Money, glamour, excitement, and an office full of gorgeous co-workers–anyone want that job? Hollywood may have more influence on career choice than anyone imagines. Sure, viewers might understand young doctors could be drowning in debt, not all lawyers have hot bodies, and detectives have to do paperwork, but in a perfect world a TV-life could … Continue reading
Filed under Family History …
Directions from a toll taker
When the green station wagon slowed to pay the toll to enter the Maine turnpike, I knew we were in need of better directions. My dad leaned out the window with change in his hand “We want to go to ________,” he spoke in a loud voice. The old-timer collected the money and smiled.“Well, why … Continue reading
World War II German POWs on U.S. Soil
I suppose that everyone has a few “a ha!” moments in the research of their family history. One such surprise occurred when my father related that German POWs had worked on his U.S. Army base as he trained on B-17s during World War II. While I’ve related this story in my book, it still shocks me … Continue reading
Life in a bowl
I have a friend who told me once that fish don’t remember anything for more than a few seconds, which in his mind explained the miracle of ceramic castles in a fishbowl. A fish could swim past the unusual object and experience the joy of “oh look, there’s a castle!” before swimming to the edge … Continue reading
It’s a “Roomy Moo” Day
The snow is finally melting as New England heads for the mud season. What do you call a day with rain, fog, and melting snow? My 89-year old father from Stratford, CT, recently referred to the weather as “roomy moo!” He was so comfortable with his pronoucement that I was a little stunned I had … Continue reading
New ghosts for a scrooge
A few days ago my 88-year father, the brilliant cook in the family, started cooking for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners. I’ve heard “stay out of the kitchen,” since I was a child. Dad simply prefers to work alone and has never desired to reveal his culinary secrets. Spices are swiped on and off … Continue reading
Honoring fallen soldiers by writing their stories
When I wrote about my mother’s family in Hatched in Newtown, I included a lot about her oldest brother, Ernest Kelley. Ernest graduated from high school in San Antonio, Texas, in 1938. His father had wanted him to drop out for many years to get a job and earn money. It was only due to … Continue reading
4 Helpful Websites for Writing Memoir
Originally posted on Cate Macabe:
Diana Jackson at A Selection of Reflections was kind enough to post an article I wrote about how I put This New Mountain together (and she gave it a great title, too). Visit her site to read “Writing Readable and Compelling Memoir.” If you’re looking for places to glean great writing advice…
The Most Popular Books in Each State
Anyone read his/her state’s title?
The best Christmas gift I ever received as an adult
As I dug through the family albums to find pictures for Hatched in Newtown, it was fun to see pictures that I didn’t remember. Had I seen the pictures before and forgotten them or had I uncovered them for the first time in my adult life? There is no way to know for sure, but … Continue reading
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