Hello, Linda. I am enjoying your blog. Your writing style, elegant and polished, is a pleasure to read. Am looking forward to subsequent posts! Best, Wendy
I just read your post about your trip to New York yesterday, I am happy for you that it was a restorative experience and also very happy for David to have this opportunity to read his play.
Fond regards, Joanne
What lovely prose, Linda! One passage resonated with me: ” ‘ He was with me in the beginning, and he wanted to show me where he would be at the end.’ ” Poignant and telling . . . I also valued the significance of the poem by e.e. cummings.
Linda this is so beautiful and moving…I became totally absorbed by all the stories within the stories as
though I was experiencing them. Thank you for taking me on this journey with you…and Lance. Judith
Thank you for introducing me to your blog/website. What wonderful work. I haven’t yet finished reading it all, but in time I will. What I have read is compelling and just lovely.
I think everyone has their own version of ‘Old Man Winneger’, someone so irascible and cranky that you prefer not to be in their company. In my experience, once a common ground has been established, you can live harmoniously, perhaps even forging an friendship. Thank you for another interesting missive, Linda!
Thanks for your comments, Wendy! What I find interesting in therapy is that everyone has an untold story. .In this case, I didn’t care – I just wanted my kids and dog to be safe!!
Yes, there is no scent, no perfume as memorable as the myriad smells of the forest, Linda! To be able to elude city or suburban life for any amount of time is indeed fortunate, and your account is so lovely and poetic. Thank you, once again, for sharing your adventures~ I look forward to them every month.
A soup can of pebbles. Perhaps that’s what it comes down to. That we make a noise. Announce our presence but live harmoniously with all within earshot.
As always, I enjoyed the blog. You took me along with you and Salsa. And in the moments I was reading, life scaled down to the sights and the sounds of the Alaskan forest. Thank you.
Reading you in the morning, my cup of coffee becomes half full !!! And extra delicious! Thank you so much for sharing with us, Linda. I find myself smiling.
Linda, I gobbled all your blogs up in one big bite. Some of them were a reread and some new to me. I felt an intense response to all your writings. They are all intensely their own and yet each sparkles in it’s own unique way. Thank you so much for writing. The two latest, “Cabin in Woods” and the New York piece read simultaneously bounced off each other, each giving the other more.
We miss you at the Octagon House. Hope to see you next year.
Cheers,
Anne Wingfield
Thanks so much, Anne. I loved that you gobbled them. I myself get hungry for words.What would we do without them! I plan to see you all in the New Year. Please keep my seat warmed.
I do love Mary Oliver’s poetry. I just now, this minute, read “When Death Comes.” Thanks for this, Colleen. It is soothing and helpful, I agree, and gives us a much needed perspective. I have also joined a group on line called Compassion and Choices, which is in line with my own beliefs. January is a sad month for me, anticipating February.
I embrace Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s concept of death and dying, and although I’ve personally never bargained with death, have certainly experienced the four remaining stages on grief. Death is such a personal, intense theme, and I thank you for penning such a candid, frank monologue, Linda. As we age, death becomes more common to us, and while we never welcome the familiarity, accept the realization of death as an element of life.
I share much of your outlook, Wendy. Public radio did a piece on how those with terminal illnesses and those on death row seem to come to terms with life ending in ways that are quite remarkable, as do those of us who are aging. Writing our truths and our stories is so freeing and so allows us to have real conversations and real connection to what matters. I enjoyed speaking in the various voices of my childhood and youth and earlier adult self. I hope others, like yourself, will continue to share their thoughts and truths. It fills me with gratitude. Thanks.
Beautiful blog on the writing experience. ! I read the prompt and began inventing a person and situation. How interesting that the same prompt took you to a real experience. I’m rethinking it right now. (Missed you at 2nd Story.)
Inventing something or a real memory, it’s always is a nice surprise! I knew a good writer like yourself would appreciate this! I’d love to see what you wrote! I’m gathering a group of women friends to see a matinee of “Shirley Valentine.” Thanks for your thoughts, Kathie. I look forward to another get together.
I love your prompt, Linda– what a great writing exercise! I would certainly enjoy the company of Gustava; she, like you,could undoubtedly tell many stories. I’m going to try it, getting the creative juices flowing
and putting pen to paper will be therapeutic and beneficial. Thank you for the nudge.
I just read your latest blog and I want to congratulate you for endorsing the powerful message regarding Jeff Flake’s speech. I pray that others would heed his message and seek to return our government to a institution where there is civility, where comments and laws created are rational and fair, and a country we can all be proud of.
Linda,
I believe you did the right thing to write about religion! And this really struck a chord with me: “But there is a difference between discernment and inner peace vs. anger and bitterness.” I think that was the point Senator Flake was trying to make, but it was deflected with distractions by the political greed of today driven solely by money, not principles. Beautiful writing! You continue to inspire me to do the right thing with discernment and seek inner peace!
Etta
linda collins thomas 
Hello, Linda. I am enjoying your blog. Your writing style, elegant and polished, is a pleasure to read. Am looking forward to subsequent posts! Best, Wendy
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I just read your post about your trip to New York yesterday, I am happy for you that it was a restorative experience and also very happy for David to have this opportunity to read his play.
Fond regards, Joanne
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Many thanks, Joanne.
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A lovely post about loving, lasting bonds.
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What lovely prose, Linda! One passage resonated with me: ” ‘ He was with me in the beginning, and he wanted to show me where he would be at the end.’ ” Poignant and telling . . . I also valued the significance of the poem by e.e. cummings.
