She is 12 years old and waits, hidden by the curtains, to play her music. She watches her friend who is poised, pretty, and makes no mistakes. What would that be like? The sheets of music in her hands wrinkle slightly from the moisture, which is part nerves, part adolescence. She loves her white blouse […]
Of course, I saw the new movie touting all the super heroes! I grew up with them. I loved comic books but had no subscription. My sources were Susan, my best friend, whose brother had a large box of them. Susan’s mom had secured the comics in an unused wood stove in their basement. Susan […]
I subscribe to an abundance of women’s magazines. Every month I am beset upon by women writing article after article on how to be themselves and claim what they have earned. I suspect I know where it all started – possibly in Hollywood, possibly in politics. Anyhow, it seems as if every article addresses, at […]
Another Christmas fast approaches, prompting delightful memories of Christmas long past. Oh, the wonderful traditions that filled our days come December 1st! I was one of two girls, older than my sister, and “full of vinegar!” My memories are numerous. Those days it always snowed! Every Christmas was white. We lived in Northeast Portland on […]
What my children remember about me as they were growing up absolutely enthralls me. It is a never-ending treasure trove of what I was like – and still am! First, let me say that I considered them “partners in crime.” I will always think that I somehow managed to clone myself twice. We moved an […]
Every day we are subjected to media. Media is rarely positive. Positive does not sell air time or magazines. Disaster does. Disaster also sells drugs to make us “feel better” and try to function in a more productive way. Society has always had its easy ways out. My theory is this: the more one can […]
The human psyche is a delicate matter. I took psychology classes from an expert professor. One story she used to tell was about being on a train with a young woman and her baby. The woman had just said goodbye to her husband. He was leaving to rejoin armed forces overseas. She boarded the train […]
A few mornings ago, I went out on the deck to water “not as pretty as last year” flower boxes. You can’t win ‘em all! I looked down and saw a tiny sort of face trying to come up between the slats of the deck. I squatted down to get a closer look. At first, […]
Local writer and owner/breeder/exhibitor of Shih Tzu dogs, Connie Warnock, recently collected all her articles and stories about her beloved pups into one charming and hilarious book called, “Dogs; The Best Medicine: The Kitchen Kennel Kronicles.” Connie’s relationship with Shih Tzu’s began in 1978 with two puppies; a black and white female named Ping Jai […]
Those of us having in our households one or more pets would probably acknowledge that the love received far outweighs the care and attention required by our pets. And, that is why we have them. They give us love, unconditionally. They make us laugh. They console us and lick away our tears. They sit on […]