In Memoriam
IN MEMORIAM The following is borrowed from The Poetry Foundation website. The words have been put to music in the shape note tradition, one of the pieces we sing in Continua (verses 1, 2, and 7, which I’ve put in … Read More
How to Deal with Criticism in Five Easy Steps
Sasha here. I hope you’ve all missed me. Alpha Mom has an old friend from Ohio visiting this week, so she asked me to pump out this blog post about criticism. She says I can use her solitary 1-star review … Read More
How Are You?
“How are you?” These past few weeks when asked how I am, I’ve been struck by how easy it is to fall back on that socially acceptable, “Fine, thanks. How are you?” It’s the polite response, we say here in … Read More
When “Overwhelmed” Shows Up in Our Vocabulary Too Often
Aware of my nearly daily use of the word “overwhelmed” lately, as in “I’m feeling overwhelmed,” I decided to take a look at what the word means to me: when I use it and how I get through it. Politics, … Read More
How Much Can One Individual Do?
Each of us in our own way, every day, whether we plan to or not, makes a difference. How much of a difference, how much of a legacy, and how positive or negative the impact is for others to determine. … Read More
A Fun Look at Advance Directives
Heading towards a long overdue mammogram last week, I decided it was time to complete and TURN IN the ten-page Advance Directive that had been sitting in my OutBox for years. “Turn in” being the operative phrase here, … Read More
Being Grandma
It’s an honorable role, grandmother. That’s how I see it. And this week, for the second time this summer, the role of grandma — Gramma Janet, to be specific — is one I adopt with gusto. My older son Dave, … Read More
Writing About Politics
Politics, religion, and sex. Aren’t those the three we were taught never to speak of in polite company? I was reminded of this recently in an online workshop I took on using Facebook. “YOU POST TOO MUCH ABOUT POLITICS!” They … Read More
Happy Birthday, Dad
My dad would have been 90 today, had he lived. The trouble is, I have few memories of my dad who died 61 years ago. The photo above is as surprising to me as it is to you. How warm … Read More