Looking back at my drafts from the past, I found these encouraging comments from Susan Tweit, noted author, blogger, and friend. We met through Women Writing the West and Story Circle Network. Susan Tweit writes: Riehlife nurtures connections. I think of Riehlife as a tapestry woven of the many voices you meet and hear and…
Another tale from the Riehlife series: Pop on Mondays. –Janet “On time, by God! Nine O’clock Sunday School” by Erwin A. Thompson I was born in 1915. When I was seven years old, we started going to the Melville Congregational Church. The “we” being my Uncle George Gibbens, his wife, Emma Riehl Gibbens, and myself….
In past generations…way back in the day…families made it their business to hand down their lineage and heritage–whether planting tomatoes in manure-rich dirt, singing together in the car or around the piano, or recounting a treasure trove of family stories. My mother, as matriarch, was part of this tradition. Even now, five years after her…
A Riehl Family Sunday (at Evergreen Heights) by Erwin A. Thompson The Bible sets Sunday, the seventh day of the week, as a day of rest and worship. Through the years, we humans have tampered with this rule, adapting the day tour own uses and choice. Big machinery that costs money to shut down and…
Here’s another in the Riehlife series “Pop on Mondays” From girlhood I knew what a section of land was–because my father told me–as he told me so many things. Here’s a story of the nickname for a section: “a country block.” Now, here’s Pop. –Janet, his youngest daughter _____________________________ What is a “Country Block”? by…
I’ve lived so many places in my life that long term friends are precious.They hold the thread of my life. They knew me when and they know me now. Thus it is with Alan and Mary Brody. We met in 1973 in Ghana, West Africa when we were all young. The Brody’s went on to…
I write fiction and love dance whether dressage for horses or ballet, belly dancing, break dancing, or modern dance. As a creative artist, it’s been my goal to recover my old connection to the arts with poetry, film, exhibitions at some of our super local museums. I’m lucky. The American Dance Festival, a summer institute…
This story written by my father Erwin A. Thompson–now 95–is a continuation of my POP ON MONDAY series. It tells the story of what my father calls “Big Men”–that is men of great character. In the normal round of a day in Army life, should they protect a good seargent and risk their own positions?…
I met Dave Scotese a few years back through our mutual friend Ernest Dempsey. Dave created Litmocracy a place that nurtures writers and ideas. In yet another innovative move, Dave proposes an internet business model to debate social and political ideas. His main idea is to bring people together by exploring differences. But, let’s listen…
I never bore biological children, but there’s never been a time in my life when I didn’t have a close relationship with a child or young adult. No kids of my own, then, but godchildren, nieces and nephews, neighbors, friend’s children, and upstairs neighbors. It’s a path not taken that’s no doubt for the best,…