I don’t do political commentary on Facebook for a number of reasons, but in this instance the entertainment industry has blatantly asserted itself into my realm as a former adjunct professor of literature. I simply can’t stay silent about this because I wouldn’t want anyone to be naïve or unaware of the clearly intentional hijacking of the theme of the …
Three Must Reads: The Correspondent; Hemlock and Silver; Theo of Golden
It’s not often that I read so many “this is amazing writing” books in such a short amount of time, but these three? They definitely are among my favorites for all time. Let’s get right to it: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans – How on earth could I get to know the main character, Sybl, so incredibly well through merely …
Is This the Last Time?
Craig and I have been reflecting (yeah, there’s still enough brain cells to do that—just barely, but enough) on various issues lately, and one of them is the last time you get to do something that you thoroughly enjoy. See, the problem is this: Rarely do you realize it’s the last time. One of our favorite summer habits was to …
The Anger Issue – or is it Our Anger Issue
Consider… a man delivers a heated ultimatum and then storms out of a professional meeting two colleagues are vilifying each other by gossiping to any who will listen narcissists in the organization create havoc—leaving pain and anger in their wakes political discussions lead to angry words, and sometimes, shouting -ingering issues have led to the “silent treatment/ghosting” between two previous …
The Lost Art of Listening
Years ago, Craig and I had the privilege of being a presenting couple for Marriage Encounter. We gained so much from that experience, including: What intimacy truly looked like in marriage, and how Craig and I could experience that; improved communication skills; balanced views about emotions and their important place in communication; how to effectively dialogue with each other; and …
My Daddy’s Hand
Nearly every summer, my family traveled from Columbus, Ohio, all the way south to one of Florida’s beautiful beaches. In a pre-interstate freeway world with no air conditioning in our car, it was one long haul through sticky, hot weather, winding roads, and bumper-to-bumper traffic in every little hole-in-the-wall town in (what felt like never-ending) Georgia. But we made the …
I’ve been reading….and these are my recommendations….
For a literary read with beautiful prose: My Friends by Fredrik Backman (He also wrote the wonderful A Man Called Ov.) – Not an easy read, but the moving story about 4 friends – depicted forever in a beautiful painting that, at first glance, you notice only the sea – is unforgettable. This one stays with you. Wild Dark Shore …
A Few Book Reviews….
Wide variety here, but I thoroughly enjoyed them all: For entertainment and joy: West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge – Sweet and endearing story based on truth: A pair of giraffes arrive via ship to NYC’s harbor in 1938, after a hurricane that leaves one of the giraffes injured. They must be driven all the way across the country to …
He’s Messin’ with Me
Will someone help me, please. I’ve recently discovered that my caring, loving husband has a “unique” personality trait that….well, quite honestly, I had noticed in the past. But now we’re retired and therefore, caged forever like two ravenous tigers circling one another, each sizing up the other’s ability to survive. Or his or her stealthy ability to be first to …
Review: The Bookseller of Kabul
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad Rarely, if ever, has a book left me with such profound feelings of sadness. This book made me feel shock. Despair. Hopelessness. To learn that—even when Afghanistan was briefly “freed” from the tyranny of the Taliban—women were still slaves to their husbands, sons, families, culture. Rather than try to convince you how …