The Kids

The kids are outside at the preschool down the block from my house. I like to take a coffee break on the patio during their outside playtime, so I can hear their laughter and their childish voices raised in pleasure–and sometimes tears. The sound makes me happy. In a world where so few things create happiness, the voices of children are a balm.

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Favorite

“What’s your favorite meal?” he asked.

Well, how could I answer that? Thousands of meals have passed through my lips. I immediately thought of eating in Italy, where the food is always amazing. No. I couldn’t mention Italy. How about that time I had an ice cream sundae for dinner while listening to a steel drum band in The Bahamas? No, not that. I know . . .

“Any meal I have with you is my favorite,” I said.

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Felicity

Image by ouec via Flickr
I’ve been following the journey of Felicity Aston as she skied across Antarctica by  herself. She made it in 59 days. Much as I’d like to see Antarctica myself, I can’t imagine having the courage or determination to do it that way. Here’s to Felicity! Brava!

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Free

“Where can I get a music stand?” he asked the fellow next to him. They were sitting in metal folding chairs arranged in a semi-circle with ukuleles in their hands.

“I got mine free from freecycle,” the man answered.

I heard the answer and thought, <em>Damn, I paid $25 for mine. Why didn’t I think of that?</em> But I still showed him how to play a Bbm.

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Character

I’ve been watching Downton Abbey on PBS. A huge cast of characters, all of them distinct. It got  me thinking about all those basic rules you learn in fiction writing workshops about how to define character, how to help readers (or viewers) keep your characters straight, and how to incorporate those cues into your plot. Of course, on television you are seeing faces, not mentally constructing characters off the page. Nevertheless, Downton Abbey seems like an instruction manual for those who are working to build characters in their writing.

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Hi, Honey, I’m Home

The surprise party wasn’t ready. I still had to frost the cake and hang up the banner, but I was running out of time. I knew she would come through the door to the garage calling out, “Hi, honey, I’m home,” within moments. I tossed the banner on the floor in front of the garage door like a red carpet. I threw off my clothes and posed in front of the cake holding the tub of frosting and a spatula. That would have to do.

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A Favorite Author

Nevada Barr was in my city last night, talking about her newest Anna Pigeon mystery novel, The Rope.  She’s an excellent speaker–funny and charming. I’m looking forward to reading the new book.

But this is a story about social media.

I tweeted that I was going to hear @nevadabarr speak and a friend in Wellington, @miraz, tweeted back asking me to let Nevada know she had a fan in New Zealand. So I made this hokey looking sign for Miraz, and Nevada happily posed with a  greeting to her far-away fan. The last thing she told me after signing my book, was, “And hi to Miraz.”

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My greatest fear

We live in the Big Thompson Canyon. My husband inherited the land and house and insists on living in it. I keep waiting for a flood to sweep us down the canyon. It’s happened before. When I try to explain how afraid I am, my husband says, “Don’t worry, we have flood insurance. Just enjoy how beautiful it is.” He thinks we’ll know in advance if a wall of water is rushing our way and will have time to get out. I don’t . . .

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A January Morning

A January morning
Warm and damp it dawns.
A treat in the normally
Cold and dry high country.
A drink for the burgeoning
Bulbs and fattening forsythia buds.
Will their eager growth
Be stunted by the next freeze?

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Neon Orange

Neon Orange was a natural born leader. Well, for one thing, people noticed him right away. He was definitely the kind of guy who could attract attention. When he spoke, everyone paid attention. He realized early on he could get people to do things he instructed them to do, almost without question. It didn’t take him long to use this innate ability of his for personal gain. Anyone would, right?

Almost right, there was a problem with Flat Black. He . . .

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