“I have often had a retrospective vision where everything in my past life seems to fall with significance into logical sequence.”― Ansel Adams I wrote about a dear family member, almost a year ago and that post, about my delightful Great Uncle “Fuzzy” is on my mind. One of the unexpected joys as a result of writing … More Uncle Fuzzy’s Quilt
My great uncle approached in a plaid purple blazer he’d picked up from a thrift store after his luggage had been lost. “You look well!,” he proclaimed. We were gathered with 130 others in celebration, and everyone who knew me said the same thing: “Wow, Erin, you look really healthy.” For the first time in … More Thank You For Coming
In this episode, I’m with my co-host Dr. Vicki Atkinson and we’re talking about unlocking secrets. Both Vicki and I have published books about family. Vicki about her mom, Sue, and me about my dad, Dick. As we’ve discussed in other podcasts, writing about family is hard. But it’s also instructive – we learn so … More Episode 52: Unlocking Secrets with Vicki and Wynne
Lately, I’ve been waking up from dreams of long-ago scenes. Places I’ve lived, boyfriends I’ve loved, scenarios that are dusty but familiar. They are neither stressful nor packed with similarity between them. They are like opening a drawer of old photos and picking out a few. Perhaps I’ve dredged up these memories because I’ve been … More Choice with a Side of Grace
One month after I was born, my parents began their first family tradition. On Christmas Eve, while all the other young families were rushing around in preparation for the holiday, my parents spent the day walking around the zoo. That first year, when the total population of Phoenix was still under one million, the three … More Tiny Delights Over Big Bright Lights
Last week we learned that one of hubster Paul’s cousins – who was also named Paul – passed away. His mother was Paul’s father’s sister…and wait for it…his father was Paul’s mother’s brother. A geneticist would no doubt enlighten me about the quirky double-dose of DNA but in a moment of melancholy yesterday, my heart … More A Table with Nine Lives?
My birthday is in late-November so has always been celebrated alongside Thanksgiving festivities. Right after devouring the turkey and mashed potatoes, my late grandmother, younger cousin, and I would gather around a cake and blow out the candles in unison. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It’s the time of year when the unrelenting … More And, Today, I Am Grateful
Heads Up, and Gobble Gobble… I can’t help but share a ‘take two’ of this Thanksgiving piece. Of all the things I wrote on WordPress last year, a post about mashed potatoes still gets a lot of attention. I suspect it has little to do with the holiday itself – or the spuds in question … More Mashed Potato Madness
I am my sister’s keeper. Her guardian, her advocate, her ally and proudly, I am her best friend. Given her many disabilities I learned as a child that despite Lisa’s status as my older sister, she needed me to rise to be her protector. Our relationship has changed as we’ve watched life unfold but the … More I Love Her Better…Now That She’s Gone
I’ve written about the fun I had traveling as a study abroad student…. decades and decades ago. The story that some of you might be familiar with is the embarrassing tell-all about “Falling in Avignon” when I was part of a choral group which provided unexpected “entertainment” when I triggered a little chaos. That same … More The Disappearing Girl – Part I
The Heart of the Matter 