It took a while for my family to get used to the idea of me calling Florida “home.” “But this is your home,” my dad would say, referring to the house in my tiny hometown of Holliston, Mass. “Well, that’ll always be home,” I’d say. “It’s just not home right now.” Home. Is it theContinue reading “Finding a Place to Call Home”
Tag Archives: Personal writing
Having a Ball Making Cake Balls
I recently joined a craft group that some St. Petersburg Times folks started last fall. Joining the group has given me an excuse to rekindle my creativity by doing origami, making earrings and more. I hosted the last craft party and spiced it up a bit. In place of a traditional craft, my friend andContinue reading “Having a Ball Making Cake Balls”
An Anniversary That Gets Easier with Time, and a Cat
February 9 is a day I’ll always remember. It’s the day my mom died, the day that signaled the end of a life and the beginning of my rocky journey into life without a mom. I’ve learned a lot in the past 12 years since my mom died, but I still struggle to understand whyContinue reading “An Anniversary That Gets Easier with Time, and a Cat”
Saving the Times’ ‘Modern Love’ Column for Last
I have a method for reading the newspaper: it involves reading my favorite sections last. When reading the Sunday New York Times, saving “the best” for last means setting aside the Sunday Styles’ section — eye candy for anyone interested in quirky trends, love stories and fashion. The styles section colors outside the lines ofContinue reading “Saving the Times’ ‘Modern Love’ Column for Last”
Learning from Old Written Work
I’ve often thought that one of the best ways to improve as a writer is to go back and read your old work. Read it with a critic’s eye. Laugh when you read it. Cringe. See how far you’ve come as a writer. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of my old articles and realizingContinue reading “Learning from Old Written Work”
The Benefits of Waking Up Early
Remember a couple of weeks ago when I made a goal of going to bed by 11:30 p.m. each night? Well, I haven’t exactly met my goal. I’ve still been going to bed late and haven’t gotten much sleep lately. Habits, no doubt, are hard to break. They are breakable, though. A friend Tweeted aContinue reading “The Benefits of Waking Up Early”
Obama’s Historic Inauguration Unites People, Renews Hope
The masses flocked to Washington, D.C., to witness a defining moment for our generation, the swearing in of the nation’s first African American president, Barack Obama. They waited in lines, faced the cold and ran on little sleep in a city that seemed to flash continuously with lights, loud noises and waving flags. And yetContinue reading “Obama’s Historic Inauguration Unites People, Renews Hope”
Seeing Lots of Lavish Spending Lately
I can’t help but cringe when I hear about girls on “The Bachelor” getting highly expensive gifts — beautiful lodging, designer clothes, diamond necklaces — when so many people in this economy are struggling to survive day to day. I just finished watching this show, so the lavishness of it all is on my mind.Continue reading “Seeing Lots of Lavish Spending Lately”
Tips for Writing Memoirs and Personal Essays
I had lunch on Wednesday with a mentor who shares my passion for personal writing. Before we even walked out the door, he handed me a copy of a personal essay he’d recently written. We talked about the piece and bounced ideas off of each other to help ourselves better understand our direction as writers.Continue reading “Tips for Writing Memoirs and Personal Essays”
Realizing the Power of Forgiveness
An article in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times caught my eye. The piece, titled “Members of Kenyan Tribes Work Toward Reconciliation,” says that each Saturday, a few dozen Kenyans get together to forgive and ask to be forgiven: “These traumatized victims of Kenya’s post-election clashes meet to talk, pray, sing and – they hope – heal.Continue reading “Realizing the Power of Forgiveness”
Word on the Street 