I was just looking at a group selfie, taken a few weeks ago at a Christmas brunch with my long-time friends from high school. For the record, we graduated together forty-four years ago this spring, so we'e known each other a very long time. It's only been in the past five years or so that … Continue reading One Earth
I have not been the most consistent blogger in the world. If there’s anyone out there paying attention this is not such a big surprise. My last post was over a year ago. In that episode, I announced that my poor old sweet-faced kitty Angel was dying of cancer. I got all philosophical and weepy … Continue reading Greetings Blogosphere!
Last week my 13-year-old cat, Angel, was diagnosed with cancer. Her veterinarian/acupuncturist told me the tumors had spread, there was nothing that could be done, and that I had the option of euthanizing her that day. I said no: Angel didn’t seem to be in any pain, she was still running around the yard, leaping … Continue reading Letting Go Of Normal
We’re celebrating a rare and wonderful rainy day here in parched Northern California—complete with deliciously heavy downpours, lentil-sized hail, lightning and big time thunder. I was blessed this afternoon to get home before the big show started, but here’s a journal piece I wrote after driving home in a powerful rain last fall—back when we … Continue reading Celebrating the Rain
For thirty-something years I had the privilege of working with children who have severe disabilities. Often when I was out in the community with my students, strangers would approach me and say, “You must be so patient.” Yeah, sure, but probably no more than any other teacher. Other times folks would tell me I was … Continue reading Easter Musings 2015
Last week on NPR’s Morning Edition, in a segment on Story Corps, they played an interview with the first single man who was allowed to adopt a baby in the state of California. It was 1969. The man had always wanted to be a father. He knew it would be hard to raise a child … Continue reading Here for the Weekend
I write about all the crap floating around inside my brain, the ghosts of school bullies and nuns in black habits, wielding rulers and sharp tongues. I write about my favorite teachers from high school when the nuns abandoned their veils and wore peasant blouses and sandals and read Kahlil Gibran to us in religion … Continue reading What do you write about?
I’ve been filling up notebooks writing like crazy for over forty years. A lot of it was venting and whining—or to be kinder to myself, I’ll call it “therapeutic.” I am happy to brag that over the years I’ve had several poems published, usually in local newsletters and chapbooks, but twice in nationally distributed anthologies. … Continue reading Let’s Go!
Sure, this weekend brings us SuperBowl Sunday, but also something more important than that: it's the Celtic festival of Imbolc, the traditional celebration of the beginning of spring, also known as St. Bridget's Feast Day. My thanks to Anne Hill, President of Creative Content Coaching and host of Dream Talk Radio, whose facebook post reminded … Continue reading Bridget’s Feast Day
I pledge allegiance to this sand and gravel road that runs between the river and my house, clumps of California poppies rangy stalks of fragrant fennel and burgeoning fig trees that grow wild on the river bank. I pledge allegiance to the rhythm of the spoken word to cheap pens and notebooks that welcome … Continue reading Happy Birthday USA!
