Oil Painting--Incredible Still half asleep, I turned on the news at 7:00 a.m. and laid my head back on the pillow. I heard, "…look back at events that changed America 19 years ago." I immediately knew it was my friend's birthday. In 2001, she and I taught at a Vocational Technical school in Denver when two planes hit the World Trade Center Twin Towers. We survived the … [Read more...]
Ahhh–Corona Virus and College … nothing like a chemistry lab online!
☹Paisly McConnell, guest columnist When my grandma asked me to write an article about how the Corona Virus affected my college experience, I did not know what four-letter word I should use—HELP. One day I was sitting in class with my friends, living my best life, and the next, I was ugly crying to my mom about having to take lab finals online. What just … [Read more...]
Clarifying choices with chairs
By Wendi Deines, guest columnist Today, my aunt Jennifer, your regular columnist, and her oldest sister, my mom, are headed to Arizona. They plan to join another sister and help their second oldest sister, who fell and fractured her hip and ankle a day before her 80th birthday. Since Jennifer has been a special part of my life in so many ways, and the challenges … [Read more...]
How are you doing?
Notice"Heart tree" above my head:) Today I’m feeling guilty because I have no good reason to be sad and worried—my family is well; I have food to eat, adequate toilet paper, and the internet is working. But, I’m sad and worried anyway. Like the rest of the world, I’m ready for covid 19 to be contained or at least held at bay. I don’t want another day to begin with news of … [Read more...]
Painting rocks
This is a time in history for changes in thought and action. With the coronavirus’ invisible attacks on the world, including ours, we are forced to shift gears—our normal isn’t normal anymore. Newscasters are working from home and seldom reporting politics—refreshing. Coronavirus has permeated everyday life even if we are healthy. Like most people, I am making the best … [Read more...]
How do YOU enjoy life?
Scrounging is part of my DNA. Growing up, the most fun activity my sisters and I did with our dad was going to the dump, the day before the scheduled burn, to tromp through the trash, and look for treasures. We each tried to uncover the best find. To steal Barbara Mandrel’s lyrics, I was thrifting when thrifting wasn’t cool. When I lived in the country, farm … [Read more...]
Why I write
Yesterday, a woman asked me what I did. I paused because I have always answered, "I'm a mental health counselor." But, I am retired; I WAS a counselor. Therefore I replied, "I'm a writer." She said, "Oh, really, what do you write?" Again, I paused because I write about many things. I said, "I'm an author of a book about my client's stories and what I learned from them, … [Read more...]
The toilet
When I was a kid, we called the toilet the stool. Mother would say, “Did you flush the stool?” A google search gave the mighty seat many names, including lavatory, water closet, latrine, throne, head, and john, to name a few. In my youth, it was not ladylike to say pee and poop,” but in reality, it is a multi-daily necessity. We are lucky in America to have toilets. In … [Read more...]
The cross
I enjoy the breadth of art and the creative eye of artists. One of my favorite activities is visiting galleries, especially when artists are demonstrating and willing to visit. Public art is included in my list of favorites. Examples of public art: Mount Rushmore, Big Blue Bear at the Convention Center in Denver, the Mustang at DIA, Brad Ray’s tree sculptures and Nate … [Read more...]
Questions for your life
Where are you going? What path will you take? Are your roots deep and stable? Is your trunk strong and able? Do you build bridges? Do you grow after … [Read more...]
The Bible
While at an estate sale, I was slowly wandering through the house with my hands behind my back, just looking. Estate sales are interesting, a little morbid, and an experience. Most sales happen because the homeowner has died and the heirs employ a company to go into the house, organize, price, and sell everything-even spices from the kitchen and clothes in the closets. Some … [Read more...]
Maxed out frustration
This morning I went to Walgreens to get a flu shot. Easy. I waited five minutes, and Mathew gave me a shot in my left arm. I owed nothing; Medicare came to the rescue. He then said, “Your file flagged for never having a pneumonia vaccine. He explained people over sixty-five are recommended to have the high powered dose. He continued by saying I would then get a booster in … [Read more...]
A story has two sides
I kissed my husband and gave him a gentle hug, and they rolled him into surgery. The doctor said, “He’s going to happy hour, and you’re going to the torture chamber.” Everyone laughed, but it wasn’t funny. It was true. For the next seven hours and fifteen minutes, I sat in the surgical waiting room. Watching. Listening. Thinking. Waiting. Before continuing, my husband is … [Read more...]
You Are Enough
(I am participating in the Writing Contest: You Are Enough, hosted by PositiveWriter.) Not only are you enough, I too am enough. If I can be enough, so can you. If being enough is possible, it can be a reality for anybody. Thoughts are powerful, and if I believe I can do something, no matter what it is, I will at least try. If I think I can host an impressive dinner party, I … [Read more...]
How do you advertise for YOU?
As a kid with four sisters, we used to play the alphabet game when traveling in the car. If you can imagine seven people in one car, one who was always carsick (me) and the others bickering, (a kind word for scratching and kicking), we had to do something civil not to end up walking or getting a switching. Because of years of competition with my sisters, I am a master at … [Read more...]