May 4Member-onlyYe Shall Not ReadBanning books has always seemed beyond ridiculous to me. What is the point? Ending knowledge? Ending points of view? What if the book you love is the one on the banning block? Does that change things? T he idea behind book bans is to silence those with messages someone doesn’t…Books5 min readBooks5 min read
Mar 23Member-onlyCall Me WokeThe word woke has somehow become a slur, an insult, a criticism. Every time I hear the word used in this manner, I roll my eyes. I have to wonder if people really understand what they’re criticizing or even what the word is intended to mean. Let’s start with a…Woke2 min readWoke2 min read
Feb 10Member-onlyThe Gift and Work of ForgivenessForgiveness is not some supernatural event that fixes everything. It can’t be. Asking it to be is too much to expect as well as absolving us the work it takes to right a wrong or at least acknowledge a wrong that can’t be righted. …Forgiveness3 min readForgiveness3 min read
Jan 1Member-only2022: The Good and The BadHow was your 2022? Funny how I haven’t heard that question asked much lately. But then again, I’ve been housebound due to a foot injury for much of the last few months. As I’ve stated many times over, I don’t really get the big deal about the end of the…2 min read2 min read
Nov 18, 2022Member-onlyBye-Bye TwitterI have left another social media platform, Twitter. I had long considered leaving, but Elon Musk buying the company was the final feather for me. I archived my data and deactivated my account. It didn’t feel as liberating as when I deactivated my Facebook account, but that’s probably because I…Social Media3 min readSocial Media3 min read
Nov 8, 2022Member-onlyThe End of DemocracyWill we see The end of democracy coming The warning signs Blowing through our lives Like a cold winter breeze Drifting the snow of democracy Into drifts that drown us In a sea of snowflakes Dirty with the fighting It takes to hold on to The freedoms we Believe to be protected As we go about our lives Ignoring as each…Democracy2 min readDemocracy2 min read
May 19, 2022Member-onlyThe Mask of LongingOften when we long for one thing that craving is simply a mask for the thing we really want. When I crave Grandma Stamm’s macaroni and tomatoes, boiled potatoes, or chocolate cake, it’s not the taste I want. No one can ever duplicate her cooking even if they follow her…Grief5 min readGrief5 min read
May 10, 2022Member-onlyThreads of Strengths Woven Into Threads of VulnerabilityAn analysis of my life has shown me time and again how interwoven strength and vulnerability are. I can see times in my life when I struggled to be strong and when I hid my vulnerability. …Vulnerability3 min readVulnerability3 min read
Apr 28, 2022Member-onlyWhat’s In a Name?A name identifies a character and provides clues to ethnicity, gender, and familial relationships among other thing. Paying attention to the names assigned characters might seem secondary; however, those names can affect how a reader views each character’s personality and identifies with the character. A name creates a relationship between…Writing Tips4 min readWriting Tips4 min read
Apr 15, 2022Member-onlyPassionate ValuesRecently during a conversation, a friend described me as being passionate about my beliefs. This was stated as a compliment, and I took it as one even though it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Over the next few days, I reflected on this statement “you’re passionate about your beliefs”…Values4 min readValues4 min read
