Week 34 Memory Verse: Bring the light
I would never take a stroll with an artist through his studio and start judging his work. Can you imagine? Walking along and commenting to the one who created each canvas, saying, “Oh, that one is lovely… but that one really sucks… I love the colors you used in this one… but man that one
A Tree Full of Kindness
My dad had a stroke in the summer of 2016. For more than a year, he’s been a resident of an assisted living home. It’s a lovely place, but my heart hurts because I know that isn’t where he wants to be. I got to return to Wisconsin to visit him a few weeks ago
Attack of the Killer Zucchini
Apparently there is this thing in Southeastern Ohio where you leave an extremely large zucchini on someone’s porch or in their car. I’m not sure if the vegetable is left because the mystery giver is a friend or foe. That’s still sort of unclear. It’s kind of like back in high school, when I was
Week 33 Memory Verse
A car crashes into a crowd of people standing up against white nationalist protesters. What’s your first reaction? Do you lash out in a flurry of hateful words over social media, adding more negativity to the situation? Do you hide under a blanket on your couch, binge-watching Netflix so you don’t have to risk seeing
Kindness is a matter of the heart
A few weeks ago, I posed a question about the difference between helping others because it’s the “right thing to do” or because you want to do an act of kindness. I’ve already published some answers in this column, but I received one more letter in the mail that I couldn’t let go before sharing
Ann, the Appalachian Pioneer Woman
I’d like you to meet Ann. Ann is a professional photographer. She took all the photos of my bare chest during reconstruction for my upcoming breast cancer book. She’s used to seeing me naked. That’s why she has no problem walking into my house while I’m still in my pajamas, and I have no problem
Week 32 Memory Verse
I’m a project starter. How about you? A project starter is a person who gets all excited about cleaning her closet. She throws everything onto the bed and sorts through it by making three piles (give, save, toss). She puts the “give” and “toss” into black garbage bags, then walks out of the room because
