Lori Duff Writes
As I write this, we are in what is known in the Jewish Community as the “Days of Awe.” Granted, a lot of the Days of Awe are spent with half of our number saying things like, “Aww, man, do we really have to go to temple again? We just went!” But that’s not the…
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton One of my favorite things is when I find a book that is completely unlike one that I have read in the past, which is a tough thing to find. There are only 26 letters in the alphabet and only so many combinations you can make of them into…
I was on the phone conducting business with someone who was younger than the vast majority of my t-shirts. This pup of a man described another person, who I hadn’t yet met, as ‘old.’ “What does old mean?” I said. “I don’t know,” he replied. “Old. Older.” “But what does that mean? Old is subjective. …
Giddy Up, Girl by Jeanie Brosius King is a story of grit and determination and, ultimately, inspiration. Jeanie is the mistress, so to speak, of the Beautiful Network of Women (B-NOW) Radio Show/Podcast and a life coach and speaker. She hosts women’s retreats geared towards renewal and relaxation. This book is the written version of…
If you’ve ever run into me at the grocery store on the weekends, you’ll know that I’m not a particularly vain person. I don’t mind looking terrible in public if the situation allows. On any given day there’s a 50/50 shot that my nails will be of raggedy lengths or that I might have an…
You Might Forget the Sky Was Ever Blue By Michael Chin is a collection of short stories. None of the characters in these stories seem comfortable in their own skins. They are all seeking to understand their places in the world and their relationships with the people around them. Some of these stories are disturbing,…
A few weeks ago I went to visit my son in his last weekend at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. If you don’t know what BUTI or Tanglewood is, let me explain. Tanglewood is a summer music festival/place located in Lenox, Massachusetts, the heart of the Berkshire Mountains. It is the summer home of the…
“Suddenly Stardust: A Memoir (of Sorts) About Fear, Freedom, & Improv” by Joanne Brokaw is a short, fast read, packed with thoughtful and entertaining pieces. On her 50th birthday, Brokaw decides to take an Improv class, just to try something new. She’s afraid of this new adventure, and all her friends who said they’d try…
At 6:00 p.m. last Thursday, I wanted to make a right turn from Ponce de Leon Avenue on to Peachtree Street. If you are not familiar with Atlanta, I will tell you that this intersection is smack in the middle of things and where the historic Fox Theater is located. It is busy almost always,…
I dropped my daughter off at camp last weekend. This was her 9th summer at camp, so it was a familiar ritual. You’d think I’d be used to it. The first time she went she was only seven. A tiny little girl, so brave and willing. She pushed me out of her cabin when I…