envision something will be like, and what it actually turns out to be. Nowhere is the distance between the real and the ideal more clear than in the delirium that periodically makes me attempt to knit a shawl, or take up scrapbooking, or cook […]
Continue readingDuring the Christmas season, I often wish that I’d spent the past year being a better person—kinder, more thoughtful, more actively engaged in helping. As a result, I usually make a futile year-end attempt to cram 12 months’ worth of doing good into a spree of charitable giving, cookie baking, and good will toward men. […]
Continue readingI’ve read several articles lately on the debate over teaching cursive writing in schools or tossing it out. Those in favor of ditching it argue that with texting, tablets and computer keyboards, there’s no need for cluttering up the curriculum with a skill whose time has passed. On the other hand, advocates of teaching “longhand” […]
Continue readingWhen I was a kid, I’d sometimes go with my father to visit his favorite aunt, Florence. She was often seated in front of a large window from which she could see the birds that came to feeders in her yard. She’d tell me little stories about their antics and how much pleasure it gave […]
Continue readingMy husband Gary is a man of many stories. He’s traveled extensively and has never met a person he didn’t want to get to know. Thus, he’s collected many anecdotes which he enjoys recounting. He often doesn’t recall the exact details, but it never stops him from telling the tale. Not so long ago, we […]
Continue readingThis month instead of a regular post, you can get a peek at the latest Leah Nash mystery, Dangerous Pursuits which will be release October 20th, and is available for pre-order here. Jancee smiles flirtatiously at the man as she flips her long hair over one shoulder and settles back in the seat. She doesn’t […]
Continue readingFrom the desk in my office I can look out across the river. When I do, my eyes are always drawn to a small clearing in the woods on the opposite side. Sometimes, if I stare really hard, I can almost see my friend Irene standing there. We took a long, meandering walk at least […]
Continue readingWe live with a river not far from our back door. My office faces it and. as a result, I spend an inordinate amount of time staring out the windows. One day as I did, I saw a red tail hawk make an amazing high-speed almost vertical drop to the water. He rose carrying a […]
Continue readingMy husband Gary is a man of action, not words. In fact, he doesn’t waste a lot of time searching for the right word, or even sometimes for any combination of consonants and vowels that is actually a word at all. Any verbal utterance that will take him from one idea to the next will […]
Continue readingI am not the best person at staying in touch. At every job I’ve ever worked there have been people who made difficult days easier, interminable meetings shorter, and unbearable bosses tolerable. When I’ve left, or they’ve left, I’ve always meant it when I said, “Keep in touch.” But it takes work to maintain a friendship […]
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