Thank you to Portland Youth Philharmonic for sharing music to be enjoyed by all. A partial remedy to the absence of live music during the pandemic is the potpourri of livesteamed opportunities. A silver lining for us, Mom would not be getting out to any of them even in the absence of a pandemic, nor … Continue reading Music is the one thing
The mountains beckon
Maybe it's the glimpse of January sunshine inviting me to daydream both ahead and back to moments of wilderness glory. Or, perhaps it’s the claustrophobia of being sandwiched during the pandemic, between telework and caring for a mostly bed-bound loved one. I peer outside to catch the summit of Mount Hood to the east, and … Continue reading The mountains beckon
A typewriter click-clacks forever
Dad graduated from University of Oregon's journalism program and was considered more useful as a PIO than in the infantry while based at Fort Lewis. One would think I've written enough about typewriters. After all, not only do I share memories of Dad's click-clacking away in My Music Man, but even after that I featured … Continue reading A typewriter click-clacks forever
The gift of imagination
A most favorite pastime of mine during the pandemic days of summer and fall, splattering into the wetter and colder days of winter, is watching kids outside: carrying on as life was before, not even bothered by mask requirements. This has given me great hope. Imagination is both a remedy and an ally during good … Continue reading The gift of imagination
The Christmas of the green pantsuits and other cautionary tales
While I'm certain we purchased more gifts for our kids when they were small, a number of years ago our family retreated from buying many material gifts to instead spend more of our time and money on experiences: plays, music, food. Like many other families we encouraged handmade gifts, and now more than ever, place … Continue reading The Christmas of the green pantsuits and other cautionary tales
Forcing holiday joy
For several decades I have faithfully planted a dozen or two Paperwhite Narcissus bulbs shortly after Thanksgiving, patiently awaiting the arrival of their white blossoms and heady fragrance. This was not a tradition I grew up with and I’m not sure what or who inspired me to begin it, but now it is as much … Continue reading Forcing holiday joy
Overdue, rediscovered
My family treasures library books. In My Music Man I wrote about how, as our family prepared to evacuate our Eastern Oregon LaGrande home because of a 1972 wildfire, Mom insisted we gather the library books hiding in the crevices of our home together with cherished family photo albums. (Okay, there was that one other … Continue reading Overdue, rediscovered
Caring is creative, gratitude nourishes us all
Neighborhood friend Asa shares his tennis ball. It was after my dad died six years ago that I understood I had joined a new club, one whose entry requirements are unfathomable until a parent dies. Late last month I made another transition, one carrying its own membership criteria: adult children caring full time for a … Continue reading Caring is creative, gratitude nourishes us all
Blueberries, blueberries and more blueberries
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCluskey. One of the joys of late for me has been to find spare moments to read books aloud, particularly to my mom or my special neighborhood friends. When I received the invitation to read a book for our West Linn Public Library's virtual storytime, I knew which one I … Continue reading Blueberries, blueberries and more blueberries
A story hidden in the mist
Lake Oswego Log Hoist building, Sept. 2020 I suspect only those most familiar with this special stretch of the Willamette River can readily identify this structure. The morning fog in this photo adds an eerie, surreal aura enticing our imaginations to wonder: what's the back story of this structure from our past? If I didn't … Continue reading A story hidden in the mist
