There is a scene in Les Miserables where Marius, recovering from his own wounds, sings a song about his friends who died on the barricades. In part, it goes “That I live and you are gone, there’s a grief that can’t be spoken, there’s a pain goes on and on”. My little dog Jack used… Continue reading Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
The Call of The Wild
In February of 2005, our old 26 year old Dutch warmblood mare Veronica keeled over dead in her pasture. Apparently she had been running freely, kicking up her heels, and just suddenly, like THAT, it was over. My 20 year old daughter was home at the time. She called me at work, quite… Continue reading The Call of The Wild
What I Want For My Birthday
What I want for my birthday: Health and happiness for my family and friends A way to cure, or better yet, prevent all cancer so that I can retire, PLEASE! And, of course, world peace. To all my other friends who share my late December Christmas-birthday, I hope you get TWO presents this year! Best… Continue reading What I Want For My Birthday
The Most Wonderful Dog in All the Land by Jackie Widen
Sunday, December 18, 2011 in Austin, TX was overcast and cold. It was the kind of day that encouraged hot cocoa, a warm robe, some channel flipping and being lazy. But it was also my birthday, so I knew it was my Day to Plan. I announced to my husband: Today is the day… Continue reading The Most Wonderful Dog in All the Land by Jackie Widen
Where Has All The Good News Gone?
Occasionally, something I write gets picked up on another of the “social media” outlets, and as with this blog, the responses I get are truly appreciated and provide me with insight into others’ points of view. After my essay about the tragedy of Newtown, CT last Friday night, one reader responded: “ I wonder why… Continue reading Where Has All The Good News Gone?
My Funny Valentine
I was watching Saturday Night Live tonight and Paul McCartney was singing. For several years I have had to suppress a cringe when he comes on stage and sings live—there is something a little bit unseemly about a 70 year old man who’s had a face lift or two singing “Hey Jude.” But there he… Continue reading My Funny Valentine
The Stars are Misaligned Tonight
As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport. King Lear, Act IV There are certain days that everyone will always remember. People of my generation uniformly remember where they were and what they were doing the day that John F. Kennedy was shot. My children’s generation will… Continue reading The Stars are Misaligned Tonight
Finding Your Way Home, Again
But all great voyagers return Home like the hunter, like the hare To its burrow; below, earth’s axle turns To speed their coming, the following fair Winds bless their voyage, blow their safe return. Barbara Howes Today I saw an 80 year old patient with skin cancer—not a melanoma—the dangerous one, but a routine garden… Continue reading Finding Your Way Home, Again
No I Could Not Write a Book
Since I’ve been writing this blog, quite a few people have said to me, “You should write a book!” Let me be clear in my self-assessment—first of all, I don’t have the attention span these days to write a book. A novel has a plot, well developed characters, a beginning, a middle and an ending. … Continue reading No I Could Not Write a Book
On Friendship, by Jackie Widen
My adult daughter and I were having a discussion recently about friendships. She is at that awkward age – mid 20’s and graduated from a college that is now 2,000 miles away, early married and living in a city different from where she grew up. Her circle of friends has changed over these past… Continue reading On Friendship, by Jackie Widen