Tornadoes and other burrowing animals struck my home turf this weekend, in a strong reminder of the power of what insurance companies call  "acts of God."    I think we (humans) are very gutsy and resourceful to cope as well as we do with forces that are pretty much out of our control. Saturday, I was at home, […] Read More

Flying to New York (from Raleigh, NC) for a book pub party is my idea of a good time.  I did it once before, accompanying writer buddy Dan Wakefield to the celebration at Carnegie Hall of Frank Conroy's novel Body and Soul.  (And then Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church held a reading/reception when my first novel Revelation […] Read More

In my mid-twenties as a news reporter at the NC Legislature, I enjoyed watching   one of my local legislators, a woman about 20 years older than me, with progressive views, a good sense of humor, and deep husky voice. I was in the press section on the day that she, Ruth Cook, stood to speak on […] Read More

Here's a vivid reminder. Read More

I hate dealing with conflict!   I hate dealing with conflict! Can't be avoided.  Must do it anyway. So what's the worst that can happen when I proceed?  *lose connection with the person *lose the good stuff that that person brings *disappoint someone *not be liked *ruffle feathers *be wrong and not realize it (the persistently needling worry) […] Read More

The thought of running a group (in my case, a writing group) has always filled me with dread. This in spite of the fact that I love public speaking and working with writers one-to-one.  I've always run groups, mostly when invited and mostly for a day or a week.   I'm fine while the people are there and the […] Read More

           "When you know that you are eternal you can play your true role in time. When you know you are divine you can become completely human. When you know you are one with God you are free to become absolutely yourself."    The quote of the week from Judith Valerie Yoga in Raleigh, NC […] Read More

A phrase jumped out at me from a review in an old New Yorker.   I was reading James Wood's piece on The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis.  She is an unusual writer, as you may know.   At least one of her stories is two sentences long.    Understatement and deadpan wit are her metier.  And she can be […] Read More

One of morethe  inconvenient aspects of my touch of OCD is a persistent fear of accidentally poisoning someone.  In the kitchen, I rely on my husband if I'm in doubt about whether a tomato is still good or if the leftovers are lethal.  In my garden, getting rid of pests is necessary, one way or […] Read More

"Just as the tumultuous chaos of a thunderstorm brings a nurturing rain that allows life to flourish, so too in human affairs times of advancement are preceded by times of disorder. Success comes to those who can weather the storm." –I Ching   from David Allen's Productive Living newsletter Read More