Wise as an Owl!
I got a new neighbor. And it’s been such fun watching her grow. Believe it or not …. this little darling is a baby! She’s taken an intense interest in what’s happening in the neighborhood. It’s enchanting and a little disarming to open the door and see her sitting on my railing just a few feet away, staring into me with her big, black, portal eyes.
Falling for Fall
Fall is a sensory delight! The landscape turning into a cornucopia of color and tree branches reaching out as if to say, “Look at me, aren’t I beautiful!”
BOO! Here’s a True Ghost Story from Spontaneous Revolutions, for Those Who Dare!
Halloween has long been a favorite holiday of mine. No doubt, one reason is the excuse to buy and eat excess candy. But, it also marks the beginning of the festive holiday season. I typically don’t care for scary movies or creepy trips to ghostly places. Halloween is mostly a good reason to put on a ridiculous costume and have fun! Over the years, I’ve received numerous awards for costume contests.
Butter Burgers Anyone?
What’s a butter burger? That was a frequently asked question from readers of Spontaneous Revolutions: Seeing American One Pedal at a Time. This question came most often from people who live outside the Midwest.
Celebrate Moms!
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers: new mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, foster mothers, stepmothers, mothers to be, animal mothers, mothers of twins, triplets and more, as well as dads who are playing both roles. It’s important work: caring for, nurturing and teaching the young - not to mention all the other jobs it entails: being a nurse, cook, chauffeur, house cleaner, cheerleader, counselor and disciplinarian. Moms simply don’t get enough credit!
Spontaneous Revolutions Gets a Thumbs Up!
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief of the Midwest Book Review sent me a note saying, “I’m very pleased to announce that the April 2023 issue of our online book review magazine "Reviewer's Bookwatch" features a review of Spontaneous Revolutions.
Margaret Lane, a reviewer for the Midwest Book Review, wrote this about my new book:
Fascinating, inspiring, engaging, Spontaneous Revolutions: Seeing America One Pedal at a Time is a thoughtful and thought-provoking read from first page to last. Simply stated, it is one of those books that will linger in the mind and memory long after it is finished and set back upon the shelf.
Triple Trees
What’s your favorite tree? Is it the mighty oak? Or, the beautiful blossoming magnolia with its giant pink and white spring flowers? Or, maybe the tall coconut palm holding bundles of milky fruit waiting to be cracked open. Personally, I’ve always been partial to birch trees with their beautiful white bark standing out in a sea of green and brown. Today, my favorite tree is the vine maple.
Writing is Hard Work
Why is writing so difficult?
There are lots of reasons. Some of it is mindset. Maybe you’re feeling anxious that day or out of sorts. You might be distracted with a busy calendar or feeling overwhelmed with other responsibilities. Or, it could be simpler: the location, time of day, hunger level, being tired, or my personal specialty, just procrastinating!
Horsing Around
Horses are amazing! Smart, intuitive, curious and, like all animals, have individual personalities. My dear friend, Karen Swezey, caught this one acting silly on camera. Pretty much the best horse photo I’ve ever seen!
Love – “A Word”
Recently, I was given a “homework” assignment for a dear friend’s birthday. On his special day, he asked for … A WORD! That’s all he said. A WORD.
This was challenging for me. I struggled with it to be honest. Searching for words in the dictionary, checking websites, crossword puzzles and even talking to some of my big-brained friends and family. Although words are plentiful, nothing seemed to fit.
Old Friends are the Best Friends
There’s nothing like old friends. You know, those people who still like you even though you said or did something dumb, embarrassing or silly. Real friends understand and usually laugh with you vs. at you. I’m blessed to have many friends who I feel safe and comfortable “being me” around.
First Ride in Over a Year
My concussion and other injuries caused by a fall last summer put a damper on riding for a while. But I finally got the blessing from my doctor to get back on my bike … albeit SLOWLY and CAREFULLY.
Happily, just when I got a yes from him, I found the perfect riding group.. Trek Bicycles, out of Portland’s trendy Sellwood neighborhood, offered up a “Couch to Cyclist” series beginning with five miles. It included useful tips like: safety techniques, best clothing and accessories to make riding easier, and of course, how to change a flat tire. All things I’ve long since forgotten, and frankly never knew that well to begin with.
Happy 90th Birthday, Mom!
My mom turned 90 this spring. She has dementia, so a monster birthday party was out of the question. Instead, we threw her nine different birthday parties. One for every decade. Family and friends helped make them happen. We celebrated in smaller groups at people’s homes, on boats, in parks, restaurants and even a late night party in her room. She loved it and laughs every time I tell her she’s had nine parties. I took photos and plan to make a collage of all the festivities. Until then, I show her the pictures over and over and she finds great pleasure in that.
One Step at a Time
I have a dear friend, Sherri Curley, of the Practical Sort who helps people clear their clutter. She’s a pro! And over the years has helped me manage my mess. Of course, I keep making more but that’s beside the point.
One day she was helping me purge paper from my endless piles when I finally heard her say what’s she’s been telling me all along … just do it one piece of paper at a time …. one pile at a time … one box at a time!
Resilience: Bouncing Back
Humanity is resilient! We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t. But the pandemic is putting us to a new test. We’re being asked to stay away from each other: wearing masks, no touching, hugging, and keeping a six-foot social distance.
This has had a profound effect on our daily lives. As a “huggy/touchy” kind of person, I’ve had to train myself to be good with an elbow bump or nod from across the room. The whole thing feels overwhelming at times.
The Dreaded Author Photo
One thing every author has to do is get a photo taken – for the book jacket, website, social media and marketing materials. Seems every time I plan to have my picture taken, the morning of, I get pimples, spill something on my outfit or my hair stands up in a weird way and cannot be tamed. It’s like clockwork.
Crash and Burn
One beautiful summer afternoon, I was on a bike ride with my sister. We were wheeling along having a good time when I spontaneously rode onto a wooden boardwalk to be closer to the water, then turned a tight corner and felt myself starting to fall. I wasn’t going fast, but I was clipped in (clipless bike pedals) and couldn’t release my foot fast enough.
Letting Go and Moving Forward
This blog started in preparation for my upcoming book, Spontaneous Revolutions: Seeing America One Pedal at a Time. I’m thrilled to be rounding the corner on the project, yet, I have to say, one of the hardest things I did was submit my manuscript. The finished book sat there for weeks before I had the courage to send it in.