Life in the fast lane--where's the on ramp?

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Saturday, July 25, 2015

The Fable of Harlan E.

Picture a tiny greenish black frog, small enough to sit comfortably on a nickel. Imagine him sitting quietly on the upper deck railing, eight feet above the lower deck. That deck is about twice as wide and long as the weedy, overgrown pond just beside it where he started his journey of discovery.... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Stories from The Center

Topic: The War Years I was the oldest of my mother’s second set of kids, so I’m not certain whether this makes me the oldest or the middle in the birth-order conversation. My sister Marje was eleven and brother John was nine when I came along and they lived with their father after the divorce. We... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

From last year's Write Your Own Story session

Topic: “Those” People A few days ago I was chatting with a woman – we’ll call her Delia – who comes to Bingo at The Center on Tuesdays, my day as front desk volunteer. She and I have had several conversations about life and family – about working a full-time job and running a house, rearing children... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Justi's Question: Do I think kids get a better education now?

This is a debate topic that never seems to lose its appeal for the folks at The Center, mostly seasoned folk who have reached retirement age and better. Is school easier or harder? Do they have any appreciation for what their parents or ancestors learned in the School of Hard Knocks? And are kids... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Topic: How We Learned

Shortly after the discovery of fire (before the Internet made research assignments easier) report writing was a much more complicated proposition. Before the World Wide Web became central to the desktop computer, the Amazon was a river in South America – not an online marketer. At Mossyrock school –... Sign in to see full entry.

She's Back!

Connection problems had me offline since Friday night. Will post something new after I catch up with my email, etc.... Thanks Wiley & Kabu for your phone call checking up on me. I tried to call you back but my phone just wouldn't ring yours for some mysterious reason... Hugs to you both!!! Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Topic: The Joys of Transit

One day as I was on the #60 bus (Beacon Hill to Downtown by way of the International District) headed for downtown Seattle, a little Vietnamese grandmother got aboard at the Asian Market, carrying a heavy bag of produce. The bus was crowded and most riders took aisle seats so we could get out easily... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Topic: Meeting a celebrity

At the time I lived at Mom's cousin Hazel’s, the Beacon Hill neighborhood was primarily second generation European-Americans who’d established themselves in jobs, small businesses, careers pretty much based on what they’d done in the “old country.” Her husband Mike's family came from Denmark by way... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Writing from the Center

Topic: Commuting When I lived in Seattle I used to commute to work by city bus. The first time was in the early 1950s. I caught the bus on 15th Avenue in Beacon Hill and rode to the Pike Street stop on 4th Avenue downtown where I walked up the hill to 1915 Terry Avenue to the central accounting... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Writing from The Center - Session Notebook

Topic: Weather – describe a perfect spring day A perfect spring day would begin for me just before dawn. I’d stand in the kitchen watching the sunrise through the kitchen window while coffee brews and fills the air with its seductive aroma. There would be a narrow, tattered layer of clouds just at... Sign in to see full entry.

About this Blog

Sometimes you have to write it down in order to learn what you really think about life, what it means, how to do what's best. Sometimes you need feedback from someone else to put things in perspective.

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