Thanks to Readers, Followers, Mentors

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And a special shoutout to subscribers Writing on a blog started in earnest in January 2022 for me. I discovered Medium, a blog site, and moved relevant blogs to this site on Common Sage. I have been gifted with new … Read More

Cai Emmons, Who Taught Us All About Writing

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The writer who wrote about living until her death. The notebook in the log cabin at the writers’ retreat had entries from previous occupants. The immediate occupant before me last summer was Cai Emmons, and she wrote happily about her … Read More

Grandchild

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Dear Little Girl You looked perfect Your parents said And it is True Rosebud lips and button nose Deep gray blue eyes Pink baby, pink skin Hair – ginger, sandy Yet to tell. Your mother surrenders Her body to you … Read More

The Stamp Collection

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I took my stamp collection to a wizened man in my city, who dealt in collectibles – postage stamps, coins, silver.  I was moving across country, and since I would pay movers by the pound, I was de-accessioning pounds of … Read More

Orcas and Life after Menopause

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Orca grandmothers lead pods, as matriarchs of their family units.  Science has discovered that only  some whale species, and humans, have a long life post fertility. Many other large mammals –primates, elephants—may be fertile into old age.  I wonder how … Read More

My Santaland Diary

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The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris is my favorite holiday chestnut.  I grew up listening to an LP of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol my parents played on Christmas Eve, and that was wonderful during a certain age of innocence, but … Read More

Baby Nightlight, Curmudgeon Edition

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I will become a grandma in another 4 to 6 weeks, so I have been looking at items the new parents might use.  It’s a different world out there. I won’t tell you I walked five miles to work while … Read More

Gift from the Sea: Proto-feminist Book

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Anne Morrow Lindbergh published Gift from the Sea in 1955.  It was on my mother’s nightstand, and like many women of that era, I think she treasured the book.  I was surprised to see it described as a proto-feminist book, … Read More

Baby boomers: Off-stage, please

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When will the Baby Boomers move off-stage?  The daily political discourse right now is an assault, and I am not attributing that assault to age, but maybe this generation has had its run. What would be the impact if tomorrow … Read More

At the Poetry Slam – Medicare Division

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I went to a poetry slam on Sunday night and I placed second, out of not many.  I lost to a young woman who used the F-word in all forms of speech – adjective, adverb, verb, noun – but she … Read More

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