*** “I couldn’t do what you’re doing,” we hear frequently, referring to my husband’s decision to forgo cancer treatment. It’s not been too hard so far because Marv’s been “normal.” But that changed last week when he sprouted his first new nodule since the one removed on January 23 that led to his diagnosis of …
Category: writing
God’s Grace #11: Another Hug Tour…
We spent a week on the road, traveling southeast to Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana and visiting several nieces, nephews, and friends. Marv drove all 2000 miles. I came home worn out, while Marv still had his usual energy. Looking back a week later, I remember all the warm conversations and laughter. But I also think …
God’s Grace #10: Given “Extra” Time
When I was a psychiatric nursing grad student in the 80s, I did a clinical practicum on an oncology unit. As I live through our "waiting game" now, I remember what one of my patients said to me. He'd been given six months to live and had outlived his six months. "I've said good bye …
Eighth Blogging Anniversary
WordPress notified me today that I started this blog eight years ago. I remember the day precisely. I’d just heard a favorite writing teacher, Helen Gallagher, tell our group that if we had a book coming out, we must start a blog at least six months ahead of time to help establish a platform. I’d …
God’s Grace #9: A Writing Respite
Yesterday, I got excited about writing again while reading an article on the Books page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. John McPhee, winner of the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded by the National Books Critic Circle, defined creative nonfiction as “not making something up but making the most of what you have.” I love …
God’s Grace #5: God Sightings this Week
I wasn’t going to church on Sunday. I was sick. Last minute I decided to go. Our “cantor,” who rarely sings a solo, sang a solo. And it was my favorite song: “When peace like a river attendeth my way…” We sang it at my folks’ funerals and at one of my sister’s. I choked …
OLLI: Pig Brains, Shoeshoes, and More
Winter in Sioux Falls can be a bit snowy and cold, but, with the help of mind-expanding OLLI classes, the days fly by. In the first week alone, I learned about senior resources in Sioux Falls; a gal here has started a business where she will help you plan the retrofit of your house to …
Growing Older: On Turning Seventy-six
The sobering thing for me about turning 76 is that I'm getting closer than ever to 80. Eighty! My head tells me I'm 29, my body says 99 on some days, and the me that's hanging around between these two ages is now on the way to 80. The most joyful thing about turning 76 …
Changes in Nursing Since I Retired
Sitting at my husband's hospital bedside recently, I marveled at the changes I saw in nursing since I retired just seventeen years ago. I know I sound really old, but here's a list of what I saw being done differently: The endless use of gloves: I only wore gloves if a patient was in isolation. …
Coincidence Anecdotes for the New Year
"Room 373," the hotel clerk said. I sighed with relief. I'd been staying at numerous hotels in the past year and trying to remember room numbers had become a nuisance. But 373 instantly registered as the number of the hymn, Beautiful Savior, in the red Psalter Hymnal of the church of my childhood. The hymn …
Write Along with Me 