May 30, 1431, Joan de Arc was burned at the stake. This is significant to our family. Fast-forward a few years to the early 1990’s and a rising third grader. During the summer, my son discovered Joan of Arc—through a video game, I recall—and his was intrigued. He came to me, asking if there were… Read more
“Tell me about when I was born.” An unusual request from my only sibling. But a legitimate one since my sister is almost 10 years younger. On a sister’s weekend, we had just settled onto our comfy beds in our room at the beach. Driving rain pelted our windows, roaring waves pounded the beach and… Read more
You see them in every thrift shop, junk store and consignment store you visit. Boxes, baskets, trays filled with photos, and not just any photos but personal ones from years gone by. They fascinate me. With something of a compulsion, I stop and rummage through the current offerings. What am I expecting when I do… Read more
It was the day before Thanksgiving. She introduced herself, and with a startled look said, “You don’t look XX-years-old.” Then she locked her huge brown eyes onto my small hazel ones. “It’s a baby tumor.” The oncology surgeon let that sink in and repeated it several times. With that, I was ushered into the world… Read more
With the movie based on her award-winning book in theaters finally, a book about her spiritual legacyjust published and the 100th anniversary of her birth approaching in November, Madeleine L’Engle is in the news, as they say. Even though she died in 2007, she remains as current as the day’s news for me. She continues having a proI… Read more
My local Kroger delivered yet another blog post for me. Readers probably think all I do is shop at Kroger. I don’t. I try to go once a week, on Wednesdays, which used to be senior discount days. Shopping at my neighborhood Kroger is a treat; no matter what day I go. Interesting people are… Read more
As much as I hate to admit it, I learned something from my husband a few days ago. He and I were running errands at a shopping center when a street person, called out. “Do you have any money? I’m hungry.” We shook our heads and continued into the store, where I bought a standing… Read more
“You have a pretty smile,” said my husband as he hugged me and walked out the door. (As great first line for a novel, but not where this is going.) His comment was not unusual for a husband to say to his wife. But it’s notable to me for two reasons. My normal facial expression… Read more