Remember the blue back and orange back biographies that proliferated our library shelves in elementary school? I read every one of them. Hence the comments on my report card, “Jennifer reads too many library books.” Presented as nonfiction, many of these biographies were doctored to present a more noble heritage. True or not, they did… Read more
Imagine this. You awaken in the morning and have no idea where you are, who are or who any of the people around you are. And that not knowing did not go away as the day progressed. It lasted all day. Alzheimer’s Disease does this to its victims. The Alzheimer’s Association aptly designates today—June 20… Read more
The frequency with which we hear people described as a trailblazer and legendary almost negates their value. But sometimes they are the only words. Especially when describing a female whose life as “one of the first” and as an exceptionally good reporter made her a legendary trailblazer. Even the Associated Press used them in writing… Read more
May 30, 1431, Joan de Arc was burned at the stake. This is significant to our family. Fast-forward a few years to the early 1990’s and a rising third grader. During the summer, my son discovered Joan of Arc—through a video game, I recall—and his was intrigued. He came to me, asking if there were… Read more
“Tell me about when I was born.” An unusual request from my only sibling. But a legitimate one since my sister is almost 10 years younger. On a sister’s weekend, we had just settled onto our comfy beds in our room at the beach. Driving rain pelted our windows, roaring waves pounded the beach and… Read more
You see them in every thrift shop, junk store and consignment store you visit. Boxes, baskets, trays filled with photos, and not just any photos but personal ones from years gone by. They fascinate me. With something of a compulsion, I stop and rummage through the current offerings. What am I expecting when I do… Read more
It was the day before Thanksgiving. She introduced herself, and with a startled look said, “You don’t look XX-years-old.” Then she locked her huge brown eyes onto my small hazel ones. “It’s a baby tumor.” The oncology surgeon let that sink in and repeated it several times. With that, I was ushered into the world… Read more
With the movie based on her award-winning book in theaters finally, a book about her spiritual legacyjust published and the 100th anniversary of her birth approaching in November, Madeleine L’Engle is in the news, as they say. Even though she died in 2007, she remains as current as the day’s news for me. She continues having a proI… Read more
This book—a complimentary advance reader’s copy—arrived in today’s mail. The publisher, Random House, is one of several I follow online, and most of them offer an opportunity to get free books. I enter just about all, but this is the first time I’ve received a free copy. I love getting free printed pieces in… Read more
“When you want something, all the universe conspires to helping you achieve it.” Paul Coelho, The Alchemist Personal confession, I have not read The Alchemist. But when I saw this quote, the book went onto my TBR list. This quote, which I ran across somewhere in all my reading, dazzled me, appearing at just the… Read more