On Shells and Rocks
I’ve always been fascinated by seashells. I think it goes along with my love of beaches. When I visit beaches, I spend half my time staring at the sand looking for shells. After most coastal vacations I bring back a small baggie containing a few shells. Often they are imperfect, but I bring the best […]
Locked Out
As part of my due diligence in preparing to sell our current house, I have been collecting all the keys we’ve given to various people over the years. We have specialized Medeco deadbolt locks on the house which use keys that can’t be duplicated easily, so I’ve kept fairly tight control on who gets keys. […]
Unwritten Words: Reflection on the Fifth Anniversary of My Mother’s Death
“Alas for those that never sing, But die with all their music in them!” ―from “The Voiceless,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes I ran across an approximation of this quote in my mother’s journal entry for July 28, 1999. Specifically, her journal reads, “‘Alas for those who never sing (or write), but die with their music […]
Memories of Childhood Fourth of July Celebrations
I don’t remember too much about Independence Day celebrations when I was a kid. I’ve written about the flags someone gave my brother and me when I was about seven, and the trauma that our misuse of those flags caused me. That year, the Fourth of July was more problem than pleasure. My parents never […]
Historical Aspects of My Work in Progress
In February 2018, when I began writing my current novel, I speculated about what historical events might be featured in the book. I’m now in the polishing phase, and this post is an update on what has in fact made it into the novel’s plot. The Oregon Land Donation Act of 1850 is a big […]
The Value of Critique Groups Redux: Norman Ledgin and the Sedulous Writers Group
Last week my critique group lost a member, Norman Ledgin. Ninety-year-old Norm had been ailing for months and had not been able to join us in person. But until just days before his death, he faithfully printed out our submissions, marked them up in his bold black pen, and returned them with his corrections and […]
Surprise Parties
I only recall one true surprise party that anyone threw for me. My spouse has probably never even thought of throwing me a surprise party, and I doubt my children have either. Most of my family members are not known for their gaiety or spontaneity, nor do I have that reputation within the family. We’re […]
Random Memory of My Dad, the Butcher
On Father’s Day, of course, I think of my father. And in the summertime, I think of summers long ago. This year, a random memory of my father popped into my head—I remembered going to see my father work as a butcher while he was in graduate school. I’ve mentioned before that we lived in […]
To the Boss on Father’s Day
In an earlier post, I told one of my favorite stories about my husband’s role as father—when he acted out a Batman and Robin book with our son. Here’s another favorite story, which happened not too long after our son’s Batman and Robin phase. Our son was about four or five. I know it was […]
Learning to Type
I wrote recently about my 8th-grade graduation in June 1999 and my parents’ absence for that event. Their absence, and in particular my mother’s inability to drive me places, caused me further consternation that summer. I had decided to enroll in a summer school class on typing at the high school that summer. As an […]