by MarianBeaman | Jan 28, 2026 | blog, book review, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Mennonite Lore, Novel writing, Novel writing, Quotations, Uncategorized
One Way to Stay Sane The author of Cherry Cola Book Club remarks, “Going to the library to check out my novels has always been my great escape. I get to explore someone else’s mind for a while. It’s a very sane exercise.” 219 Of course, you can find great...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 26, 2025 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
Do you think about the past? About the future? I write memoir, so I think a lot about the past. But my stories are made from my journey away from the past as well as my return to it. So, you see, I go back and forth in time as I write. But what about the present?...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 12, 2025 | blog, book review, Conflict, Memory, popular culture, Quotations, Uncategorized
What’s Too Hot to Handle? The horror of books ablaze in a library. That’s what! Susan Orleans’ The Library Book (2018) is a portmanteau of story, true crime, and riveting journalism Before the Great Fire of April 1986, the Central Library of Los...
by MarianBeaman | Oct 15, 2025 | blog, book review, Literature, Novel writing, Novel writing, Quotations, Travel, Uncategorized
How Do You Travel? I wonder how you enjoy traveling these days. Maybe you travel by car, boat, or plane. But you can also open books, a simple and inexpensive way to experience other times and places. Ipso-presto you are there! During October, I’ve traveled to...
by MarianBeaman | Oct 1, 2025 | blog, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, neighborhood, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
What Help Looks like What Sparked the Inspiration for this Blog Post? Apparently out of nowhere, this rectangular item from the “olden days” appeared in one of my bedroom dresser drawers. It has probably been there for a long time, but I haven’t noticed it . ....
by MarianBeaman | Sep 17, 2025 | Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations
What I Saw I sit on a green stuffed chair in my Grandma Longenecker’s parlor. The top of my back legs feel a little itchy. My mother has starched my Sunday dress to make the skirt stand out nice and pretty. Because I am little, I can see the tips of my high-top shoes,...