Family
Two Men on the Moon and Five Young Women at the Jersey Shore
It was June, 1969. I’d finished my first year of college and wanted to spend the summer down the shore, as I had every other summer of my life. I did not want to spend it in the ’burbs with my parents. It’s a bit hard for me to remember why I disliked my parents…
Read MoreThe Hero Behind Pretending to Dance
When I was growing up, my sister Joann was my hero. Never mind the fact that she couldn’t stand me. I was seven years younger and when I came along, I took over her position as Princess of the Family. She didn’t bother masking her disdain for me. (You can even see it in this…
Read MoreMidweek Questions from My Readers
Every once in a while I like to answer some of the questions you’ve sent me. Some are related to writing, some are more personal, and my goal in these posts is to answer two of each. (Almost) anything goes, so feel free to add new questions with your comments and I’ll try to answer…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Foreign Language
John and I plan to travel to Tuscany with some friends in the spring. I grew up with an Italian surname (Lopresti) but my Italian immigrant grandparents wanted their children to be American through and through, so no Italian was spoken in their home and my father had none of the language to share with…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Money Pits (and a giveaway of an audio book)
I’m now the happy owner of my second beach condo, this one a three bedroom. They are both rentals, but we use them when we can and we looooooove being right on the ocean. This one was a tad dated and I knew I wanted to spruce it up a bit. My youngest stepdaughter, Caitlin,…
Read MoreMidweek Questions from My Readers (and a Giveaway)
On Facebook, I asked for some questions that were a bit out of the ordinary and received plenty! I may make this a feature on my blog for a midweek pick-me-up. Here’s the first set (and then it’s your turn…): Q. What is your favorite breakfast food? A. I have breakfast nearly every morning at…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Your Earliest Memory
I can’t really pinpoint my own earliest memory, so I’m always fascinated when someone tells me theirs. I’d love to hear yours. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to all of…
Read MoreCan We Have a Little Tolerance, Please?
Wow. On Facebook yesterday, I asked for suggestions for the name of an organization that would support gay and lesbian youth and that would form a good acronym. (The organization is created by a character in my work-in-progress.) I received tons of great responses. . . and a few not-so-nice retorts as well. I don’t…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Saying Goodbye
It may have been the day you left your five-year-old at the kindergarten door. Or it may have been that long embrace before your husband–or wife–was deployed overseas. Or may be it was the time you hugged your grandmother goodbye, knowing it would be the last hug you’d ever give her. What is your Goodbye…
Read MoreMusical Nostalgia
I’m sitting in Starbucks (what else is new?) and they’re playing a song called “I Can’t Get Used to Losing You.” I just Googled to find out who’s performing it– a group called The English Beat. Has a bouncy little ska rhythm. And it’s bringing back memories that put a smile on my face. All…
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