Okay, friends and family! I am hearing from you that you are wondering how I am. I mostly disappeared after the insertion of a pain pump for my new diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer. On June 19, I had a Medtronic pain pump inserted into a "pocket" incision made into my right upper abdomen. The …
Continue reading Adventure on Holy Ground #6 / Pancreatic Cancer
My friends and family know I love to take writing classes in Iowa City. A few weeks ago, I took my nineteenth course. I specifically looked for an easy class, because I didn't want to churn out several pages a day or give written feedback each night to my fellow eleven students. So I signed …
Continue reading Iowa Summer Writing Festival – the Work and the Surprise
Sitting at this delightful coffeehouse in South Haven, Michigan, is a memory I want to commit to the page. The door is open with fans circulating the warmish air. Another place where I stopped was so cold from the A/C that I simply couldn't stay. I've hung out here in other years when I've come …
Continue reading Dr. David Fletcher’s Review of “Marv Taking Charge” – In Appreciation
It's been a few weeks since the April A to Z challenge, and I'd like to say that I've been reclining on a chaise lounge, reading inspirational romance novels, and sipping chamomile tea served with clotted cream on homemade scones. But I'd be lying. Instead, I apparently betrayed my body that was trying to tell …
Zonk--to fall soundly asleep or relax completely. The last day of the Blogging from A to Z in April Challenge. Ready to zonk out accurately describes my life at 82 at this time! I always want to finish something I've started, but completing A to Z has been a challenge. Each blog post takes one …
Yesterday, I woke up to torrents of rain. I'd already been wondering what to write about for the letter Y, and as I watched the rain, the song You Are My Sunshine came to mind. Not a warm and cozy weekend welcome! It took me awhile to find a rendition on YouTube that I liked, …
Thinking about turning 82 is both positive and negative. The positive part, of course, is that I’m still alive. I’ve outlived several classmates who’d be the same age. I’m still able to walk and talk and see and hear and smell and taste and feel. I do not take these capabilities for granted. But I …
My late husband, Marv Roelofs, became famous over our 55+ years of marriage for making bookshelves for me. His first wall-to-wall lives on in our first home, a now run-down townhouse in IL that my son found recently on a realtor site. Marv's last wall-to-wall, of course, lives on in his last home, my current …
Continue reading Bookcase Quilt: Tangible Memories of My Late Husband
On May 5, 2023, I wrote about Lois Hoitenga Roelofs’ wonderful memoir Marv Taking Charge. It’s the story of her husband, Marv, and his decision to … Lois Hoitenga Roelofs’ Memoir Earns Well-deserved Honor: Marv Taking Charge: A Story of Bold Love and Courage Is a Chicago Writers Association Book … Thank you for reposting, …
“Marv Taking Charge” is a finalist for Book of the Year in the Chicago Writers Association’s Indie Nonfiction category. A Fitting Award Thank you, Marianna!
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