Sometimes I’m yanked back to my Western Pennsylvania roots without warning. This occurred yesterday when I saw a Facebook post of a friend from my hometown and high school. This friend must be one of the nicest men on God’s earth. I don’t believe he has a mean bone in his body. His posts center … Continue reading What Language Are You Speaking?
A Voice In The Night
Reading bedtime stories to my children was a favorite part of each day for me. I read aloud to both Laura and Tim long past the age when they could read for themselves. I wish I could remember the last book I read to each of them. It was a momentous occasion after all, but … Continue reading A Voice In The Night
Hit The Pause Button, Would You?
My feedback to the student was a tad out of the ordinary. “That was an absolutely perfect use of a pause!” The adult student was part of a group who delivered their final presentations last Thursday in one of my public speaking classes. Weeks ago, as they were preparing their finals, I had encouraged them … Continue reading Hit The Pause Button, Would You?
The Blessing of Smallness
Like many other American women (both young and old, I might add), I have a crush on Dr. Anthony Fauci. And now I’m wondering if this “older man” mild fixation is a new trend in my life because I just cannot get enough of listening to Brother David Steindl-Rast. Happy upcoming 94th birthday, Br. David. … Continue reading The Blessing of Smallness
What Are We So Sorry About?
An opportunity appeared on Facebook to join a Zoom call featuring a speaker who sounded promising. I already had my day planned, working in my home with a part-time housekeeper to get a whole-house cleaning done. So I knew instead of joining the meeting “live” that I would substitute my photo as a place holder … Continue reading What Are We So Sorry About?
1966 Summer Vacation, Part 2
What WERE my parents thinking? I was just shy of 16 and so naïve and innocent that anything could have happened to me. But they blithely put me on a train by myself in Johnstown, PA, bound for Chicago for a vacation with my sister. (See post from May 16.) That was a scary 12+ … Continue reading 1966 Summer Vacation, Part 2
How I Spent My Summer Vacation, 1966
The summer of 1966 I was nearly 16. My sister Barbara gave me the gift of a vacation that was an amazingly big deal to me; I had never been on a real vacation. Our family of eight (six kids within a twelve-year span) from a small PA town didn’t have the money for vacations. … Continue reading How I Spent My Summer Vacation, 1966
Motherly Advice
This will be a strange Mother’s Day across our land. Typically, two places are full on the day when we honor our moms (churches and restaurants), but not this year. I have had several people tell me that they even forgot that Mother’s Day is this Sunday. I’ve compiled some motherly advice after asking Facebook … Continue reading Motherly Advice
Savoring The Good
“Our nervous system comes prewired to pay attention to negativity. And it’s jacked up by trauma.” So says Dr. Joan Borysenko, leading mind-body expert. Is it any wonder that so many of us are feeling anxious, on edge, or in just plain old dark moods during these traumatic times we’re living through? One way to … Continue reading Savoring The Good
Empty Chairs
Don McLean is most well-known for his iconic “American Pie” folk-rock song from 1971. (I’ll wait for a bit while you sing a few lines because you know that you want to.) But I prefer his hauntingly, beautifully sad song “Empty Chairs.” There’s a link at the end so you can listen to it. You … Continue reading Empty Chairs