Magical Memoir Moments

Castlerigg Stone Circle, Near Keswick, England

Thin Places: Where Earth and Heaven Touch

“You don’t plan a trip to a thin place; you stumble upon one.” —Eric Wiener Twenty years ago I set out on a journey to England hoping to experience what I had read about in books. I eagerly anticipated the Wordsworth Winter School in the Lake District where I imagined striding through the atmospheric fells…

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Selçuk, Turkey, ruins offer arches around every corner. Temple of Hadrian.

Odyssey: Two New Stages of Life

The columnist David Broder gobsmacked me this week with these words: There used to be four common life phases: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Now, there are at least six: childhood, adolescence, odyssey, adulthood, active retirement and old age. Of the new ones, the least understood is odyssey, the decade of wandering that frequently…

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A hobbit house in Hobbiton, New Zealand, preserved from the movie set.

Escape to New Zealand: Taking You With Me

New Zealand helped me escape. Tolkien, the author of fantasy novels about hobbits, would approve. Now the challenge: to see and remember the wisdom of an enchanted land, and then to share it.

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When Time Shall Be No More: Kalanithi and Kairos

Thinking about time after reading When Breath Becomes Air took me back to a time in childhood when I was fascinated by a wrist watch. I discovered Kairos without knowing it.

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When Breath Becomes Air: On Being A Mortal Pilgrim

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi has inspired me to reflect on the role of mortality and pilgrimage as we enter the stage of life called Jubilación.

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Reader, I married him.

When Did You Stop Dreaming?

If your dreams have stopped . . .”Start daydreaming about the autumn of your life as much as you daydreamed about finding your perfect love when you were a teenager.”Laura Carstensen

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Snow shoeing outfit.

Sprinting into Older Age: Jubilación

After eight years of writing about memoir, I’m shifting focus on my blog. My new topic is “Jubilación.” Inspired by Isabel Allende, I’ll be writing about living the “third act” of life with passion.

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The practice jersey. I'm well past #63 now.

How #70 Became 70: A Tribute to the Linebacker of My Life

My husband Stuart turns 70 today. I found an old photo of him as a high school linebacker wearing #70. It led to a meditation about Stuart’s role as the linebacker of my life.

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Moon over Orlando. A wishing moon.

How I Found My Word for 2016

My word for 2016 arrived just in time for Epiphany, the holiday we celebrate today. The timing is perfect! Learn how I found it and share your dreams for 2016.

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Three journals for 2015

Reviewing 2015: A Lot to NOTICE

I usually can fit a year’s worth of observations and reflections into one journal. Last year, however, I needed all of these: The word I chose as a theme for 2015 was NOTICE. Apparently, there was a lot to notice. This next week I will be re-reading all three journals. I also have a pile…

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