In the fall of 1948, recent newlyweds Julia and Paul Child disembarked on the dock in Le Havre, France. It was there that Julia discovered her purpose, which led her to become America’s iconic voice for French Cooking. The book My Life in France by Julia Child and her nephew Alex Prud’homme is a beautifully executed memoir. You’ll almost hear Julia’s voice detailing her days in France as she cultivated her zeal for French
Read MoreThere is the life you live, and—in theory—there are ghost lives you might have lived had circumstances been different. This has been the premise for any number of movies as well as the puzzle of creative minds. What would your life look like now had you gone that other way?
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The order of things that bring comfort. There’s a moment’s respite when I spot a stack of books, or the pattern of brick on a wall, or a row of items displayed neatly across a table. Are you drawn to order, too? Anecdotally, it appears most of us are. Lately, I’ve captured images of arranged stuff and posted them to my Instagram feed, which ironically
Read MoreYou think you know someone and then “bam!” They come along and surprise you. Sometimes, the things you learn can be a real shocker, but in the arena of life storytelling you can also discover pleasant surprises and gain invaluable lessons, too.
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You think you know someone and then “bam!” They come along and surprise you. Sometimes, the things you learn can be a real shocker, but in the arena of life storytelling you can also discover pleasant surprises and gain invaluable lessons, too.
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You say impossible. The past is the past and can’t be changed. Hold on and let me walk you along how you can change your emotions about your past, and impact your present and future as a result!
Naturally, the person you are now is the manifestation of all your past life experiences. Here, we’ll
Read MoreYou have tons of photos, but as you review them there are some that are more important than others. What makes a signature image worth keeping when you’re trying to cut down the clutter? Today, we explore the top three qualities you want for your truly keep-worthy photos.
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It was a lovely day. Our daughter looked beautiful in her white dress, made just for her by a childhood friend out of the base of her new mother-in-law’s wedding dress (“something old”). We had a celebration the night before under the stars of a summer night with friends, family and all the hopes in the world.
Read MoreIn the book “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” James W. Loewen details his quandary with the instruction of U.S. history in our educational system. He examines 18 popular history textbooks used throughout the country at public schools to compare how each depicts the subject.
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What was your first job? That question can bring up some amusing anecdotes or bring back bitter memories of painful teenage angst. From mowing lawns and babysitting (no taxes need to be paid in most circumstances!)
Read MoreThink for a second of something you really enjoy that’s small, seemingly insignificant, and lasts only a few moments. Maybe it’s slipping into a hot tub of water or sliding into bed on a cold night. Perhaps its
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“Let’s get together for coffee sometime.” Here in Des Moines, that phrase is code for, “We’ll never get together for coffee.” Experience has taught me that the next step to schedule the coffee date almost never happens.
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After a meal, I’m like the Death Star. More precisely, my brain is in that moment that the Death Star goes down for the final count. As soon as I step away from the table, I imagine Luke Skywalker and the
Read More“Reptilian brain” seems to be the right term for that place where anger originates. It feels just that primordial—a response that’s immediate and seemingly involuntary. Whatever someone else did or said
Read MoreDepending on how well personalities match up, it sometimes takes extra finesse to travel with others. This was my third trip to Lima, and I’m so glad to report it was a great success. This time, I went with my
Read MoreHear me out on this one. If you compiled a list of the sound effects of your life, what would be included? Too big a list? Let’s try a day, maybe it’s this day. What are the significant sounds?
Read MoreI’ve been playing Tell Me Another for Demo Nights over at Arkham Games in Ankeny, Iowa the last couple of Tuesdays, while also enjoying time with the game group that regularly meets there each week.
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