The back of the pew was hard. I wished I had my seat cushion but I left it in my husband’s car. The retreat leader in front of me clicked on the slide. I squinted to see it but the sunlight made it hard to see. But wait, here it was, in my workbook. I [...]

Saturday, July 31, 2010 I participated in Carver, Massachusetts Old Home Day craft fair. I had some misgivings abut the fair before I registered. They didn’t appear well organized and weren’t set up to send email. Also there were a lot of activities and I had read that these type of events bring lookers not [...]

Truth and Reconciliation at a High School Reunion
How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races – the myths about dragons that at the last moment are transformed into princesses. Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are only princesses waiting for us to act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us [...]
Choosing Joy in Times of Trial
Below is a speech delivered at the Women’s Tea, All Saints Anglican, Attleboro, MA on May 15, 2010 The speech was based on exerpts from Not of My Making: Bullying, Scapegoating and Misconduct Choosing Joy in Times of Trial. I had to think about that one. My book, Not of My Making, reveals the challenges [...]

Too Little Time for Friendship
Friday, September 18th, while I was inline skating at Poncin Hewlett Athletic Park, Jim stopped me. “Did you hear?” he asked me. “Hear what?” I asked. “Do you remember that lady that used to walk here?” “Do you mean Kathy?” I asked. “Yes. She passed away,” he said. “Passed away,” I repeated. “How? When?” “I [...]
Meeting Jesus on the Bike Path
I went skating early this morning along the Ten Mile River Bike Path in Pawtucket. The cool fall weather was perfect for skating and I felt strong. I skated up and down the hills back and forth between Paawtucket and East Providence. After an hour I turned around and started back towards my car. As [...]

The Expo for the Senses, Attleboro, MA
For the past year I have been renting a booth at craft fairs once per month. Attleboro’s Expo for the Senses was the best run fair that I have participated in. Abby Rovaldi, Attleboro Arts Museum Program Coordinator, made sure the fair was advertised throughout the city and a flyer was included with everyone’s water [...]

Saturday, May 22, I participated in Crafts in the Park to benefit Ipswich River Park. I put a lot of time, money and energy getting my booth ready. After reading a couple of books on craft fairs, I researched booth design, tent weights and other related issues on line. I purchased my tent from Amazon [...]

Last fall my church, All Saints Anglican, hosted a craft and vendor fair. When I asked if I could sell my book, Not of My Making, there, I received an enthusiastic yes. I feared a church fair was an unusual place to sell books and my book wouldn’t sell. I decided I needed a craft [...]
Hannah, my writing coach and editor, asked if writing, Not of My Making, was cathartic. No, I told her. It wasn’t like that. Although many people assume it was. Writing my book was not an exercise in releasing pent up anger or other intense emotions that I had repressed years before. After all, most of [...]
All Saints Anglican Craft Fair
Despite the rain and having to move inside, business at the First All Saints Anglican Fair was brisk. Sales of both the rosaries and Not of My Making: Bullying, Scapegoating and Misconduct in Churches were excellent. Most people knew someone who was abused and mistreated not only in churches but in school, home and work [...]
