When I wrote to my West Point women classmates about my sense of disbelief after receiving what seemed like a surreal diagnosis, I described it as feeling like I had been “abducted by aliens.” I looked the same on the outside, but covert cells with evil intentions had invaded. West Point cadets would occasionally plan…
Flaming reds Vying for brilliance Each leaf competing Struggling to be heard In all the sadness Embracing the change Attention Generating Warm new memories Fresh pictures of beauty Brilliant hues Increasingly scant Autumn Each life season Carrying its own blessings Exit Blazing color (C) Jane F. Collen October 2008* IndexCardCure.com™ Every leaf counts. *This…
I’m not as big a fan of Harry Potter books as my grandchildren, but I do know that Harry was orphaned and relegated to sleeping in a cupboard under the stairs. After his parents were murdered, Harry’s mother’s sister grudgingly agreed to raise her nephew. While Harry had a place to live with his aunt…
When we started planning the trip to Colorado in spring 2021, we had no idea of the road ahead.* We expected our reliably good health would continue. A diagnosis had suddenly created uncertainty – Would my health be stable enough to make the trip, especially since we were traveling to an area where the nearest…
Since September, I’ve been like Alice in Wonderland: “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was written for children but there’s plenty to keep adults engaged and entertained. In one chapter, Alice shrinks and grows; however, no matter if she’s giant or…
A few years ago, my friend, Cathy S. mentioned a friend of hers who had created a Life Soundtrack. This woman selected songs for special moments in her life. Then, she wrote short “liner notes” to provide some background on why the song or the occasion was significant. There seem to be no new ideas…
So let’s laugh more! Two nights ago I lost my dog. I unleashed Skoshi by my car after a walk, turned away from him to pour him some water, turned back and he was gone! Now, it usually takes me at least 10 minutes to get this 15 ½ year old dog up off the…
Having a gym membership doesn’t make you fit.Going to a garage doesn’t make you a car.Attending church doesn’t make you religious. For many people, religion is a significant aspect of their identity, representing the group with which they feel kinship and the people with whom they spend time. Religion can provide a path that helps us…
When I started grad school, I looked at what courses were required to obtain my desired degree. I could choose any that were available, looked interesting, and worked with my schedule. Once enrolled, I downloaded an instructor-designed syllabus. This document laid out due dates for readings, assignments, research papers, and exams. A student looking to…
In September you can listen to a good book while you drive, exercise or clean up! I spent the day yesterday with two consummate professionals: actor Stephanie Cozart and sound engineer extraordinaire Bruce Figler of CreativeSoundWorks. We worked a grueling 8 hours with only one half hour break, trying to re- record Stephanie’s narration of…
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