England and Scotland by Foot, Car, Family and Friends

Sometimes travels take us in delightful ways that we had not considered, and when we hop a train or climb a hill, the destination is a sweet surprise like a frosty rootbeer float on a hot summer day. The nooks and crannies in the U.K. most certainly offer those delights. If you are lucky enough …

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Courage = With Heart

Courage is a common word in my house. I mean courage in the Latin-sense of the word, cor-with heart.   Courage with heart is about perseverance and thoughtfulness. It is about finding a moral compass within yourself, and acting with kindness in the direction.  It is about avoiding rash, unproductive or irrational behavior in order to …

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Keeping it Real

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. ~Kahlil Gibran Sean Eric Today is my youngest brother's birthday. It is the second year I have marked the occasion without him. It is a day that almost feels suspended in time, a space where, for a moment, I cannot move. …

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Even in harsh conditions, we thrive

White Sands National Park Sometimes living in the desert I am struck by how harsh the living conditions are. Just a few miles up the Sandia Mountains on the outskirts of Albuquerque, the landscape is dry and hot, filled with cacti and rattlers. It is not a hike for the faint at heart, or those …

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On being a teacher

I've been thinking about teaching and teachers a lot recently. Having been a writing teacher for many years, some of my own fondest teachable moments happened to me in my writing classroom. I made a lot of mistakes and I grew up in my classroom. I tried grand experiments that utterly failed, and I apologized. …

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The rural urbanite (or urban ruralite), and loving it.

In the last year I haven't written on this blog very much. I have been collecting lots of images and stories to post, but my family and I have been gathering our strength (and our belongings) for new adventures that have taken much of our focus, spirit and strength. Transitions are time consuming endeavors. Often …

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