Where seeds of thought have room to grow
Category: Hitting the road
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For two mornings in a row, sunlight has found me snuggled under the covers in my grandmother's room, waking in the warm embrace of so many memories. But for the first time that I can remember, Daddy hasn't been already up and sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, newspaper spread before him. This morning,…
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Quite by accident, I met artist Marilyn Lindholm in Port Aransas last year while on my annual retreat with girlfriends. She spotted me taking photos of something down on the beach – I can't remember what it was – and said something about my camera and mentioned wanting a photo of a colorful beach umbrella…
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As she has for more than ten years, my sister joined me and my girlfriends at the beach this past weekend. From my earliest memory, Brenda has been my closest friend, and, along with my mother, my role model and inspiration. Despite the eight years between us and my bratty personality, when I was…
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I just returned from my annual retreat with girlfriends to the coast – our 13th or 14th now, I can't remember which – where the sight and sound of the ocean renews my soul and invigorates my spirit. The bonding of girlfriends… the food… the kiss of the sun on my skin… the birds and…
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"Are you someone's grandmother?" he asked as soon as I walked into the classroom. I had to have him repeat it before I understood. My hearing isn't so great anymore plus he was missing his two front teeth! "No, I'm your substitute teacher." I could feel the air fizzling out of my bubble…the 1977…
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Tom and I are off to immerse ourselves in 1977. In other words, we're going to my 35th high school reunion. (That number just slips through my brain without even registering – I can't be old enough to be out of school that long!) Tonight I'll go on a tour of my old high school…
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Lord, take me where you want me to go;Let me meet who you want me to meet;Tell me what you want me to say; andKeep me out of your way. – Fr. Mychal Judge, FDNY (died 9/11/01) Every year in late September, early October, I head to the coast with a group of…
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Last Monday Tom and I celebrated our thirtieth anniversary. (Yikes! Thirty years??!!) Because of circumstances, we didn't have time to buy each other a card, much less a gift, but his youngest brother and his wife surprised us with a cake, a dozen beautiful salmon-colored roses, a six-pack of Shiner Bock, and a funny anniversary…
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“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” ~ Randy Pausch When the Shallue clan gets together, you can count on a deck or two of cards appearing on the scene. You can also count on Tom not shaving when he's on vacation. It was great spending…
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I'm home. The past week has been a whirlwind of sand, sunshine, hugs, laughter, seashells, sunburns, storm clouds, card games, wet towels, buffet-style meals, birthday cake, aloe gel, clear water, ocean waves, camera clicks… But now, I'm home, hitting the ground running last night as soon as we unloaded the car… unpacking, starting laundry, uploading…
Long Hollow 