Monthly Archives: September 2009

I was watching the clouds build up this afternoon. They were beautiful.. those big billowy ones… and in Arizona, we’re used to them building up like that… but this time, they were huge intimidating clouds that looked so big I felt dwarfed. It was as if they came out of nowhere and were immediately threatening a terrible storm.

Sometimes those threatening storms show up and sometimes it’s just a lot of show. And so it is with the challenges that I/we face in life from time to time. We’ll just be going along minding my own business and something happens right out of the blue. (Raising four boys in the middle of Southern California “nowhere,” one has to know that storms will arise.)

It was late in the evening but still light. Oldest son Tory (maybe 16/17 at that time) and I were hitting practice balls (golf) in the back yard. Nicholas (6/7 years old at the time) was really wanting into this game. Tory kept telling him he was too young and leave the golf clubs in the bag. After about the fourth round of this conversation, our neighbor came home

A moment is a sixtieth of an hour. It is also called a time of excellence… such as, “He/she was in the moment.” It is a stage in history or a logical development… as in, “from moment to moment.”

I have been considering the impact of this word, this event on my life. And as I have done this, the devil has sent me the phrase, “If only”… If only I had done this, or if only that had happened. So, the logical conclusion from that type of thinking is that it would have been better the other way, than where I’m at right now.

For example, almost to this day, twenty years ago, I was serving on the Alumni Admissions Board for the University of Denver. I was back there for a convention of sorts. And, at the banquet the final night I was asked if I would sing (I sang professionally for some years and toured successfully) for the attendees. I agreed to do it if everyone would put a minimum of $50 into a plate as a donation to the university. (I figured if I was

What is a friend today? I’ve heard it said that a friend is a comfort and cheerful. It’s someone with whom one has a lot in common.
In addition, they are frequently persons who are attached and affectionate. And, they hold each other in high esteem.

We have heard the motto, “Friends forever” and the phrase, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk” But best friends. What are they? Here it is ala CTTemple

It was a warm Saturday morning and Tommy and I were sitting outside on the sidewalk together. I was maybe five years old at the time and he was seven. We had been talking about the game we had been playing, and we were laughing away. All of a sudden something happened to the both of us at the same time… We were “in sync” as my sons like to say. And Tom said, let’s stay together for the rest of our lives. When we grow up, let’s get married.”

Yes, this was huge… my first ever marriage proposal and from someone I adored. So of course I said, “Okay!”

And

Beauty is defined by Websters’ Dictionary as, “the quality or the aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably assaults the mind or spirit.”  When I was growing up, that is not a word or definition that I would have attached to myself.   My brother was beautiful in many ways… physically pleasing and well loved by many for his character and actions.  My mother was beautiful… physically and had a gracious loving soul that was the same.  I could have gone for cute, but my younger sister had that covered from day one of her life.  So I pretty much just thought of myself as smart and surviving in the middle somewhere for a very long time.  And, this is in spite of the fact that my brother told me nearly every day that I was the love of his life and a beautiful sister.

At some point, those of us who think like me have to break out of the mold though.  We have to take a stand for ourselves. And, because my mother was uncomfortable talking to me about the things little girls should know as they grow up, I was

Greetings from the Land of the Sun…

I’m guessing that when the holiday weekend was on its way, many people planned some light (or maybe not so light) entertainment.  Friends over… cook-out in the back yard… or maybe you took a trip out of town.  Hubby and I bought a car.

This is his car.  I have mine.  In fact, I SO have mine that the license plate on the front of the vehicle reads “HERS.”  Why would I do that you might wonder.. or maybe you just think it’s dumb. Who really knows…  after living all those years with hubby and four sons (the shortest being 6 feet 2 1/2 inches) it isn’t dumb to me.

Men do love their cars.  When we met, my hubby-to-be had a GTO.  I was not a car person, so what did this mean to me? Not much.  But he was very impressed by this car.  After we became engaged and I moved to Ohio to meet his family, he bought a brand new Porsche.  Again, I wasn’t impressed.  All I knew is that the color reminded me of an orange gone bad and it was constantly in the shop.

