Good Words on a Sunday Morning
When the Cat Socializes
In Praise of Showing Up
Two different students say, “I wasn’t gonna come. But I did. I showed up.” Excuses abound: it’s too cold, too early, too embarrassing to read writing aloud in class, too much work, too soon after a night out, etc. I know all the reasons. I felt the same. I think about the lure, the temptation, […]
A Snow Day Indeed
We played Monopoly and card games. We lounged about. We stayed warm under blankets. We watched live television game shows. I told my girls that this was what is was like for me as a girl, too. I’m thankful that boardgames and cards and TV game shows remain part of family life and snowy, cold […]
At Some Point, They’ll Choose to Wear Mittens
A large part of parenting always involves this singular conversation about how they must wear more clothes to stay warm. I’ve spent all their lives coaxing them into outerwear. It’s like negotiating a peace treaty. And every day, they race on into their lives insisting they need no such clothing or accessories. (I imagine these […]
A Perfect Moment
The snow falls outside, and I come into the warm house after shoveling snow. I heat the soup on the stove for lunch and feast in a quiet house as I watch the beautiful snow fall. It’s quiet and warm and still.
Following the Photographers
Twice now on my snowy walk, I see a van of photographers pull up to the edge of the woods. They tumble out, gear swinging from their arms, as they gingerly make their way through the mounds of snow. They stand with cameras ready. This time, I follow them. I watch what they’re watching. I […]
The Food Preparation for the Week’s Lunches: Popcorn, Soup, and Salad
Nearly every Sunday now, we take part of the day or evening to make food for our lunches for the week. This includes popping popcorn and storing it in baggies to grab for the lunch box. It also means making some kind of salad (maybe a Greek pasta salad or a Quinoa Tex-Mex salad) to […]
In Praise of Folksy Things
Recently, I’m hearing that folks feel I’m folksy. I’m told my writing and speaking is folksy. The false-self, pretentious kind of me would cower in shame over such comments, but the real me knows this: It’s a compliment! It’s a wonderful thing for others to see you–and your writing–as down to earth, lacking pretension or […]
San Francisco Speaking Photo
I had fun. I think my face says, “I’m telling you the truth!”