Backstory – A Woman’s Prayer I enjoy reading letters, poems and prose written long ago.  Living in Civil War country, the libraries and museums hold a wealth of hand-written words from soldier, parent or brokenhearted lover.  Viewing artifacts from the period and hearing of the battles sets the tone for reading the words with sympathy and […]

Backstory – How Do Boys Know? So much discussion these days about gender identity.  In my childhood, your identity as a girl was well defined.  You were to learn and have domestic skills.  Fortunately I was also born during a time that women were coming into their own in other areas too.  And society no longer […]

Backstory – Because She Loves Him This is a story you will relate to if you have been married for a long time.  If not, let it be some good advice to assure that your marriage lasts a long time. It’s about dealing with one of those things that maddens you about your partner.  You know […]

Backstory – Mystique of Love Picture this.  You are an adult, independent and strong, on your own in the world.  You go through life, just putting one foot in front of the other, and feeling satisfaction with what fills your days.  Things are OK.  You have no overwhelming joy, but no complaints either. And then, out […]

Backstory – Just Another Day Time.  It’s something that should be consistent.  Just 24 hours in each day and that’s that.  Do the best with it you can.  You get no more and no less.  But it’s NOT the same to everyone.  Ask anyone under 10 years old whether time flies. They’ll probably tell you it […]

Backstory – Rich Follett That promise of “pursuit of happiness” intrigues me.  Note that it does not promise happiness; just the pursuit of same.  It seems that some American citizens misinterpreted that promise.  They expect happiness to be provided because they live in this great country. Not exactly.  We are provided the chance to find our […]

Backstory – World Upside Down The last few months of 2016 in our house were spent in a stupor of political rhetoric, promises, accusations and commentary.  No different from homes throughout America.  But it was more than listening to the candidates and making your best guess to separate fact from fiction.  Views and values were […]

Backstory – Out of the Fog  It’s a foggy morning here in the Shenandoah Valley.  The vapor moves slowly along, hiding from view, everything over 10 feet away.  It’s early morning and very quiet. The silence is not even broken by the buzz of an occasional vehicle on our country road.  The driver would hardly be […]

Backstory – Who Makes You Smile My mother used to urge me to smile more often.  Seems I was a rather sullen pre-teen whose expression was too often a scowl.  Turns out that I needed glasses.  Once I could see well, there was so much beauty and joy around me, it was impossible not to […]

Christmas is such a magical time of year. We hear Christmas carols unsung for eleven months, and yet we remember each word and sing along. The days seem filled with fairy dust and sparkles, twinkling lights and happy thoughts. Whether the season has spiritual significance for you or is a reason for giving and remembering […]