Tag Archives: writing

Guest Posting

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Hi, everyone, today I am guest posting on the writing blog, Dodging Commas, in a series on the theme Inspired To Write.

I was asked last March by Stef if I wanted to contribute to the series. Of course I was thrilled and honored. AND intimidated — I don’t really think of myself as a writer and I consider the ‘blogging company’ that Stef keeps to be so far above my level in writing skillZ. :) They are the types of born-with-it writers who produce lyrical, fluid prose that makes me sigh and wish I could write better. But because I blog, I guess I had become some sort of writer, too. So with the bravado of Thomas the Tank Engine, I accepted the invitation.

This is how Stef explains the series:

Writers love talking about inspiration. We like to moan when we aren’t inspired and we like to boast when that sudden rush of inspiration has just jolted our minds into action. Inspiration can come from many sources – we can be inspired by places, images, words, actions, music, current events … and we can be inspired by people.

I have approached the writers behind some of my favourite blogs to contribute to Dodging Commas on the theme Inspired to Write. This is an opportunity to showcase a favourite author, express gratitude to a teacher, or dote upon a friend or family member. Above all, it is a celebration of the people who started us on our creative journeys, the people who keep us going, and the people who inspire us to follow our passion.

(What did I tell you, the girl can write!)

My guest piece is titled Let the Sunshine In. (Yes, I am an Aquarian but no, it’s not about The Age of Aquarius.)  It is about why I write the way I do.

Please click here to go to Dodging Commas and read my guest post.

P.S.: When you get to a line that includes the words ‘appreciative audience’, please know that I am referring to you. And thank you.

Breaking Through

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(I’ve been wanting to share this story with you. It’s a bit long but I feel it is worth telling.)

In 2004, my Dad suffered a massive stroke. Thankfully, he survived but it left him with the right side of his body paralyzed, thereby impairing his mobility to a huge extent.

That in itself is difficult enough, but I believe the worst part of it for my Dad was that the stroke also severely constrained his ability to communicate. You see, Dad loved words — he read a lot, wrote essays and articles for local newspapers, and had the easiest time speaking in public (he was a politician and a teacher and had a local radio talk show). He also loved to sing.

The stroke put a stop to all that. While Dad’s brain was unaffected (he can read and can recognize classmates from high school), it had become ‘disconnected’ from his ability to speak.  As a result, his vocabulary basically became limited to yes, no, and OK. He often got them mixed up, too and would say ‘no’ when he meant ‘yes’.  It caused a lot of confusion on our part and much frustration for Dad. He would yell and curse at us because we could not grasp the message he was trying desperately to get across.

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