Friday, August 30, 2013

My Father




Today would be my father’s birthday. My first memory of him is when he came home to West Virginia from an overseas military assignment. I was five and had no recollection of his face, so I kept running to the parlor to look at his picture until he arrived. When I was growing up, it became his tradition to cook Sunday dinner for my mother and me. Dessert was pineapple upside down cake made in a cast iron skillet. My mother told me when I was born, he brought a pineapple upside down cake instead of flowers to the hospital.






Saturday, August 24, 2013

A New Chapter



This weekend, I will be with the wonderful Ingram, Abee, and Bare families at the wedding of Matt Abee and Kinli Bare, two outstanding legal professionals, who will marry in Old Main auditorium at Wofford University on the stage where Matt asked for a first date and later proposed.






For the last two years, Matt has been my law clerk and Kinli has distinguished herself as a tenacious prosecutor. Now, they begin a new chapter in their lives with love, laughter, and exceptional organization.





I’m grateful they have allowed me to be part of the experience. Congratulations and best wishes!






Sunday, August 18, 2013

Buddhapuss Ink Mystery Short Story Competition (2013)




For the third year Buddhapuss Ink has conducted a Mystery Short Story Competition. The winners of this year’s competition were announced on Monday, August 12, 2013. My story, “Confidence in the Family,” received honorable mention and will be published as a bonus story in the Kindle version of the anthology, Mystery Times Ten 2013. Information about all the winners is found at:
One of my online critique partners, Georgia Ruth, won and will be in both the book and Kindle version of the anthology. Her story is “Dear Courtney.” Barb Goffman’s “Truth or Consequences” appeared in the 2011 anthology.



Monday, August 12, 2013

The Kindness of Strangers


St. John of God, Patron Saint of Book Sellers and Heart Patients
As I drove through the to-go lane at Dunkin’ Donuts the other day, I noticed the face in the rear view mirror of the car in front of me. Although the woman was youthful, there was something serious and perhaps even grieved about her expression. I thought about her as I placed my order, wondering what type of life she might lead. When I reached the window for my order, I was told that she had paid for it. How amazing and how unexpectedly kind! I reconsidered her face and wondered if it might be the face of an angel?