Memoir Writing, Myth and Mystery: In Search of the Narrative Arc
Writing memoir is like drawing a self portrait while looking in the mirror. Sort of. Don’t be surprised if your picture turns out backwards. Which may not be such a bad thing! And so I began . . . Two and one-half years ago after taking an online memoir-writing course...
Six Tips for a Lemony Tea Party
On Saturday, September 30 Jenna and I hosted a lemony tea party With china cups, scones and fancy sandwiches Eight gathered around the table One of them was a birthday girl What I learned . . . Be flexible. The party date was moved twice from the original....
Mennonite Women Go Camping
Mennonite Girls Went Camping in the 1940s with a tepee bringing their own food and a box camera How Many Were There? There were six women – unless a wo/man lurking in the bushes grabbed the camera and snapped this shot. Go ahead and count . . . When Did They...
Dark or Light, Where Do you Write?
Where I Write My writing studio catches north light. The sun doesn’t shine brightly into my space in the morning, all the better to see my computer screen without squinting. But when I need a change, I sneak into Cliff’s art studio flooded with eastern light after he...
Help, The Ceiling Has Fallen!
“Janice, hurry up. This is a catastrophe!” My scream pierced the early morning air. I had bounded up the stairs shortly after 7:00 a.m. to check the bedrooms before the Ruth Longenecker property sale. Prospective buyers were already milling through our aunt’s house...
Anything But Simple: Luci Miller’s Mennonite Life and Book Giveaway
I write about my love affair, my sprawling close family, the unusual and intriguing people God brings into my life, and funny stuff. Once in a while I write about being Mennonite. That’s how Lucinda J. Miller (Luci for short) introduces herself on her blog. Luci is a...
Grandma Gets a Keepsake
Found: a Forgotten Keepsake “Hey, look what I found, Marian.” My sister Janice ceremoniously lifted a booklet from a plastic bin in Aunt Ruthie’s attic and pushed it toward me so I could have a closer look. I recognized the cover, handmade of Valentine cutouts and...
Signs and Wonders British Columbia 2017
No, I’m not looking through rose-colored glasses. Even with an iPhone lens, British Columbia really does look this wonderful in the summertime. Flowers frolic in the sun and shadowy woods with sun-dappled trees beckon hikers. We visited Vancouver and Victoria,...
Moments of Discovery # 12: A Summer Wedding
Once again, the attic at the Longenecker house has yielded up its treasures, all flat and light-weight, ensuring I will not lapse into collecting piles of stuff in my own home any time soon. So help me, God! All these artifacts are dated 1967, a very good year, the...
Dolly Parton Stands by Her Man
Dolly Parton stands larger than life in American pop culture. While Cliff and I are enjoying time away to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, Dolly has agreed to entertain you. Her Story The cover story in Closer magazine, August 29, 2016 featured “Dolly...
Standing on the Promises: A Golden Wedding Anniversary
How We Stood On Saturday, August 5, 1967, Cliff and I stood before the pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and pledged our troth with words adapted from the Book of Common Prayer. As we stood, we promised before God to love and cherish ....
Indigo and Other Colors: Sarah and Kelly Work their Magic
Would you like to play with glow-in-the-dark markers or kinetic sand while cozied up in a room that may include black lighting, music, and the vibrant color indigo? Indigo, the color psychologists say is associated with intuition and self-expression, is a combination...
Wordless Wednesday: Wedding Portrait
This post is wordless, but that doesn't mean you don't have thoughts to share. What do you think of the couple's expressions? Postures? Do you have a similar photo in a family album? Coming next: Indigo and Other Colors, Sarah and Kelly Work Their...
What Do You Want to Do When You Retire?
Sally, my colleague and hall-mate is standing by my office door, “Professor Beaman, you are wanted in the lunchroom.” I reply, “Oh, please give me 10 minutes.” A student and I are in my office discussing end-of-term work. Another is leaning against the wall outside my...
Smooth Sale-ing? the Sad and the Glad
The website Letgo.com boosts: “Make money selling what you don’t need and find great deals nearby.” The service provides an outlet for getting rid of old appliances, furniture and cars. What this service doesn’t refer to is the emotional toll of letting go of family...
3 Women and a Dumpster
The three women are my sisters and I. The dumpster deposited for three weeks at my Aunt Ruthie’s house on Anchor Road was 30 feet long. Or should I say “is”? Weeks ago, a husky guy with an extra-long tow truck carted off the mammoth container filled to the brim, but...
Moments of Extreme Emotion 365th Post Mark
I have arrived at blog post number 365. Unbelievable! At least for me. It has taken me more than 4 years to accomplish what Julie Powell did in one year. Yes, in 365 days, Julie cooked and baked her way through Julia Child’s enormous cookbook of 524 recipes and...
In Memoriam: Aunt Ruthie, Treasure in an Earthen Vessel
Ruth Martin Longenecker: A Treasure in an Earthen Vessel October 4, 1918 – May 14, 2017 On Sunday, May 14, we said “Goodbye” to our dear Aunt Ruthie. Appropriately, Ruthie, a mother to many, passed away on Mother's Day. Time with a loved one, no matter...