Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. Though I normally dislike what I call “fabricated” holidays, I find myself grateful for the love and good feelings that still prevail in the world, despite threats of war and...
Rarely a generation passes without at least one person in our family being afflicted with what I call the “Uncle Walter Gene”, which compels a person to take unusual care for the welfare of...
I just read a short piece in the latest print issue of Harper’s magazine, a list of accidental damage done to works of art in museums. One incident involved a visitor tripping on a...
A couple of years ago I spent a week at a writing workshop. There were twelve people in my group, and at least ten other groups just as large there. It wasn’t cheap, yet...
My hearing sucks. There. I’ve said it. For years I’ve been telling my husband he would benefit from hearing aids but it wasn’t until last year, when my son’s family was visiting, I discovered...
A couple of years ago when I was out walking, I’d often pass a man going in the other direction. The first time I ran into him, I think I just said something generic...
The man who works at my local post office has a reputation for being a little on the surly side. I’ll admit he’s not the most outgoing man in the world, but neither does...
While we lived off the coast of North Carolina on Hatteras Island, I took long walks on the beach every day. Our dogs ran up and down, I watched the ocean constantly change, I...
It’s a given. We have a real Christmas tree. It’s an important part of the season for us. We used to cut our own tree but the last couple of years, we’ve taken to...
One of my sisters was exasperated when I talked with her the other day. She said she’s mad because “God hasn’t let me win the Lotto yet”. She’s been buying a ticket or two...
