Don’t Get Admitted to the Hospital
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Unless you need critical care, opt for hospital-at-home The Great Human Flood, I thought, as I leaned back in the chair of the emergency department waiting room. I probably looked like them — disheveled, dressed in sweats or thrown-together clothes, … Read More

Mature Women: Power, Hubris, and Resilience
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Power and aging, vulnerability and wisdom I liked power. I still like it, I just don’t have many venues. When I was working, I managed small health and human service organizations (under 50 employees), and then I managed up to 250 … Read More

Writing Wants Funny
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For any nattering nabobs of negativity… The public reading was unrelentingly grim. Very good writing, perhaps, but the two readers’ subject matters were child abuse, death, and an apocalyptic view of global warming. They should have served cyanide-laced Kool-Aid at … Read More

The Conch Shell Caught in a Gyre
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The spiral of time My grandmother was born in the 19th century, 1889. My granddaughter was born in the 21st century, 2020, and may live into the 22nd century. That’s a long span of time. It is difficult to project … Read More

The Small Creature Comforts of Ahhh
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Fuzzy robe, fuzzy slippers, lazy days I am in my favorite fuzzy robe with a hood. I am in my favorite recliner. My blankie, which should have been thrown out years ago, is near at hand. I sound like my … Read More

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

The Writer’s Retreat as Aspirational Destination
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Where scenery or time or companions or mentors motivate My writer’s retreat cabin was perched on the edge of a large pond in the high desert. We were a small group, and joined twice daily in meetings in the lodge, … Read More

73-Year-Old Man Gets First Job
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His wife is now fashion-plate and paparazzi quest I feel sorry for Camilla, Queen Consort. She is 75, and the object of photographers and fashion writers. She has to dress up, wear good shoes, and have her hair done. During … Read More

Big Amtrak Trip: Plains, Trains, Rivers
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The rail pass experience and wonderful visits The Bakken Oil Fields are alight at night time. Western North Dakota used to be vast plains, fields and black sky. Now the gas flares off the oil wells into the far distant … Read More

I owned a Little House by the River
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The view was operatic–My yard, the slope, the river rock,The water, the further shore,Fields, sometimes deer, raccoons,The highway, concrete stream curving up the hillPast crops, an apple orchard,Farm buildings on the far horizon. I hung a birdfeeder on my deckFed nuthatches, … Read More

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