670,616,629 mph. That's the speed of light. The kitchen light burned out this week. It's one of those long lasting fluorescent bulbs. I noticed it beginning to dim a few weeks ago. It nagged me a little but it was nothing that demanded urgency. Doug had a different reaction altogether. He works out of town … Continue reading What’s the Speed of the Dark?
THE BREAD OF LIFE I’m not a cook. I absolutely hate kitchen chaos and when I cook, the chaos is very similar to a nuclear weapons experiment. There’s a mess, the food is burned, and I’m usually injured. I turned the cooking over to my husband early in our marriage. Everyone, even the neighbors, thought … Continue reading THE BREAD OF LIFE
There is life in Sicily. Vibrant, full, spirited, homegrown precious souls who face each day with gusto and grit. There is also life that is sad, alone, destitute. Refugee souls, no less precious but facing each day with emptiness. There are buildings so commanding and stunning that you stare up at the intricate Baroque structure … Continue reading A Cactus in the Rock
My sister, Cindy, and I are known to throw caution to the wind and embrace adventures. She often suggested taking the Megabus somewhere for just a day. I said I’d like to eat authentic Chicago pizza in Chicago. She heard that as a call to make it happen and for my 55th birthday, she suggested … Continue reading I Can’t Drive 55
DAY 7 PROPPED UP PICTURES Tonight’s a big night in our small town! It’s time for the Trick or Treat Trail. Booths surround our city park with games and activities… and candy! Hundreds of little costumed kiddos will soon be visiting each activity and walk away with the grand prize, a fist full of sweets. … Continue reading PROPPED UP PICTURES
DAY 5 SOLE & SOUL SUPPORT Around the beginning of the year, I started having pain in my heel. At my age, aches and pains come and go. This one didn’t. I knew if I went to the doctor, they’d probably put me in a boot and I didn’t have time for that. It was … Continue reading SOLE & SOUL SUPPORT
DAY 4 NO BACON FOR BREESIE My family starts the weekend out right! Every Saturday morning, my husband makes biscuits and gravy with bacon. And every Saturday morning, my dog stands watch at my husband’s feet. She will not take her eyes off of him. She will not miss an opportunity to devour even the … Continue reading NO BACON FOR BREESIE
DAY 3 DE-STINK Several months ago, I began to notice a funky smell in our house. It was during the hot summer so I assumed it was that old familiar musty, dusty filter on the air conditioner. We changed the filters. No change in the smell. So we bought “better” filters. No change. This is … Continue reading DE-STINK
DAY 2 TESTING AMBER Nearly thirty years ago, a dear friend from Poland brought me a lovely necklace from her home country. It is very long and stringed with raw nuggets of Baltic Amber, a fossilized resin from pine trees. At the time I received the gift, Baltic Amber was readily available from countries bordering … Continue reading TESTING AMBER
DAY 1 BLINDED OR BLINDING?I have a fairly large window in my classroom with a nice view of our campus and the tree lined drive. The window has blinds. I hate them. I hate blinds. The strings unravel and have to be tied together. The slats bend and break and collect dust. Worst of all, … Continue reading BLINDED OR BLINDING?
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