Thanksgiving Day!

I decided to take a short open highway road trip on Thanksgiving Day.  Headed West from Dallas to Southlake, the idea of sharing the road with those who knew their destinations and wished to arrive soon had been playing in my mind. I stayed in the right lane as my leisurely seventy-mile an hour drive with no fixed destination, clashed with those with less time and destination to meet.  

At times, Texas displayed its beautiful blue sky against a never-ending horizon. Texans are special people; hardworking, kind and authentic. I am grateful to live in the United States, where people are celebrating the grace of giving thanks for the labor that brings abundance to our country. 

Sharing of our part of our harvest, whether it is large or small, is a gift. Gratitude is not an event; it is the state of our heart. We lean on God to light our path as we well know that challenges are placed ahead of a reward.  I stop at an Italian restaurant in Southlake to celebrate with their legendary Thanksgiving Feast. A smiling server approaches me; her name is Autumn., 

Autumn, such a beautiful, and sweet name! Reminiscent of cinnamon, apples and honey!  She smiled. “My father named me Autumn. I had not seen him in years she mentioned as she carefully poured into a cup I was holding with a pen between my thumb and my index, today we will celebrate Thanksgiving together.  He has gone through terrible challenges and circumstances in that life threw at him; and as a result on me, too. But when we heard each other’s voice, all we heard was love.”

“Where are you headed to?”

“It seems I was meant to stop here, and meet you, Autumn.” I feel humbled as my heart acknowledges God’s mercy and blessings are alive! You have so much to share on this special Thanksgiving. I know with certainty He has a way of working everything for good; the child in you who never stopped missing him will embrace him again, today! 

“I’m filled with emotion” she said. 

“As it should be. Happy Thanksgiving, Autumn.  God bless you and your father, always.”!

The Writer’s Conference I Hurst, TX I 2025

Dearest friends,

Discovery is the essence of life; I can have a BLAST with two important items: a pen, which can open doors of opportunity and a mode of transportation to take me there. It is true, if you hear someone say, that sometimes I do things backwards. I wrote and published a book, “Searching for a stranger” and four years later, I registered for the 2025 DFW Writers’ Conference taking place in Hurst, TX., to learn what putting thoughts on paper was all about.

I left work early in the afternoon on the 2nd of October feeling excited. Packing was a breeze: comfortable clothes and shoes, which for me are high heels. What made me nervous was making sure I did not forget the obvious…which I normally do! The room at the Hilton was so inviting, I kicked my heels and dove into the soft pillows for the rest of the afternoon.

The blast started the next day, November 3rd, all the attendees arriving and finding their scheduled sessions. I was scheduled to attend “Finding Your Voice” with Ari TISON (Bribri) award winning writer and poet. Ari made that day simply fascinating! The thoughts, the content, the people, sounds, colors all came together to make it memorably the high point of the conference, for me.

The theme, Ari began, is finding your voice… that voice that belongs only to you. The inner dialogue; the unconscious beaming back the wisdom of you. It is never wrong; it is your overwhelming truth. Listen, follow, dive into its depth and its wisdom. Be you!

Ari gives us a 3-minute writing assignment. Use poetry to tell a story. Short sentences, repeat the last line twice.

“Whose voice are you hearing now?” Ari asked all of us in the classroom. I can generally tell the voices in my head, apart - this voice is me, thinking.

The Presence

Stillness brought a presence

That penetrated the veil of my guard

no words, no touch, no eyes to meet mine.

Just the essence of a soul

close to mine…who,

without knowing me, knew who I was.

How should I respond,

how should I respond…

Ari gave us the next writing assignment. Write a scene/poem where your character feels joy, feels anger.

The Break-up

Don’t leave!

It would be a mistake.

You’re tied to me by the hip!

To the aroma of my kitchen…

To the sway of our bodies

When we dance…

You are my creed, my religion…

I will never leave,

And you will come back to that.

“It’s not enough…”

The final assignment, Ari said out loud; write your memoir in six words. A life built of meaningful journeys.