Category Archives: Friendship

Monday Musings: Missing a Missing Friend

Posted on April 3, 2023 by dbjackson

We lived in Australia for a year back in the mid 2000s, when our daughters were in primary school. Alex, the older one, turned 11 while we were there. Erin turned 7. Both girls were already swimming competitively here at … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, kids, photography, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: Missing a Missing Friend

Monday Musings: The Things We Say, The Things We Don’t Say

Posted on March 27, 2023 by dbjackson

Let’s begin with a couple of quick exercises. First, I want you to pause for a moment and think of someone you’re fond of to whom you have something to say, something you haven’t yet said. Think of your feelings … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: The Things We Say, The Things We Don’t Say

Monday Musings: About That Birthday I Was Dreading

Posted on March 13, 2023 by dbjackson

“You want to complain about a birthday?” Life said. “I’ll give you a birthday to complain about.” Last week, as usual, I wrote two posts. On Monday, I ruminated about my approaching birthday, making it clear that I was feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, Family, food, Friendship, Fun, kids, nature, parenting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: About That Birthday I Was Dreading

Professional Wednesday: What Holds Me Back, part I — Life Issues

Posted on March 8, 2023 by dbjackson

As we turn the calendar to March, I thought I would turn to a new series of posts in my Professional Wednesday feature. This month, as I struggle with a bit of work-related inertia, I have decided some might find … Continue reading →

Posted in Bell Bridge Books, Belle Books, Family, Friendship, Invasives, kids, parenting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monday Musings: Facing Down a Big Birthday

Posted on March 6, 2023 by dbjackson

I am staring down the barrel of a big birthday. This time next week, I’ll have passed a dubious milestone, and the fact is, right now I’m struggling a bit with the whole getting older thing. Yes, I know the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, kids, parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Monday Musings: What Matters? Part V — Frivolity and the Importance of Things That Don’t Matter

Posted on January 30, 2023 by dbjackson

For all of January, I have been writing about “what matters” and what doesn’t. I’ve written about this in terms of our personal lives and our professional ones. And I fear I have left readers with the impression that, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, Fun, kids, movies, Music, nature, photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: What Matters? Part V — Frivolity and the Importance of Things That Don’t Matter

Monday Musings: What Matters, Part IV — Money

Posted on January 23, 2023 by dbjackson

Say you don’t need no diamond rings, And I’ll be satisfied; Tell me that you want the kind of things, That money just can’t buy. — John Lennon and Paul McCartney We were bound to get to money eventually, right? … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Family, Friendship, kids, parenting, Publishing, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: What Matters, Part IV — Money

Monday Musings: What Matters? Part III — People and Relationships

Posted on January 16, 2023 by dbjackson

We lost my older brother a bit over five years ago, and, as you might expect, in the aftermath of his death, my emotions were roiled and at times conflicted. Among other things, I was angry with him. Deeply, almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, kids, parenting, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: What Matters? Part III — People and Relationships

Monday Musings: What Matters? Part II — Time

Posted on January 9, 2023 by dbjackson

Last week, I began a series of posts addressing the question “What matters?” My point in doing so was to focus on the simple fact that we have finite amounts of time, of energy (physical and emotional), and of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, Fun, kids, parenting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: What Matters? Part II — Time

Monday Musings: What Matters? Part I

Posted on January 2, 2023 by dbjackson

When I was a kid, I always had an Etch A Sketch. Honestly, I’m not sure why. I sucked at it. I didn’t have the patience or the dexterity to create anything of quality on that silver-gray screen. I tried … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, Music, photography, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: What Matters? Part I