Looking back five years to when I actually walked the Camino de la Santiago in northern Spain, I recall the word I received time and again telling me “Just you wait to see what I have planned for you.” Even then, I was dumbfounded God could have plans! But, of course, God does have plans…
Heal What Ails You
Matthew called to unpack his time at his parents and then said, “Dad, I have a question and it is okay to say no.” Matthew is our chosen son. He dated one of our daughters for a very short time five years ago. They broke up, but he has remained a part of our lives…
A Midnight Journey
For years I have walked with a team from Portland to Seaside, a distance of around 130 miles each year in a relay called “Hood to Coast: the Mother of all Relays.” Runners begin at Mt. Hood and walkers start in downtown Portland. Our team of 8 members divides into two vans. Van One takes…
FORTY YEARS…
“What was your favorite decade or your favorite year?” Grace asked, as she, her boyfriend Justin, Gabri, and Karen and I sat at a picnic table last night, near the Willamette River in Portland. We had met for dinner together prior to an outside gig Justin was playing on trumpet with another good friend Stephanie,…
The Intervention
How many times have I helped others talk about the need for an intervention with a family member? It usually involves an addiction. Often it means carefully presenting to the needy party date and time examples of behaviors which are not working. The reason is for the individual to step out of denial, face the…
Ever been Swallowed by a Whale?
Last week I spent 20 hours focused on helping to teach an online storytelling class in which we had students from eight nations living on four continents. This was a privilege! But, the week felt pushed… Monday’s class was followed by a drive across town to my physical therapy appointment. I love these as I…
Reaching France
(Last installment of this section of my book, “The Girl who Changed my World.”) The next morning I awakened with a headache after the previous day’s emotions! I rang up Christine, a friend from college who lived in France and had invited me to come stay with them for a week. I told her I…
Learning Anatomy
Amazing how we live in these bodies which are perfectly formed and serve us well for so many years, and can know relatively little about them. Only when there are injuries, or pain, do we learn more. I had friends who had torn their rotator cuffs over the years, but still knew little about this…
Three Carnations
(This is the ongoing love story which has lasted decades…) It was nearly midnight, in Alexandra Park under a black and brilliant, starlit sky, Karen and I walked home from a play. We stopped to behold the beauty above us, then ended up looking at one another as well. She looked more deeply at me, looked…
caminowalk2016 