Author Archives: colleendown

I am now old enough to remember several words that were used during regular dinnertime conversations that would never be used by educated people in a discussion today. Many words have been ‘banned” and as a society we have agreed … Continue reading →

A few years ago, I was attending the third funeral in a row of a family that had been forever changed by the ravages of Huntington’s disease. My friend and neighbor, Lael, had lost her husband and two children within … Continue reading →

“What’s in a name?” Juliet laments as she thinks of her lover Romeo-of the rival Montague family.  “Who am I?” Jean ValJean sings as he is torn between revealing his true self or allowing another to be charged with a … Continue reading →

As I get older, I am finding that it is almost more important to reflect back on the old year and the things that I have learned, than it is to set goals for the New Year.  My greatest learning … Continue reading →

I feel so blessed that I could be in Texas for the birth of little Clarissa. She has now taken up residence in that part of my heart where I pray and worry and dream for my children and grandchildren. … Continue reading →

The heads of the Kings of France from the statues of Notre Dame Cathedral “cut off”  and buried during the French Revolution Surfing the net, amid the post-election, post-hurricane, post-Petraeus rubble, I stumbled on an article in the New York … Continue reading →

This past summer I took an Art class where we discussed several modern artists. One of these was Mark Rothko and our teacher mentioned that his famous gallery was in Houston, the Rothko Chapel. I made a mental note to … Continue reading →

My FaceBook page has been full of posts today of reflections of what people were doing on the morning of September 11, 2001. In the same way that my parent’s generation can tell you exactly where they were and what … Continue reading →

Holding and rocking little Charlotte this past month, I find myself kissing her soft head and whispering blessings in her ear. There is something unique about a  daughter or granddaughter that makes you want to pass on all you have … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, as I walked around Jessica’s yard taking pictures of her flowers, I made the comment, “I wish my camera could capture the scents.” She said, “You will just have to do it with your writing Mom!” … Continue reading →