Even ordinary kids these days live lives of supermodels and movie stars. It’s all in the eyes of the parents and relatives. Doing something cute? Snap. Remotely clever? Snap. Moment to remember, maybe? Snap. Looking through old family albums that are filled with snapshots of my older sister, the first child when Pop was away…
New media for old problems. Click: “Full Story” to watch video. Find more videos like this on Kwanda
Janet — Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. For nearly five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. His ideas and…
Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett’s blog supports women writing their memoirs. They just gave me a wonderful compliment by announcing that they have chosen Riehlife as one of their five top picks for the Superior Scribbler Award. Here’s how they described Riehlife: Janet Riehl — an artist in the best and broadest sense of the…
We have all heard the haunting song, “Taps.” It’s the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually creates tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about it’s humble beginnings. I too, have felt the…
Damaria Senne is a writer based in Johannesburg. She chats about her life as a writer and mother on Storypot. In addition to writing about technology(www.jcse.org.za) , she also blogs for OneLove, a regional HIV prevention campaign spanning 9 countries Southern Africa. The campaign encourages people to have one sexual partner at a time, and…
Carol created this slide show from family archival photos I sent her. These photos play over my reading of “Mama’s Suitcase” from “Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music.”
Today, August 16th marks the 5th anniversary of my sister’s death in a nasty car accident. In many countries…includking Ghana and Tibet, it’s common to mark and honor the anniversaries of deaths. not that these are needed to keep memories alive. And not that they need to be solemn or sad times. My sister’s grave…
How a Ten Dollar Bill Became a Song From: “Old time songs and poems,”written by Edith LaFrancis “Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton, Simmon seed, and sandy bottom. Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!” Daniel Decatur Emmett, a performer in Bryant’s Minstrels, in New York City, laid down his…
I’ve been thinking of Pablo Neruda recently for a surprising reason. I’m going the Greece. I have this dreamy idea of Greece as a land of lovers and poets. I recalled one of my favorite movies which formed my dreamy image: Il Postino (The Postman), a 1994 Italian language film directed by Michael Radford, It…