September is my birthday month and as I’ve told you all before, I love birthdays. I’ve just quit counting them up. Not enough fingers and toes to count on for that. 🙂 I’d have to call the fire department if I had a cake with candles. But if you don’t count them, then you can consider Satchel Paige’s question. “How …
Back to School with No Curls
September 2, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Don’t have much time. School has started. Sigh! Oh, I don’t suppose it’s all bad. I get to see my friends and Leigh helped me buy some new clothes. I wore one of the new skirts today. It’s a-line and a neat color of green and it doesn’t look half …
1 in 8 – The C Word
Turns out I’m the 1 in 8. A couple of weeks ago I heard the “c” word no one wants to hear. This week I’ll have surgery to remove a cancerous lump from my breast. The lump is very small and the possibility of a complete cure is very good. But I’m still 1 in 8. My mother had breast …
Sorting through the Odds & Ends of Mom’s Life
The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. ~William Morris Mom’s been gone for over a month now. For a while it’s felt like she’s still at the memory care facility and I need to go see about her. But that’s not so. She doesn’t need anybody to see about …
The Whine of the Dentist Drill
August 25, 1965 Jocie Brooke reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky, after a grueling day. Can you guess where I was from the picture? Right! The dentist. Do you like going to the dentist? Not me. Sitting in that chair gives me the shivers. I want to put my hand over my mouth and say no thanks. But Dad said I had …
What Grows in Your Garden?
It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato. ~Lewis Grizzard Do you have a garden or maybe just a tomato plant in a big pot out on the deck? If you don’t have a garden now, have you grown a garden in the past? We used to grow a huge garden and I would can …
Spotted on My Walks through Nature’s Garden
There are always flowers for those who want to see them. (Henri Matisse) I usually take a walk every day if at all possible. My dog, Oscar, would be disappointed if we didn’t, although on some of the hotter days in summer, he sometimes looks at me as if he thinks I might have lost my mind wanting to walk …
Mushroom Spotting and Bailey Makes His Escape
August 18, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. What do you think about these toadstools? Aren’t they something? Dad says he might put the picture in Banner if news doesn’t pick up. News never picks up in Hollyhill. Never. The most exciting thing that happened all summer was Mr. Wallace’s cows got out day before yesterday, and were …
Hunting Down that Idea Fairy
Where do you get your ideas? That’s a question I’m often asked, especially when I talk to young people. It’s a question most all writers are asked at one time or another. Here’s an answer I stumbled across last week. I’m not familiar with Sarah Zette’s writing, but I have to admire her sense of humor here where she’s obviously …
What’s in a Name?
One thing they never tell you about child raising is that for the rest of your life, at the drop of a hat, you are expected to know your child’s name and how old he or she is. ~Erma Bombeck That’s true for mamas and also for writers. I’ll be giving a book talk and somebody will ask something about one …