We have had our tree up for a few weeks now. My daughters did the decorating. They enjoy pulling out the ornaments from past years and asking me about them. It was fun to see some of the ones I had forgotten about. It was also nice to remember the person who had given me... Continue Reading →
Being afraid is exhilarating. I had just dashed up the carpeted stairs of our hundred-year-old house, pushing the laundry chute closed as I passed. I made it to my purple room and crashed into my dresser. I began scooping up all of the contents, throwing them into my small My Little Pony suitcase. I could... Continue Reading →
Last week on September 16, my paternal grandmother, Madge Lorene Carmack Thompson, died in a hospital in Missouri, surrounded by her sons. She was 78 years old and had been battling cancer. I had the opportunity to attend her memorial service in Missouri on Sunday. As I perused the display my father had set up... Continue Reading →
My great uncle James Kelton January died in the Pacific theater of World War II. I discovered this by accident while doing family history work, which I love. Modern technology has made it easy (and addicting) to find and trace your relatives. While my family history work has slowed down because of my academic research... Continue Reading →
When you’re a child who loves to read, there’s a lot of pride in being able to read what your parents are reading. It is a rite of passage to read a “grown-up” book. While I technically read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck in late middle... Continue Reading →
I can’t exactly explain why, but certain words appeal to me and others don’t. It seems a silly thing to parse out favorite and least favorite words, as if they are colors or architectural styles. But perhaps they are. Words can be delicious, so I share some of my likes and dislikes with you today.... Continue Reading →
Our focus in my girls’ studies class this week has been music. The assignment is to make a “mix tape” of songs that were important to my girlhood. I’m supposed to highlight and explain three of the songs, but I thought an explanation of each one was in order. I’ve linked them to YouTube videos... Continue Reading →
Let us start with a Beatles’ song. Let me dedicate it to books. There are places I remember all my life Though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain All these places have their moments Of lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some... Continue Reading →
I'm still feeling nostalgic, so I thought it would be fun to look back over the Christmases I enjoyed as a child. Here's a look at my first ten Christmases. Do you recognize any of the toys? Christmas 1980. What a beautiful Pampers box! It's vintage. Christmas 1981. I don't remember that little three-wheeled bike... Continue Reading →
This time of year always causes me to feel nostalgia, especially for my childhood in California. I lived in the Bay Area for my early elementary school years, and, to me, it seems like a magical place. I often fantasize about moving back there, but one look at the housing prices dashes any hopes of... Continue Reading →
The Bookshelf of Emily J. 