The Last Line: Writing Through Grief

Friday morning before dawn, my mother’s life came to a peaceful end after a 12-year struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. “Dad,” I said on Saturday evening after the visitation as we sat in his home blankly watching TV.  “The minister asked if we wanted to prepare something for her eulogy.”  I mentioned I’d talked to my…
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Penciled In

She rescheduled her appointment…again.  I realized that if this was her habit with our appointments, it was probably happening with her writing.  “Thought about, then put off until later knowing it would sit and wait just like it did yesterday.” As disappointed and frustrated as I felt, I had to admit sometimes I do this…
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Creative Camaraderie

After a two month absence, the fourth member of the Creative Writers Workshop returned, completing the community.  This reunion, a special occasion, had sentiment, tradition and joy. After checking in on creative issues, writing was reviewed.  One shared a piece developed over the last meetings, fiction prepared to satisfy an invitation for a journal launching…
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Make Movie Magic

“So, what’s your favorite movie?” he asked. “Oh, I would say—“ “Yeah, well,” he interrupted.  “That’s kinda impossible, huh?” “Nope, it’s easy — 1976’s ‘Network.’” Honestly, there are many magical movies I love, but this black comedy struck gold as it satirized a flailing network’s entertainment division taking over news programming.  The movie features great…
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Writer’s Story & Affirmation: Vulnerability

Full Exposure Suddenly, the blistering summer gifted a surprise August afternoon with uncharacteristically low humidity and temps in the 80s.  I couldn’t wait to take an afternoon walk.  Immediately upon exiting my car at the park, I did something I rarely do outdoors when swimming isn’t involved:  I stripped off my shirt.  The air felt…
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