writing when inspired about the often overlooked
Dearest Reader: It appears I may have taken an unplanned Sabbatical. It will soon be a year since I posted here. As I look back over the course of 2025, I see that I started and left four posts unfinished. For starters, I attended the graduation of a grandson in Oregon, visited my brother’s family…
Dearest Reader: As I post this, I am at a Writers Retreat in Oregon, combined with a trip to visit my son and his family. On November 5th, I wrote in my journal… “Nov. 5, Today is the last day of the “before” part of my life. Nov 6, Tomorrow begins the “after.” 9:30 pm…
Dearest Readers: Recently, I found the “poem” below as I was going through one of the never-ending (at last it seems that way) boxes left over from our big move last year. As I reflected on this list, now fifteen years later, it didn’t take long to remember the day and occasion upon which these…
It’s the anniversary of your dad’s death ten years ago. You think about how fast he went that day. You knew he was dying. You wish you had crawled in bed with him like you have heard others do. But dying is messy, at least it was for your Dad. Maybe it was because it…
Dearest Reader, A few days ago I found this old piece of writing in my computer, dated January 6, 2009. And I remembered the struggle – the hard place I was in. The day’s dreariness matched my thoughts as I walked around Outer Perimeter Drive at Chicago Botanical Gardens that day. Moments later I wrote…
Dear Reader – In my last post, I left you with our “old” house empty and boxes everywhere in the “new” place,” having returned from a week in Wisconsin with family. I promised to tell you about the aftermath of the five frenzied weeks we moved from our home of forty-three years. (Read about it…
(You may listen to me read this post as you follow along if you’d like) I see you there, tossed on the beach along with the stones battered by waves after the breaking Such exquisite beauty before the scattering tossing brokenness I see you searching knowing the beauty of scattered pieces finding each other again…
(read and/or listen to this post) Dearest Readers: In case you’re wondering (or even if you’re not) I’m still here, and still writing in the nooks and crannies of my life. Since you’ve last heard from me here, I cobble together a few random Facebook Posts, visit Lake Opeka, catch some sunsets, and keep my…
Dearest Readers: This post was published earlier but MailChimp decided to make some changes and you never received notice of its publication. I’m in business again because of my son, Todd, who is for the time being anyway, my favorite son. Don’t tell the others. If you know Todd and want to see what he…
Dearest Readers, I’m changing up the pace a bit with another childhood story for my grandchildren. You know, how some things become part of the conversation whenever you meet up with someone years later? That’s how it is when I get the rare chance to see Bobby, Wayne, or Janet. We tell the story and…