“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” Robert Frost, American poet The conversation went something like this... "Are you over 55?" the perky 20-something asked. Cue deer-in-the-headlights look on my part. "No," I answered, more politely than I felt. "Well, we'll just say you are," she said, waving cheerfully toward my mother, who was the… Continue reading A senior-discount moment
JOY JOURNAL BLOG
Weeds, again!
"A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows." Doug Larson, Wisconsin journalist It's very Southern these days in Appalachia. The morning air could almost be considered cool, but all will turn sultry by mid-day, somehow providing a megaphone to just about everything. The honeysuckle… Continue reading Weeds, again!
World’s best smoothie
“Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.” Judith Viorst, American writer While I am skeptical of smoothies that are neon green -- I prefer my kale in non-liquid form, thank you -- there aren't many recipes for… Continue reading World’s best smoothie
Let sleeping dogs lie
"Summer afternoon -- summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." Henry James, American novelist Miles, our Appalachian porch dog, is sound asleep in the window seat next to me. This time, thank God, he has his back to the window instead of the hardwood floor… Continue reading Let sleeping dogs lie
Small-town dreams
Well, I was born in a small town And I live in a small town Probably die in a small town Oh, those small communities. John Mellencamp, American rocker Some books are a delightful dream. Take Martin Walker's The Dark Vineyard, for example. The food, the cadence of rural French life, the unfolding of a justice… Continue reading Small-town dreams
Nora Edinger -- JOY Journal 