April 2024

I finished the first book in my coastal trilogy—hurrah! But “The End” means a new beginning: editing, titling, marketing, and cover design. Perfection isn’t flawlessness but completion. Like a midwife, I celebrate each creative step with satisfaction, not anxiety, embracing joy in the journey toward “done.

March 2024

In high school, my column blended real and made-up questions, sparking my love for advice writing. Inspired by columns like Dear Abby, I find hope in honest struggles and courage in reaching out. These stories teach, comfort, and remind us—hope springs eternal, guiding us through life’s challenges.

January 2024

As poet L.R. Knost writes, healing comes not with time but purposeful love. Starting 2024, choose a guiding word—like “intention”—to anchor your story, your life, and navigate change with meaning. What will you do with your one wild and precious life?

December 2023

After our accident, dancing seemed impossible—until one day, Jerry took my hand, and we found a new way to move together. Awkward but joyful, it reminded me: life is about adjusting, choosing joy despite pain, and letting ourselves be led in the dance—even when the music sounds unfamiliar.

November 2023

They lost steady jobs. I gained lasting insight. Teaching laid-off aluminum workers in the 1980s, I met veterans who hid their service out of fear it would cost them interviews. That summer, I learned what it truly meant to serve—and how deeply our nation’s gratitude has sometimes faltered.

October 2023

A good heart, said a remote culture, is marked by generosity and cheerful work—not outcomes. That insight changed how I see caregiving, chores, and self-worth. If we approach even mundane tasks with a generous spirit, we don’t just get through them—we become better, lighter people. Maybe even people with good hearts.

August 2023

I love watching things get fixed—homes, yards, even a butter-loving dog’s torn leg. There’s joy in creating a solution, in seeing a beginning, middle, and end. Fixing reminds me that creativity and care can make broken things whole—and that sometimes, dental floss and Preparation H can save the day.

July 2023

When life stalls, don’t panic—dip the nose, breathe deep, look ahead. Preparation and presence, not fear, will lift you. Whether in flight or faith, there’s always an instructor in the cockpit.

June 2023

Focus comes from the hearth — the center of warmth, purpose, and connection. In settling into our new home, I’ve rediscovered that center through neighbors, writing, and caring for Jerry. May you find your own focus and keep the fire going.

April 2023 Story Sparks

On Easter, a blue heron landed precariously on a palm frond, trusting its wings more than the fragile perch. It reminded me to pause, be still, and say “yes” to stillness and kindness—accepting gifts and grace rather than always doing and controlling everything.