Author Archives: walkbal1372

December 24, 2022 As my family has grown and spread out across Minnesota and even the country, holidays have taken on a life of their own and are often celebrated on days other than the official holiday. In the beginning it was due to my brother’s (Navy veteran) deployment and leave schedule, but these daysContinue reading “CHRISTMAS IS MORE THAN JUST A DATE ON THE CALENDAR”

Many years ago, more than I like to admit actually, I traveled to England with a friend and came home a certified Anglophile. Growing up with the understanding that my maternal relatives came to this country on the Mayflower, I had always felt ties to England, but that trip cemented it and I spent theContinue reading “Would But For…A Destiny Fulfilled”

Have you ever heard the saying “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step?”  It’s from an old Chinese proverb and I’ve always interpreted it to mean that I can do anything as long as I take the first step.  As a writer, that couldn’t be more accurate. This past week IContinue reading “A Single Step…”

It’s fall in Minnesota and while the same is true in all parts of the United States, the northern part of the country experiences fall in a way unlike the rest of USA – in an explosion of color. Minnesota has suffered through a drought for most of the summer and that led many ofContinue reading “Fall Fabulous Fall”

Fall is a wonderful time of year.  Change is in the air and in the beautiful Minnesota River Valley, everywhere you look is a brilliant palette of color.  It’s also my favorite time of year for weddings like the one I attended yesterday. A beautiful bride, a beaming groom, and smiling faces everywhere you lookContinue reading “A Marriage Unlike Any Other”

Have you ever had a moment when reality hits you gobsmack in the face?  Where the fantasy world you have built in your mind shatters?  That was me recently. My sister and I have a penchant for attending concerts by bands that were top of the charts when we were growing up. REO Speedwagen, Foreigner,Continue reading “Gobsmacked”

January 1, 1983 – the day the world and our idea of how to be kind changed.  For many of us, myself included, the day was New Year’s Day.  A day to recover from a late night or to sit in front of the TV glued to bowl games and wonder how long your commitmentContinue reading “The Net”

A big part of my non-author life is administering elections.  Years ago, it wasn’t such a big part, but as the country has grown divided over politics and as our State legislature in Minnesota changes laws regarding elections, elections seem to have become more of a year-round job rather than just once or twice aContinue reading “Elections”

Have you ever truly thought about how we find and are connected to the people in our lives?  Of course in the case of family members its genetics, but just because we are born into the same family doesn’t keep us family.  Like our friendships, we gravitate towards those people with whom we feel aContinue reading “Who Do You Tell Your Story To?”

You can’t get to my age without having noticed that life is one big balancing act and that is never more prevalent when love is involved. We enter this world helpless yet surrounded by people who love us unconditionally and, it seems most of us leave this world in the same way and that wasContinue reading “Life Is A Balancing Act”