by MarianBeaman | Sep 9, 2026 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Nostalgia, popular culture, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
Two Kingdoms, One Preferred “Illness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 19, 2026 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Memory
Fits and Starts: An Update on My Poetry Collection Progress You have not heard “Boo” from me about progress on my poetry collection since Valentine’s Day, 2026. Here’s the truth: There has been a lag: busy-ness, distraction, less energy,...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 5, 2026 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, popular culture, Uncategorized
My first memory of a fancy wedding is drawn from the Zion Lutheran Church in Hummelstown, PA, a lovely edifice with stained glass windows, a pipe organ, and a bell tower. I was nine years old when I attended Mary and Howard Landis’ wedding there. ...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 29, 2026 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
My baby book tells the story of my life from birth to age 3. My mother, Ruth Metzler Longenecker, recorded the details of my early life in a cushiony pink volume with dimensions, 6 x 8 inches, popular in mid-century America. Although the pages allowed for more, Mother...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 1, 2026 | blog, book review, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Memory, Novel writing, Reflection, Uncategorized
“I don’t drink coffee,” Alex said. “Then who drinks coffee at your house?” I replied, eying the coffee-themed plaques on her kitchen wall. Her quick answer, “Oh, Andy does, and I liked organizing the coffee display on my...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 3, 2026 | blog, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Reflection, Romance, Travel, Uncategorized
Dazzling sights and sounds, succulent cuisine, ringing bells and Adriatic breezes. Those were my recollections from our cruise to the Mediterranean in April 2026. Now, in early June, I’m reflecting on our travel to eastern Europe from a different perspective,...
