She Thought Perhaps Azalea
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Articles that have been picked up and featured elsewhere
A Really Long Downhill toward Freedom
Ben gave me a 20-week Fitness Challenge which will take us right through summer and hopefully become so habit forming, that we never stop doing a little something every day that is good for us. Together, we have walked, and ridden bikes and even tried a little running. We are building up our hearts and lungs with longer walks to get ready for even more running. We live … Continue reading A Really Long Downhill toward Freedom
Bird’s Eye View, Crop Circles and What Aliens Must Think of Us
Whatever you may believe about the formations of crop circles, whether they are made by pranksters or by some other means; to put any time into studying them, proves they are not easy to dismiss as silliness. In the book, Sacred Geometry, by Stephen Skinner, the author shares that most crop circles are based entirely on Euclidean geometry. A quick Google search of the phrase crop … Continue reading Bird’s Eye View, Crop Circles and What Aliens Must Think of Us
“We are all, Despite Ourselves, Drenched in Narrative”
“Long, long ago, in a village far away…” And so begins a story, that holds our attention all through dinner. Benjamin, my 8-year old, told a story that he’d heard at school, with such skill that I was on the edge of my seat, wide-eyed and crying at one point. Such heroism. Such love. He just waited patiently for me to stop blubbing and … Continue reading “We are all, Despite Ourselves, Drenched in Narrative”
Robert Parker, dad of Sandy Hook Victim, Emily Parker, on Compassion
Scott and I watched the CBS Special on the Sandy Hook Massacre on television last night after the kids went to bed. We have not talked to the boys yet. We didn’t have the facts. We are still wrestling with what to say and to whom. Some of the advice I have heard is that for children five years old and younger, we should simply … Continue reading Robert Parker, dad of Sandy Hook Victim, Emily Parker, on Compassion
I Have Been Waiting my Whole Entire Life for this Moment!
No, I cannot hide emotion well. I am a poet, for Pete’s Sake. I feel everything deeply, I express what I feel in words or with tears, or with a face that says it all. I am easily read by those around me. My little Bean is old enough to want to read The Chronicles of Narnia out loud with me, and I am beside … Continue reading I Have Been Waiting my Whole Entire Life for this Moment!
My Life Story in Music
This was originally published in the Valley Voices section of the Fresno Bee on October 20, 2001. It was written several years before that. It seems like a lifetime ago that these dark sounds could have resonated with me so powerfully. Today, I am such an upbeat, cheerful person. However, it is a much requested piece of writing among friends and family, so I … Continue reading My Life Story in Music
The Beauty of a Strong, Silent Shoulder of Solace
And just like that, the other shoe drops. Sometimes right in the midst of a personal joy, we are encountered by a friend’s sorrow, and what do we do? Yesterday I called a friend to tell her my big exciting news. I was actually bouncing around a little with enthusiasm for my big deal. She answered in a whisper, which right away told me … Continue reading The Beauty of a Strong, Silent Shoulder of Solace
The Art of Being Alluring as Taught by an Italian Waitress
Perhaps it is the familiar way she treats all her customers at The Steps of Rome in North Beach, the Italian District in San Francisco. She places a hand on your shoulder when she greets you, she touches your scarf to compliment your style, she hugs a friend who has come by to say hello, and takes him by both hands to spin around with … Continue reading The Art of Being Alluring as Taught by an Italian Waitress
A $68.9 Million Dollar Modigliani Painting and A Homeless Man
Nov. 3, 2010…Modigliani’s $68.9 Million Woman Auctioned At Sotheby’s – creates a record-breaking sale to start off the Fall Art Auction season.
Continue reading “A $68.9 Million Dollar Modigliani Painting and A Homeless Man”
Beauty Tips from Picasso
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| Ben, at age 4, with one of his Picasso Puppets |
“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary,” said Pablo Picasso, and I wonder about symmetry being unnecessary to him. Picasso is one of those artists who has made a wild and important impact on the world of art, and yet, I will quickly admit that I don’t always understand what is so great about painting a woman and putting both her eyes on the same side of her face, her lips down on her chin and her right cheek up on her forehead. What is he trying to say, I wonder?
Reveling in Having Earned a Silver Hair
As the school year progresses, my 14-year old son, as well as our new 12-year old son, who is an addition to the blend we already had going, keep bringing new friends home. Our family has gotten bigger, our challenges and our joys have increased, and our schedule of activities has somehow quadrupled. Meanwhile, as I got ready for work the other day, I noticed … Continue reading Reveling in Having Earned a Silver Hair
Wrestling with Night
My ninth grader will be reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel this year in his literature class at Clovis East High School. I picked the book up months ago because it is also an Oprah Book Club selection. I got through about three pages before I was overcome with grief. I want to read it with him, because it is assigned reading. I have already … Continue reading Wrestling with Night