Erma Bombeck: The Master of Words, Wit, and Whimsy
Do you remember Erma Bombeck, the witty, wise writer of personal essays for mainstream magazines and bestselling books? She was an inspiration for me, not only for life, but also for writing.
The Name Game
I got to thinking about why a parent chooses a name and if it has any bearing on the trajectory of the child’s life.
Have you reached your tipping point?
The tipping dilemma is on everyone’s mind these days. Do I tip when I drive through a Starbucks? Do I tip when I pick up a pizza I ordered over the phone? So, when did we become so tip crazy in America? Have we reached our tipping point?
Coffee Notes
Coffee
Dark brewed, extra hot, a dash of cream - Ahh!
Why do I enjoy it so much? Maybe it’s the way coffee connects life’s moments, even if it’s not as good as caramel turtle candy or a fresh snickerdoodle cookie; those, after all, are better savored with a steaming cup of joe.
Putting the World on Notice
As we welcome another New Year, most of us engage in self-reflection.
Two Poems from Bella
Wintertime
I eat a warm starlet cookie arm by arm
and allow each crystallized gram to melt on my palate,
Hands Tell a Story
Our hands are an extension of our invisible souls, the visible markers on the road of life. They are as unique as individual lives and reveal the complexity of ordinariness. From giving to receiving, dirty to bedazzled, folded or fisted, they are indications on our personal highway.
Are you a Collector?
Are you a collector?
I am.
I’m not an art collector, stamp collector, or rare artifact collector. I collect things — groups of things and things I like — that evoke memories or hold special meaning.
Happy New Year
What a year it has been for five women who took a leap of faith and started this blog.
A Visit from St. Nicholas
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
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.