Girlfriends

Snip. Snip. Snip. Black spotted rose leaves fall into my hand to be tossed into the bin of yard waste. Gathering flowers and tidying the house and garden as I prepare for my friend Robin’s visit reminds me of my mother. Few were the times she would scurry with such delight. Yes, family celebrations and

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Diving In

“Jump! Jump!” Screams reach my ears and the shaking in my legs gets worse. I want to back up and crawl off the high dive board. But an impatient crowd of bathing suit clad divers stands in my way. I close my eyes and fall into the gapping maw of the pool. This childhood memory

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Spring Stirrings

Spring officially begins in twelve days, according to the sign my snow woman holds. Her countdown is one way I mark its arrival.  Crocuses at the edge of my garden are another.  Purple and yellow drops of color are refreshing in the midst of a black and white Midwestern winter.  Dainty and determined these bright

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Hearing Hearts

Egos get a bad rap. Most certainly it’s my ego that urges me to do a reading in the iconic Paris bookstore, Shakespeare and Company. Mingling my words with legendary authors was my goal. Then I will feel like a “real author.” Thwarted attempts to read inside the bookshop leads to my “Occupy Shakespeare and

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Powering Up

Resolutions were something I kept to myself. The 5 pounds I was going to lose by March, the money I was going to save and my pledge to work out five days a week were secretly held. Resolve was often strong in early January. By month’s end frequent snacking returned, purchases robbed the piggy bank

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Slowing Down

Even though the subtitle of my book contains the phrase “Slow  Down ” I have been a terrible example of this wisdom. All those boxes on my calendar look so open and the little words I type in seem possible. Celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary by spending two weeks in France was wonderful.  It was

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