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Bah! Humbug: What’s Christmas all about?
I find myself identifying with Charlie Brown and Ebenezer Scrooge this year. For some reason, I’m just not in the mood for Christmas. Normally, I love this time of year: the traditions, the music, the food, and the family togetherness. I like seeing the lights and decorations, smelling the apple spice and peppermint, and reminding my children that it is better to give than to receive. I enjoy donating to charities that help children have a present because all children deserve that regardless of their circumstances. My favorite part of A Charlie Brown Christmas is when Linus, asked by Charlie Brown if anyone can tell him what Christmas is all about, stands on…
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Beside Myself
“Beside Myself” Free Verse Poetry, Poetry Workshop, 2002 I’m amazed I didn’t cry That night when I parked beside the lake To talk to God. I needed Him to listen to me Because you would leave in eight hours. I knew that fifty-two weeks Would pass before I could see you or Kiss you again. Until you’re home, I’ll close my eyes and Imagine you walking beside me. It’s been forty-four weeks since You left for overseas adventure. Tell me, baby, Am I still the only woman who You can talk to for six hours straight? More than I need the courage I prayed for long ago, I need to…
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Permission to Fail
When failure rears its ugly head, it hurts, but it’s also an opportunity for growth and change. National Novel Writing Month #NaNoWriMo took place in November. The goal, although self-imposed, was to write at least 50,000 words of a novel during the month. I started off strong, reached my daily word count, and generally kicked ass. Then I got stuck in the middle, so I skipped the middle for a while and worked on the after-the-middle part and rocked it. Then the final proof for Caroline’s Lighthouse came, which meant I spent several evenings and a whole vacation day proofing it. It was the most important free-time task I had…
