I don’t spend too much time writing about the way I write and why, but if I did decide to take a minute to analyze my work I would probably say I’m an unconscious writer. I’m sure you’ve heard writers talk about how the words just came to them. Well, I’m generally one of those … Continue reading On Writing
When I was eighteen I had my first real girlfriend, and waiting that long gave me a greater appreciation for her, or at least I thought it did. By that time I had finally gotten used to having friends and interacting with people on at least a surface level, so I thought I was ready to take the next step. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and it had nothing to do with her, either. On the first few dates it was great. We went out to eat, to the movies, and for a walk down by the river, and those times were easily the most incredible of my life to that point. But then she wanted me to meet her friends, which is where everything fell completely apart.
I like to think I make a good first impression, if maybe a little bit manic. You see, I have a tendency to oversell myself when I first meet people because I want them to like me so much. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. It’s all about best foot forward but instead of putting one foot across at a time, I leap over that line and it tends to intimidate people, I think. I haven’t really asked for fear that it’s the truth. Since this girl was my first girlfriend, you can imagine how over-the-top I was when I met her friends. Here’s a list of things I did:
1. I hugged each and every one of the four people who went out with us. While this seemed to be somewhat okay for the two females, I honestly think the two guys thought I was crazy. Lesson learned: that bear hugs with people you don’t know can be incredibly awkward and stunt future conversations with those people. Continue reading “Friends-in-Law”
“Grave digger — when you dig my grave, could you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain?” – Dave Matthews Death is a topic that most people would like to avoid at all costs, whether it is the death of a friend, a loved one, a family member, or themselves. I will … Continue reading Death and All His Friends
Why do so many first dates end up without the scheduling of a second? How is it that with so many single people out there women still can’t seem to find a “good man”? Why is the probability of someone remaining single if they’re single by age 30 increasing every year? How can the process of dating be less of a hassle and more of what it was intended to be, a way to meet the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with?
Back in olden times, dating was called courtship, a fancy term to mean that a gentleman picked up a lady at her house, drove her to a nice dinner, had scintillating conversation, and returned her to her doorstep at the pre-approved time. Even the use of the word gentleman to describe the fellow is telling. He opened doors for the lady, pulled out her chair at dinner, and asked her if she was chilled, in which case he would let her borrow his cardigan. And ladies were just that, demure and proper, but not doormats. Ladies spoke their minds in a tactful manner and thanked their dates properly when they were dropped off. Continue reading “Dating Values”
“People now feel time accelerating. Lists allow them to feel some sense of accomplishment.” – David Viscott
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I love lists. Love love love them. I think it’s something about being able to categorize items, no matter what they are. It places them in nice neat little boxes that I can package up and place nice bows on. That’s also why I’m such a playlist fanatic, figuring out exactly where to place each song for maximum effect. It’s why I created a Top 5 on Fridays. And it’s why I downloaded the ColorNote app for my phone (believe me, I color-code just about everything). Even Most Wanted lists are interesting. Check them out at your local post office. But what makes a good list? Continue reading “To List is Human”
“Be sure, before we close our eyes, don’t walk away from here. We must hear both sides of the story.” – Phil Collins
I met a woman the other day who had a bubbly personality, a zest for life, and a mouth that talked nonstop about anything and everything under the sun. It was refreshing to encounter someone like that because it seems like most people I run into are, how shall I say it, restrained. It was good to see someone out there enjoying life and being loud and proud about it. We had a sparkling conversation (when I was able to get a word in edgewise), and I thought she would make an excellent friend. It seemed like our personalities meshed very well.
Then I found out she had just lost her mother two days before we met, and the joyous personality I had seen was shown to be her attempt to ignore her true feelings about it all. After the truth came out I saw everything she had told me in a completely different light, with the knowledge that hers was a sad soul in need of a friend. Notice how I thought we would make good friends before the revelation, and that didn’t change one iota after knowing what I did about her subterfuge. I could completely understand it, and it endeared her to me even more, that she wanted to appear strong. But it’s okay to be weak with friends. We’re there for each other. Continue reading “Both Sides of the Story”
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Soprano
A Writer's Journey
At the hub...
Exploring life, love, lifting, and (almost) literally everything else, frequently aided by laughter and libations
Just a small town girl who writes about Christian stuff.
Strategic freelance writer specializing in online content, articles, web copy, & SEO.
Natalie. Writer. Photographer. Etc.
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