Lisa Shoreland’s guest post today illuminates my mission to create connections across cultures. Lisa has crossed cultures in three ways–through her Japanese mother and American father. Through growing up in Japan, and then going to college in America. And through her travels to Italy and Vietnam. She’s spot on! I enjoy how she allows her…
Maryanne Raphael sent me this poignant story. Her story of how she met Anais Nin appeared earlier on Riehlife. –JGR ________________________ When I took a course in the psychology of women at Los Angeles City College, I wrote about the Anais Nin I knew. My professor Dr. Eve Jones told me, “If you know Anais…
As the last post in Women’s MemoirWomen of Inspiration s Women’s History Month question of what women inspire us, I wrote about the Women of Inspiration in my life. It honors eight women who give me hope in becoming the kind of old woman I want to be. All six are in their 80’s and…
Facebook as a tool for micro blogging makes an interesting research project. Which status updates (posts) will evoke response? Recently I was completely overtaken by surprise when I shared this recipe for Sweet Collard Greens that I stumbled upon that afternoon right at my stove. Since everyone agreed, here is the exchange below. I learned…
This is the 100th birthday year for Tennessee Williams (March 26, 1911-February 25, 1983). His childhood in St. Louis shaped his writing career, so let’s celebrate! Lana Pepper directs and produces an hour-long tribute. Six actors perform scenes from: A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Glass Menagerie. WHEN? April…
Selena Wolff is a recent Blogging Buddy. Her site is Solitary Words: Finding Spirit Through Writing. It’s exactly what it says! Selena contributed a guest post to Riehl Life on “Finding Your Voice.” From blog comments to emails to guest post to telephone conversation, gradually our connection grew stronger. Today we’re sharing our views on…
I call a friend for a Skype chat. He doesn’t have a camera on his home computer. He can see me. I can’t see him. Does it matter? Yup. Turns out it does. “You feel vulnerable,” my friend says. “There’s an imbalance of power.” Power? Hmmm… Okay, that’s part of it. I feel uncomfortable, exposed,…
Prose? Poetry? Who knows? My collaborator Stephanie Farrow and I have discussed this topic endlessly. Where is the line between poetry and prose? Is a story poem just prose with line breaks? Does a poem have to be obscure to qualify as art? I’ve explored these questions and many others with participants at conferences for…
Awhile back I funded an annual program that provided monthly guest presenters to talk to students in the creative writing class at Alton Senior High School. There was a fine line-up, including a presentation on the Kwansaba form developed by the Eugene Redmond writing club. The St. Louis Poetry Society administered the grant. I dedicated…
At our weekly Sunday brunch we looked at nuts my niece and her children had gathered on our place. My great grandfather was a premier nut grower and grafted new varieties. I wondered if these nuts were Hickons (a cross between hickory and pecan). My niece said: “I think these are just pecans–pecans are, I…