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Thank you so much, Wendy. Your opinion means a lot to me.
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Linda this is so beautiful and moving…I became totally absorbed by all the stories within the stories as
though I was experiencing them. Thank you for taking me on this journey with you…and Lance. Judith
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Thank you for introducing me to your blog/website. What wonderful work. I haven’t yet finished reading it all, but in time I will. What I have read is compelling and just lovely.
LikeLike
I think everyone has their own version of ‘Old Man Winneger’, someone so irascible and cranky that you prefer not to be in their company. In my experience, once a common ground has been established, you can live harmoniously, perhaps even forging an friendship. Thank you for another interesting missive, Linda!
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Thanks for your comments, Wendy! What I find interesting in therapy is that everyone has an untold story. .In this case, I didn’t care – I just wanted my kids and dog to be safe!!
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Yes~ a mama bear protecting her cubs, as it were . . .
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Yes, there is no scent, no perfume as memorable as the myriad smells of the forest, Linda! To be able to elude city or suburban life for any amount of time is indeed fortunate, and your account is so lovely and poetic. Thank you, once again, for sharing your adventures~ I look forward to them every month.
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A soup can of pebbles. Perhaps that’s what it comes down to. That we make a noise. Announce our presence but live harmoniously with all within earshot.
As always, I enjoyed the blog. You took me along with you and Salsa. And in the moments I was reading, life scaled down to the sights and the sounds of the Alaskan forest. Thank you.
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From the wilderness to the big city … your writing brings both to life. Congratulate Dave for the success of his play!
Kathie
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Thanks, Kathie. That means a whole lot coming from a professional writer. Will tell Dave.when he gets off Cloud Nine.
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Reading you in the morning, my cup of coffee becomes half full !!! And extra delicious! Thank you so much for sharing with us, Linda. I find myself smiling.
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Thank you, dear Belinda.
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Linda, I gobbled all your blogs up in one big bite. Some of them were a reread and some new to me. I felt an intense response to all your writings. They are all intensely their own and yet each sparkles in it’s own unique way. Thank you so much for writing. The two latest, “Cabin in Woods” and the New York piece read simultaneously bounced off each other, each giving the other more.
We miss you at the Octagon House. Hope to see you next year.
Cheers,
Anne Wingfield
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Thanks so much, Anne. I loved that you gobbled them. I myself get hungry for words.What would we do without them! I plan to see you all in the New Year. Please keep my seat warmed.
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Do you know Mary Oliver’s “When Death Comes”? It is poignant for me as I get older and experience more and more losses.
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I do love Mary Oliver’s poetry. I just now, this minute, read “When Death Comes.” Thanks for this, Colleen. It is soothing and helpful, I agree, and gives us a much needed perspective. I have also joined a group on line called Compassion and Choices, which is in line with my own beliefs. January is a sad month for me, anticipating February.
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My words are hollow, but my heart is moved. Your words are rich and profound. Touching and tender. Thank you for sharing.
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You capture those moments when we feel the earth tilt a bit but in the wrong direction, leaving us confused and sad.
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I embrace Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s concept of death and dying, and although I’ve personally never bargained with death, have certainly experienced the four remaining stages on grief. Death is such a personal, intense theme, and I thank you for penning such a candid, frank monologue, Linda. As we age, death becomes more common to us, and while we never welcome the familiarity, accept the realization of death as an element of life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I share much of your outlook, Wendy. Public radio did a piece on how those with terminal illnesses and those on death row seem to come to terms with life ending in ways that are quite remarkable, as do those of us who are aging. Writing our truths and our stories is so freeing and so allows us to have real conversations and real connection to what matters. I enjoyed speaking in the various voices of my childhood and youth and earlier adult self. I hope others, like yourself, will continue to share their thoughts and truths. It fills me with gratitude. Thanks.
LikeLike
Beautiful blog on the writing experience. ! I read the prompt and began inventing a person and situation. How interesting that the same prompt took you to a real experience. I’m rethinking it right now. (Missed you at 2nd Story.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inventing something or a real memory, it’s always is a nice surprise! I knew a good writer like yourself would appreciate this! I’d love to see what you wrote! I’m gathering a group of women friends to see a matinee of “Shirley Valentine.” Thanks for your thoughts, Kathie. I look forward to another get together.
LikeLike
I love your prompt, Linda– what a great writing exercise! I would certainly enjoy the company of Gustava; she, like you,could undoubtedly tell many stories. I’m going to try it, getting the creative juices flowing
and putting pen to paper will be therapeutic and beneficial. Thank you for the nudge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Wendy! Writing freely from a prompt is indeed therapeutic, safe, non-judgmental – and fun!
You are officially nudged!
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I just read your latest blog and I want to congratulate you for endorsing the powerful message regarding Jeff Flake’s speech. I pray that others would heed his message and seek to return our government to a institution where there is civility, where comments and laws created are rational and fair, and a country we can all be proud of.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such true words, Joanne! Thank you.
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Linda,
I believe you did the right thing to write about religion! And this really struck a chord with me: “But there is a difference between discernment and inner peace vs. anger and bitterness.” I think that was the point Senator Flake was trying to make, but it was deflected with distractions by the political greed of today driven solely by money, not principles. Beautiful writing! You continue to inspire me to do the right thing with discernment and seek inner peace!
Etta
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Etta for your support and for your voice.
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