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...]
I just want to be healthy
During lunch, with my sister Zella, I told her I had time for another story. This one is short and so sweet. "Oh, I just want to be healthy and astute and not miss out on any more fun. I miss my traveling. I don’t want to be dependent on anyone. I don’t want to go anywhere but where I’m living right now. It is my legacy from my parents. For real. I couldn’t have been more … [Read more...]
The power of one
At a stop light, I scanned my surroundings and noticed a group of trees. There was a tall skinny palm in a group of indigenous trees. It was remarkably different than the others; skinny thin and towering above everything. I couldn’t help but wonder how one lone, fragile tree grew to be so abnormally tall. My mind immediately connected the scene of opposites to real life. The … [Read more...]
Six days in court
I’m sitting in a courtroom waiting for the jury to emerge with a verdict. Today is my fifth day of walking into the Federal Court of Appeals, showing my ID, opening my iPad, taking off my boots, and putting everything in a plastic bin to run through security. The same routine happens at lunch. Morning and noon, the three men in black suits are always pleasant and … [Read more...]
Las Vegas Down
It has been nine days since our city of escape and excitement fell victim to senseless violence. I think I was in the normal range of reaction, and grieved for myself, the victims, and our country. Then I heard about couples I knew who was at the concert, and all at once it was personal. I find myself drawn to the written word in my quest to help those in trauma with … [Read more...]
Bless them on their way
The Priest started with a riddle: "What does everybody need to do, nobody wants to do, and most people don’t know how to do it?" I guessed, death. Wrong. The answer was FORGIVENESS. Forgiveness is a topic addressed in many counseling sessions, and the message in the homily was pertinent to many. First, yes, everybody does NEED to forgive. If we hold anger and angst in our … [Read more...]