We have a flagpole in our back yard, and until I lowered it to half-staff after the Boulder, King Soopers' shootings, I couldn't see the flag from my kitchen window—it was too high. Up close, Old Glory is now more majestic and personal. It motivates me to write about the fire in my belly—the American flag. To me, our American flag has always been a symbol of class, high … [Read more...]
Attack politics
The past four years have become what my dad, a WWII Veteran, and man of few words, would call communist. I don't know if America resembles the fall of the Roman Empire, Nazi Germany, Hatfields and McCoys, or all of the above. Whatever it is, it's not healthy. I can go on a diet from social media, but ordinary human encounters are hard to avoid even during … [Read more...]
Musings of 9-11
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 adverse experience with students … [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, I … [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...]
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...]
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...]
How do you feed your spirit?
Bisbee, AZ, south east of Tucson, is a delightful former copper mining town diligently trying to reinvent itself into an artsy, intellectual destination. Homes, once called miner’s shacks, are built on the side of hills and offer delights for architects and renovators. The main street, Tombstone Canyon, with its century old charm offers the finest in dining, shopping, and … [Read more...]
STOP the hate
Well...here we are again; another shooting seemingly prompted by the lack of control over political emotions. I am sick and tired of our immaturity. Let's all grow up and stop our personal rage. Change begins with each of us: YOU and ME. I don't want a civil war. I don't want brothers fighting brothers; neighbors killing neighbors; families estranged. Starting today, I am … [Read more...]