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

By Pat_B - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Journal

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

FROM THE SORTING BOX:

THE OLD ONE I watch the old one rocking in her porchbound wooden chair and ask myself just who is she, that old one rocking there. Is her life’s work really finished as she dozes in the sun or is she one of those who thinks she’s only just begun? Does she dream of days long gone, or of future’s... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, September 30, 2019

TEACHERS CREATE THE WORLD - AND THEY'RE UNDERPAID

I have a friend named Lisa, 40-something, big smile, the kind of woman who makes you feel safe and welcome in her presence. She’s African American and teaches (6th grade?) at a school in East St. Louis, IL. It is one of those urban districts where poverty and all the tragic outcomes that are rooted... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

WHAT THE AVON LADY SAID

Some people these days wear extreme makeup – and not all of them are celebrities or performers strutting across a stage setting. Some even do a never-ending job of it with tattoos, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic. It’s quite a feature of a girl’s growing up to dress up in her mama’s outfits and try... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

from "Waking Late" a collection by PLH

Six seventeen a.m., and there's no moon no cloud, no hint of sunrise soon just the mournful whisper of a train west of here, swimming north in the rain no choice for early wakened folks like me but to wait for what the day will be so far so good my mom would say no one's screwed up this perfect day... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, September 27, 2019

FRIDAY ...

CHEER UP It’s not just me. It’s everywhere. People are worried and on edge, so many are dealing with devastating possibilities, fighting depression and PTSD, and even nature has joined in the assault on our equilibrium… Can’t help thinking of that sarcastic old joke. As I was sitting all alone and... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

THURSDAY WRITERS TOPICS

Our group meets at The Center at 9:30 – today’s topic for the memoir write is “first kiss.” It seems our own story wouldn’t be complete without first romance – whether it be a school days flirtation, discovering Mr. or Ms. Wrong, or if the love story started in kindergarten and never ended. Those... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Rainbow

A few minutes ago I went out to add a small bag of trash to the tub at the curb. The morning sun was shining behind me, and clouds gathering to the west above the town and there, like a beautiful ribbon on the gift of today, was a rainbow. It had begun to sprinkle. As I stood in awe, a second faint... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

IT'S JUST A PIECE OF STRING

I retired from SIUe in October of ’93. One of my workmates was an office administrator, a woman named Mickey. She was a rule follower, a woman who believed policies were not mere guidelines, but commandments. She saved string – a lot of packages that came through campus mail were tied with string in... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, September 23, 2019

SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT

SUNSET AFTER A RAIN A shimmering crystal droplet clings to an emerald leaf dispersing the colors of the dying sun, a jewel poised to leap into the welcoming pool. This ballerina of light dallies on a liquid thread finer than a spider's, before plunging to meet the self mirrored below. She spreads,... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VISIT

This weekend my daughter’s been here from Florida to celebrate my 84th birthday – which will be in a few days. She treated me and her brothers to a lovely dinner at a local chop house. We spent quite a bit of time looking at photo albums and reminiscing about our growing up times, re-telling some... Sign in to see full entry.

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