In 1864 my third great grandparents were sent the land deed for their Oregon property. All 640 acres, officially divided between Chloe Clark Willson and William Holden Willson at today's Salem's State Street. William died in 1856, and never saw the official document signed by President Abraham Lincoln. Although I've written about this here and … Continue reading Land Ownership: From Land Claims to High Water Marks
Maybe there’s a pattern or maybe it’s happenstance. After I published my first memoir, I felt for the first time in adulthood that I could write a novel. Allowing myself to tell my own story in My Music Man, fed by memories of my past and stories lived by others, invited my brain to be … Continue reading A Map of Her Own: Navigating Dual Timelines in Fiction
The Imnaha River at Indian Crossing. If Wandering speaks to your spirit of the moment, I offer a few more bits. (See Wandering and the Gift of Time if you missed it.) As experienced hikers know, early June in Oregon‘s high country means lots of snow, raging creeks and rivers, and mosquitoes in the lower … Continue reading Wandering Part 2: Bits and Pieces
Near Pine Creek in the Wallowas. Yes, it’s been exactly one year since I was laid off from what I know now, though didn’t know then, my final chapter of traditional employment. While it took me a month to recover from my surprise and frustration, I know now how much I’ve gained. And how fortunate … Continue reading Wandering and the Gift of Time
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