When the kids were little they were in an after-school program. Charles worked closer than I did to their elementary school, so he would pick up the girls on his way home. I generally had dinner underway by the time the onslaught began. First, I would hear the basement garage door go up. Then, three car doors would slam and that would be followed by a herd of family coming up the steps. Usually they’d take a minute to throw down book bags or remove a tie or pet an animal befo

My cousin and best friend growing up was widowed suddenly several years ago. She and her sweet husband had been planning a cruise for the following year. After he died, she didn’t want to do one thing that they had planned together – except for this trip. She asked if I’d like to go and of course I said yes. It was a great adventure and included the opportunity to stand a few feet from – and gaze upon (as my Daddy would say) – Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son,” hanging

Our monthly “Out of the Box Book Club” meeting was this week. As usual, we had a rollicking good time with great food and fellowship. We never know what the host of the month will cook up both literally and culinar-ily (is that a word?), but anyway it’s always a treat. And the fact that it’s mostly church friends in no way limits the gloves off approach to candidly (kindly) sharing our thoughts and feelings about each month’s book choice. I picked one once they all HATED. Thi

Lost lamb. Rescue obviously begun. Someone propped this baby out in the open hoping for recovery. That was kind. Vulnerable there, but necessary if its real owner has a shot at finding it. Wearing some grass clippings, but that just means the mower guy knew it too and didn't mess things up. Sweet. OMGoodness. Talk about blog rich. But today...I think all I'm supposed to do is show you what I saw last week on my morning walk -- and let you compose your own thoughts.

I have one grand who lives pretty far away and so I don’t get to see her as often as I like. But when I do, there’s almost always something special that goes down. She and I recently kept company and I had some things to give her when it was time for her long car ride home. I explained that her presents were in Papa’s car and, as we were walking to it, I asked if she had any memory of him at all. I couldn’t imagine that she could; she was so young when he died. She stopped a

If you had a chance to read my birthday blog last week, you know how grateful I am to: (a) still be having them and (b) to have friends and family who never let one go by unnoticed. Today’s blog though is a reminder that attention comes with a price as I learned once again this weekend celebrating with the Steel Got It Girls. Under the guise of we’ve done all this ancestry research and you must be a direct – DIRECT – descendant of the resplendent Queen Victoria – comes this

Well, yikes, I have a birthday coming up and I am willing to tell you THAT, but we are NOT going to talk candles. Dates of birth have always been special in my family. If you’ve read “Hey, God? Yes, Charles," you know ways that family and friends stepped in that first year to fill the void for my first birthday without Charles. They’ve been doing it ever since. It means a lot to be remembered on your birthday. My mother celebrated mine for 20 years (we could credit my daddy t

Nine years later, I still hear Charles stories that are new to me. The latest gift came while catching up with an old friend during a luncheon. I just love her, and Charles did too. Of course, we talked about him and especially the pleasure he took in learning new guitar music. She leaned over to me and said she had wondered if he had time before he died to finish learning “If I Could Change the World.” Huh? As far as I knew, I was the only person who would connect Charles an