The Procrastinators’ Christmas Eve Parable

This is a true story; ‘tis a non-fiction fable with a most pointed Christmassy moral. Well, then again, this holiday tale is at least heartily inspired by a long ago true Christmas Eve story, though this warning parable possibly will be embellished wildly as this writer is often wont to do with any story, whether…

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Warmth to Chase Away Cold

First, there was hot chocolate. Not too hot for little kiddy lips and with marshmallows on top, of course. Mini or the regular big size, I can’t quite recall. Were the mini mallows ‘invented yet’ back then? I just don’t remember. Kids around a campfire on a cool summer’s night, more especially after tobogganing in…

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The Forgotten Dad

Last night I was talking to my youngest daughter about my thoughts regarding creatively artistic mothers sadly having to put their talents on hold while they do their noble work raising their children, and she rightly reminded me that many creative or artistic fathers are having to do the same. My oldest and highly talented…

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Once Upon Another Grandmothering Summertime

My glorious grandsons were here for their summer holiday again and the fun was over before I knew it. I turned around, and then they were gone. Sniff, sniff, wipe a few tears, and miss them until they return to visit once more. Of course, being that I’m no spring chicken, it was no holiday…

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‘Jane Eyre’

Charlotte Bronte’s literary masterpiece of Jane Eyre is a classic for good reason. It’s a little bit of a Cinderella story, somewhat a message of repentance, an illustration of learning through life and a good deal romantic. Yes, the story is a melodramatic one, but it is great melodrama. This memorable novel from one feminine…

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Seeing Seattle Again

In a recent trip back out to Seattle area, I felt the formidable homesick pull once more. It’s always exciting to head towards the Emerald City territory again, and it’s always very hard for me to leave it. My heart has been a good deal in the Seattle East Side since long before I met…

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Cowboys and Indians and Cowgirls and Horses

In growing up, I played a game called ‘Cowboys and Indians’ with my siblings, cousins and friends. Have you ever heard of that action-packed thriller? Did you ever play that interactive, intense, improvisational and interplay game as a kid like I did? If you are older than ‘political correctness’ and grew up in North America,…

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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Being a little bit Irish, myself, and being named originally for ‘Kerry County’, Ireland, I always hope that a little of the luck o’ the Irish is in me. My typical luck is definitely the kind of ‘Irish style’ luck such as, ‘oops, I stepped in something yucky: lucky part Irish me, I wasn’t wearing…

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To be or not to be…

… a romance novelist? That was my question. Yes, that was one of my questions in life at least twenty years ago. When I first explored the possibilities of writing fiction (because ideas were pouring into my little brain by leaps and bounds, and almost by the minute), one thing I told myself was that,…

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Happy 200th Birthday, Charles Dickens!

From ‘A Christmas Carol’ to my other favorite classics that Dickens penned, I have enjoyed many of his characters and stories, though I do hope and plan to read and see more as time goes on. I’ve barely scratched the surface where Charles Dickens’ literary works are concerned, perhaps because they can be a bit…

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