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Reaping what we sow
“We are respectable only as we respect others.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Photo by Cindy La Ferle
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The gift of gab: How to improve our conversation skills
“We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection.” ~Sherry Turkle Have our listening skills gotten a bit rusty? With the winter holidays fast approaching, it’s the ideal time for a refresher course in two-way conversation skills. Are you exhausted by folks who talk too much about themselves, or won’t let you get a word in edgewise? That’s the topic of this lifestyles feature in the Homefront section of The Sunday Oakland Press and Macomb Daily. (You can read it online here.) ~Cindy La Ferle
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Returning to not-so-normal life
“Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” ~Vincent Van Gogh Yesterday I met an old friend for lunch on the outdoor patio at Three Cats Cafe. From the start, the two of us were overcome by delight, wondering aloud when we’d last seen each other (at least a year ago). The sun was on my back, my vegetarian “scallops” were perfect, and the company of a vaccinated friend who’s been around since the early days of my writing career was soul-nourishing. It was a sentimental moment — or maybe it just felt that way because we are writers who seize joy anywhere we can…
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The art and science of healing: Notes from my quarantine journal
“It is our wounds that create in us a desire to reach for miracles. The fulfillment of such miracles depends on whether we let our wounds pull us down or lift us up towards our dreams.” ~Jocelyn Soriano, Mend My Broken Heart Healing. I’ve been obsessed with the word ever since the pandemic began. With so much extra time on my hands, I’ve recounted the details of nearly every major illness and every surgery that’s left me with scars on various parts of my face and body, including two hip replacements and a series of Mohs surgeries for skin cancer. Likewise, I’ve recalled the list of family members and friends who’ve slashed my…
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Where everybody knew your name
“The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift.” ~Laurie Colwin Another version of this column appeared in The Daily Tribune, March 20, 2019 When a family diner closes, you might feel as if you’ve lost an old friend. Here in Royal Oak, Niki’s was a favorite neighborhood hangout — our own private Cheers without the booze — for about 30 years. When my son was a small boy, it was also my home-away-from-home. In those days, I was writing freelance for several local papers, so I’d often head to…
