Montage of Holiday Memories
To honor the spirit of the holidays, whatever holiday you observe, we, the five writers, have briefly recounted a special Christmas memory. We share them with you to evoke your own special memories.
Christmas Magic
Our family was not a C and E family. No, we were the real deal. We came to church every Sunday, not just on Christmas and Easter. My mother had been a religious education major when she met my dad in college, and his family was descended from a line of Lutheran ministers that could be traced all the way back to Germany and the reformation.
Across the Miles
When your immediate family lives far away, it can be an issue. Do you stay put or move closer to them?
Hidden in the Shadows
What is it about “The Holidays”? They are like a bright light casting shadows on all who have been lost. The rituals and traditions trick us out for a few weeks, then go away and leave us, still lingering in the shadows.
Just Like Her
We watch our granddaughter Addie every Thursday. We look forward to “our” day with her and always try to get outside and walk around the neighborhood when she is with us.
Dressed for the Occasion
Looking back at photos from a few generations ago, it is readily apparent that things were different then. For one, these yesteryear pictures reflect stylish and elegantly dressed individuals. The contrast to the present could not be starker.
An Unwelcome Guest
Unexpected, uninvited, unwelcomed. That’s Charlie. In 2015, he intruded into our family’s life and left three years later. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Love, Marriage and the Baby Carriage
I was wondering if fewer young adults were getting married and having babies, so I intentionally started to investigate for proof against what I consider a sadness. My first disproof came on a visit to the farmers' market.
The Vernors Ginger Ale Queen
A petite Irish Catholic woman who spent her adult life in Detroit, Michigan, and was the unofficial Queen of Vernors Ginger Ale.
My History as a Reader
As a retired Language Arts teacher, I can’t help but take a nostalgic pause when leaves begin to fall and brand, new boxes of colorful crayons fill the supermarket shelves.
Customer Service
We all appreciate friendly, efficient, and competent customer service. This helping hand can be like insurance or a doctor - you don’t know if it’s good until you need it! Whether on the phone or in person, the assistance can vary, good, bad, or indifferent; our recent experience has proven that ‘local’ is good and ‘corporate’ is not.
But It’s a Dry Heat
Oh, It’s summer in the desert
Snowbirds have made their retreat
It’s a hundred in the shade
But say hey – it’s a dry heat!
Do you know where you come from?
Do you know where you come from? Are your ancestors from Spain, Thailand, or Ireland? Have you ever been curious about your DNA? Have any of your talents or traits been inherited from a distant relative?
Blurred Lines of Parenting
As the African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
How Aspens Got Their Gold - A Modern Day Fable
It was a jittery time in the Universe, and all the Gods and Goddesses were nervous. Their rulers were arguing, and that was never a good thing. Reigning together over the Universe were the God of Winter and his twin sister, the Goddess of Summer.
Pennies from Heaven
Have you ever felt the gentle touch or soothing comfort of a loved one that has left this world? If so, you are not alone. This week, Diane’s blog explores the various ways the departed reach out to us.
The What vs The Who
In a recent YouTube video, the commentator asked a very catchy question. “Are we building a resume or crafting a life?” He went on to explain the difference:
A job resume would be a list of work virtues given to a potential employer.
This is ‘The What’.
Crafting a life could be a list of moral virtues read at a Eulogy.
This is ‘The Who’.
Truth in the Media
Is it just me, or do you feel overwhelmed with the amount of news being disseminated and the number of sources it comes from?
I Knew You Once
I recently learned of the passing of two men with whom I had the honor and privilege of knowing for a short time. Both died suddenly and unexpectedly in their fifties.