Family gathering in Ashland

It's becoming an annual treat for all the far-flung children and grandchildren to reserve rooms in early August at the Windsor Best Western in Ashland, Oregon, to laugh and play. Kids loved the pool and the Children's Science Works Museum. The teens enjoyed the dramas as much as the adults. "Our Town" was a simple, creative, tender performance that revived a lovely script. "Othello" was almost painfully intense, especially from our seats in row B. Amazing to watch such quality theatre.

wink and nod

Close my eyes
in acknowledging the joke
in frustration, chagrin
in pain

I mouth the words
You shake your head -- frustration renwed
When I cannot understand
I fail you again
guessing wrong
staying away when you need me near

Winking and nodding
when I need to grasp

mj

ALL FOUR WON: a single mom and 3 children earn her medical degree

ALL FOUR WON is the story of a single woman taking her 3 small children with her and succeeding in medical school despite unbelievable odds: murder of my daughter's classmate's cousins, a hit-and-run before my child's eyes as her neighbor friend tried to cross the street to play, a shooting just below my bedroom window, etc. -- as though managing as a single parent family and medical school weren't challenging enough. But there were multiple humorous incidents, too -- enough to keep us sane and going, e.g., my tapping a patient's knee while bent in front of him. I don't know which of us was more embarrassed when he kicked me across the room.
Watch for excerpts from ALL FOUR WON!

Bottles

Brown glass. Slender, flat-sided. The tourists snatched 'em up so fast, I should have set a higher price. Some good comes from these swarms of summer visitors down Maine. Not enough to make it worth the while to fight their traffic and their noise. Oh, well, I better skip into Damariscotta to the grocer for more vanilla.
mj

wellspring

Wellspring of joy. I've had it since I was old enough to know that I am a person. It bubbles up. The tinkling, burbling sound soothes deep within me. and I know what matters. I matter -- as I am part of something so much greater. Quiet. Powerful. Simply being.
mj