Category: nonfiction

  • Out of Step Out of Line 

    Out of Step Out of Line 

    I am rarely political on my blog, but sometimes cannot resist. I thought about punching someone, but that would make a sorry situation worse. So I threw some of my rage and fury into my writing. I needed to vent… I was wondering what would happen – or will happen – when DOGE dudes get…

  • Two Days, Two Hotels, One Town

    Photo by Meryl Baer I never considered myself high maintenance, and my husband Steve would generally agree with me. However at times my flexibility and willingness to ‘go with the flow’ is tested. That is what happened upon our arrival in the Costa Rican town of Domenical, a quaint Spanish/California/hippie hodge-podge of an enclave famous…

  • Futures

    Futures

    Mom celebrated her 100th birthday the first weekend of the New Year. Born January 2, 1925, her life embraced college, life as a wife and mother, a career as an elementary school librarian, and a meaningful retirement as a volunteer, avid traveler, and family matriarch. If asked today what tomorrow will bring, she would most likely…

  • Celebrating 100 Years of a Life’s Highs and Current Low

    Celebrating 100 Years of a Life’s Highs and Current Low

    Mom celebrated her 100th birthday the first weekend of the New Year. Born January 2, 1925, she experienced the Depression, a world war, peace at home, and political turmoil twice; during the 1960s and 70s, and the ongoing saga of the latest decade. Her life embraced a happy only-child upbringing, college during the war years followed…

  • My Next Year’s Intentions

    My Next Year’s Intentions

    I hesitate to use the lofty words ‘goals’ or ‘resolutions’. Previous years come and go, and unfulfilled ambitions are left behind. Looking back on 2025 a year from now, I don’t want to disappoint myself too much. I am trying to be determined yet realistic.  Here are my (hopefully) reasonable and achievable intentions for the…

  • The Demise of the Passenger Pigeon

    The Demise of the Passenger Pigeon

    I doubt anyone or anything – newspapers, magazines, TV news shows, or tweets – will commemorate the landmark event of September 1, 1914. No drum roll, no banners, just a sad asterisk in history. On September 1, 1914, Martha, believed to be the world’s last passenger pigeon, died. The passenger pigeon numbered in the billions…