Your Little Trace
My friend presents me with the most beautiful cobalt blue Cross fountain pen–the kind with the ink cartridges that you pop in (I love that sound!)–because she knows I’ll be signing books. First of all, I love fountain pens. Oh! When I think of writing with flair, I think of fountain pens. And I know […]
Sisters Who Drive Long Distances To See You
I tell my daughters that, although they can’t stand each other now, one day, they’ll be the best of friends. I hear them bickering upstairs as I fix the guest room for my sister who is on her way through sleet and cold to see me. I remind them that sisters are one of God’s […]
“God Was With Me.”
My youngest daughter (who gives permission for me to share this story) has been battling severe test taking anxiety. She can make herself sick with nerves about taking tests, especially math tests. We’ve spent so many days looking into therapeutic solutions, creating strategies, and talking through positive self-talk before going into the tests. In her […]
Somewhere to Be
Today one of my students invites the entire class to get a burrito with him for lunch. Apparently, there’s a Thursday $4.00 Burrito Special on campus. I love it when a single student builds community and cares for other students in the class. And I love knowing random things that students know about campus life […]
A Little Stroganoff
I love the word “stroganoff.” It sounds rather formal, royal even. I discovered that stroganoff simply refers to a dish where the central ingredient–whether chicken or beef–is cooked in a sauce containing sour cream. Oh, deliciousness! Why did I suddenly remember the joys of cooking with sour cream? Well, yesterday (the same day I overemphasized […]
You’re Not the Only One Who Doesn’t Know How to Use a Semicolon
Today in class, I spend an unusual amount of time rationalizing and explaining the proper use of a semicolon. These are my older students in Advanced Writing who should know but do not. We all should know but do not. The semicolon is the most beautiful and misunderstood punctuation mark! I explain it’s a romance; […]
A Way to Handle Nerves in Public
I’ve had a breakthrough! I’m learning to handle the nervousness of speaking in front of audiences and on the radio after nearly making myself sick. It’s terrifying! You shake and stutter and realize you’re going to make a fool of yourself, so you wonder why in the world you would do this. Early on in […]
Leaves Don’t Change Color; They Are Unmasked
This morning I learn that the beautiful leaf colors are always there but hidden by the green chlorophyll. When the long nights of autumn begin, the chlorophyll production diminishes and reveals the carotenoids (yellows, oranges, and browns) and anthocyanins (reds and purples) that are always there. I’m astonished. I think about how change in my own […]
I Keep Looking at This Photo!
On the walk to school. . .
Finding Some Unity
The cats love to look out the front glass door. They wait for me to open it, and it becomes a wonderland experience of chipmunks, squirrels, birds, and dogs. All morning long, they look out together. They look out together. These are the cats that often do not like each other. These cats can fight […]