All this time, I had a little

Here it is…

Part Three:

Frank entered from the bathroom in fresh pajamas.  He walked over to Marian and gave his usual kiss.  Then as Marian know he would… as he always did…  Frank Banner reached for his book and settled into the bed to read.  Marian starred from the love seat across the room and waited.  Her heart continued to pound in her chest; and Frank lovingly turned the pages.  He was drawing to the conclusion, the climax of the novel.  His excitement grew, and his body position became more upright.  Marian was very still… just watching, waiting.  And then it happened.

Frank turned the last page that was available.  He realized that something was missing.  His eyes grew big. His breathing changed and his chest began to heave.  He became excited but didn’t speak.  He looked as if he was in pain.  Real pain.  Marian had expected him to be upset…  but not this.

“Frank!  What’s the matter,” she cried.

Frank could barely get the words out….  “911,” he said.  the book fell from his hands to the floor.  His eyes became distant.  And then he was gone.

********

Marina couldn’t stop wearing the black clothing that had been her garb for seven weeks.  She

Hey there! Did ya miss me?  Time to find out what Marian is doing!

Marian Marian Marian…  I thought about her a lot today.  Did you?  Poor stupid Frank!  He just doesn’t seem to get it, does he.  Let’s see what she’s up to, shall we?

Bedtime with the Banners – Part Two

It was 7:00 in the morning.  Marian watched Frank’s car drive away from the house.  She waited until it had gone the length of the block and had turned the corner.  Then she too turned and headed toward the bedroom where his lover lie languidly waiting.  The book was sprawled peacefully spread-eagle on the bed-stand where he had left her last night.  Marian picked it up and held it in trembling hands.  Her fingers roamed over the cover.

She began to turn the book over and over.  A deliciously nasty smile slithered across her face while her mind considered her iniquitous deed.  “How to do this,” she thought.

(Well dang!  She’s scaring the heck out of ME!)

Marian began to pace the floor. She continued to turn the book over and over.  She thought; she plotted.  “If I just get rid of her, it isn’t really solving the problem.  I need to send

Hey there!

Last night I wrote a satire on romance novels.  I understand that many of you may read them and find them most enjoyable… Good!  I’m all for readers!  Read!  We are all of us different sorts and what may be interesting to one is conceivably boring to another.  This is acceptable.  What would not be acceptable would be to stop reading, for reading is one of the great gifts we enjoy in this country of ours.  It takes us away from our anger, or our anxiety, or our stress, or our sadness.  It lifts us out of the trenches and places us on a cloud where only we can live with words and phrases that fill our hearts with goodness.

My husband is one of the great readers of all time.  Always has been!  He can read all day and not even miss eating!  And, I could leave the house, come back, and leave again and he wouldn’t even know!  He LOVES reading more than breathing.   We’ve had many discussions about his reading… and I’ve made peace with the fact that in many ways, he prefers authors to his wife and work.  (And please know that I’m smiling as I

Hello again, my friends…

I think I’m going to just talk to you… like an article but more personal than that.  And, I’m going to share through an event that is more recent.  One which is in my head, and will be there for a while.  It is care giving for my mother.  She recently passed away.  That’s pretty heavy… so let’s back up.  Pre-death.

It was about 9 months into her moving in with my husband and me.  She was reluctant to come live with us because she thought she was going to be in the way.  After a time, she became much more comfortable… this is largely because my husband made it clear that he loved her and wanted her with us.  I was thrilled to see her relax and make herself at home.  I pictured bonding with my mother after all these years.  Not so.  It was my husband and my mother who bonded in a way I didn’t understand.  They could carry on a conversation without really talking… much like my brother and I use to do!

It was fair.  My husband put up with my brother and me doing this so the least I could do is get

Hello World…

 I started writing years ago… Some letters of encouragement to friends, some articles to up-lift, and then a book.  To me, it has been just like sharing with friends… a thing I use to do with my brother. 

He was the love of my life as I grew up… my protector, my parent at times, my friend, my confidant, my first soul mate.  My brother, Tom.  He liked everyone and they liked him.  But he made it clear to me that he would always love his “Sis.” 

Tom was a very happy person when we were together.  Always had a smile on his face… but when he died I had to learn to live with a smile on my face without him. 

Happiness is a choice, it is not a destination.  I am certainly not the first person to have said that.  Whomever said it before me, I give you credit and I have joined you in a better life by being happy.

Of late, I see people of all ages concerned that we are not going to live through the current troubles we are experienceing.  People seem unhappy and worried and very busy.  I got to thinking that this is not new.  I’ve already been there.  I’ve seen