“Life is a long lesson in humility.” ~James M. Barrie, Scottish author There’s a choice to be made as I grow up–and yes, grow older. Am I going to be all about me, me, me? Am I going to push myself to the front of the line, to the center of the stage–doing whatever it takes to ensure the focus, …
Boy Meets Girl:The Meet-Cute
I learned a certain unforgettable phrase from the romantic comedyThe Holiday. (Okay, before anyone jumps in and protests about some of the content of that movie … I agree. Some of the content: Highly objectionable. Moving on.) Where was I? Oh, yes … the phrase. Arthur, played by Eli Wallach, is a renown scriptwriter from the Golden Age of Hollywood. He explains …
In Others’ Words: Miracles
“Maybe miracles are given not to prove anything, but simply to remind us that the physical world is not so solid and real and dependable as we think.” ~Dwight Longenecker, Catholic priest & author I believe in miracles. Yes, I do. Last night, my husband and I celebrated a miracle with our daughter, Katie Beth, and our son-in-love, Nate. (No, …
Wedding Gown Magic … or Not
I love watching the show “Say Yes to the Dress.” I’m intrigued by the different styles. The extreme range of prices for the gowns–anywhere from a thousand dollars to upwards of ten thousand dollars (or more.) And the interaction between the bride-to-be and whoever she brings to help her choose her gown? Sometimes I’m stunned by the interaction between the …
In Others’ Words: Questions
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” ~Dr. Suess, American writer I call my friend Doug “Wise Guy.” He offers me counsel that often cuts through my “why can’t I figure this out” questions with profoundly simple answers. I clutter the truth with too many “what ifs.” He sifts through my many questions–sometimes I think he ignores …
In Others’ Words: Improvement or Enjoyment?
“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” ~E. B. White, American writer And there you have it: Life choice distilled down into one 20-word sentence. Is your life other-focused or you-focused? Or is it a constant arrival at the …
Looking Past Happily Ever After
Does anyone else ever get frustrated with how the fairy tales end? And they lived happily ever after … The End. Close the book. Dim the movie screen as the music fades. Sigh. Isn’t it romantic? Well, yes. It’s romantic. But is it reality? Sometimes the realist in me wants to add another chapter to the book, one detailing life …
In Others’ Words: Time
“The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” ~C.S. Lewis, author Stop for just a moment and think about the last 60 minutes. An hour ago, those minutes were your future. Now? They are your past. What did you accomplish in that span of time? And before …
Picking Favorites: Fact or Fiction?
In my debut novel Wish You Were Here (Howard Books, May 2012), one of the themes I explore is the issue of favoritism. What happens when one child is given preferential treatment? The topic of picking favorites isn’t a new one. Consider the biblical story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25). In that instance, parental favoritism tore a family apart as …
In Others’ Words: Compliments
“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” ~Mark Twain, American author & humorist Ah, compliments! For someone to take the time to say something encouraging. Something positive about you. To start a sentence with the words, “I like you because _____________” and then they fill in the blank with a reason. And you hug those words to …