Happy Birthday Mr. McKuen!

In 1966, I moved from my little valley town to the San Francisco Bay Area. The fountainhead of creativity, freedom, revolution. In all ways of expression, I was there; red bandanna, blue work shirt, threadbare jeans, sandals, guitar, bicycle. In those days, you could color me a very happy 1960’s flower power energized, we can […]

An Easter Lily For Dreams Deferred

My son and daughter-in-law brought me an Easter Lily. It is my very favorite flower, and this one is particularly beautiful. They surprise me with one every year, and even when they come into the house, and say, “Close your eyes…”, it never occurs to me until I open my eyes that my gorgeous lily […]

And The Oscar Goes To…The Emperor’s New Clothes! Oops, I Mean Frozen

SPOILER ALERT If you haven’t seen Frozen, stop reading now. Or, if it doesn’t matter, carry on. I am an enthusiastic fan of animated movies. Granted, I live with three young children who have an impressive library of animated films, but that aside, I would watch these movies even if I were not in such […]

Flaws, Filters, Or Forward March

…”So far today, I’ve done all right. I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over-indulgent. I have not whined nor cursed. But I am going to get out of bed soon, Lord, and I will need a lot more help after that.” This has been a favorite quotation for […]

Si, Se Puede

Today is Cesar Chavez Day, a state holiday, if you live in California, Colorado, or Texas. It is Cesar Chavez’ birthday, and he would have been 87 years old. His dedication, as a nonviolent civil rights activist, to the lives and labors of farm workers changed forever their working and living conditions. Wages, housing, toilet facilities in the […]