Writing from the Heart: (Un)reality
The movie "Everything Everywhere All At Once" is nominated for an academy award. My husband and I just might be the only people who didn’t love it. We just didn’t get it.
It reminded me,...
Writing from the Heart: Antique lace
Yesterday I took a walk on Lucy Vincent. When we got to the pond I had a sudden flash of a distinct memory.
So many years ago every weekday morning, I would ride my bike...
Writing from the Heart: Compassion fatigue
There’s a pile of three nickels on my table. The VFW sends them twice a year with their fundraising envelope. They peel off very easily. No residual, yucky, gooey stuff. Should be easy peasy...
Writing from the Heart: The case for living memorials
I went to a memorial a few days ago. One speaker after another got up and told these amazing stories. I knew him slightly. It was really his wife I was there for. But...
Writing from the Heart: Keeping your heart open
God, this lamb korma is good. And the rice, the rice has whole cumin seeds! I love those.
My husband and I are eating at the new Indian restaurant in Oak Bluffs. I’m so happy...
Writing from the Heart: Do something different in 2023
I always make my New Year’s resolutions after New Year’s. It doesn't really matter when I make the list, since it always starts with the same thing: Quit sugar.
Which is why I have to...
Writing from the Heart: Christmas envy
This is the first year in my entire life I don't have Christmas envy. Over the years, my kids have known about my vivid memory of walking into my friend Arlene Keefe’s house during...
Writing from the Heart: Spiritual lessons from a trench coat
Until today, when I was zipping up my new winter jacket, I never realized how my clothing is actually the catalyst for my spiritual growth.You may not have realized it for yourselves, but when...
Writing from the Heart: Technical writing and a tinfoil boat
There are so many brilliant writers that come to the Chilmark Writing Workshop that I’ve decided that once in a while, I would like to feature one as a guest writer, and share their...
Writing from the Heart: Daylight saving
This is my favorite time of the year. When we turn the clocks back and it gets dark at four in the afternoon. I seem to be in the minority. So I have to...
Writing from the Heart: Crying … a lot
I've been doing a lot of crying lately.
I don’t know if it’s post-, post-menopause, or the state of the world or change of life or climate change or changing channels between Fox, where they...
Writing from the Heart: Welcome back
I am welcoming myself back to the column. As some of you might know, I took a mini sabbatical to rewrite my memoir, the one that got 17 rejections. When I finally dragged myself...
Writing from the Heart: Afraid of ‘other’
A note from Nancy: The good news is I’m thrilled to announce the publication of my new book, “Memoir as Medicine,” coming out this month. I couldn’t have asked for a better publisher, New...
Writing from the Heart: Body and soul
About 30 years ago I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. It came on right after I had lost a document in the middle of writing something that I thought was probably the best...
Writing from the Heart: Mirror, mirror
I never understood women who said to their daughters, “When I’m on my deathbed, pluck my chin hairs or I’ll kill myself.” Why at that point would they care? Why at any point would...
Writing from the Heart: COVID lessons
I just got my copy of “The Covid Monologues,” a local anthology edited by Jennifer Knight and Moira Silva. The stories are a powerful glimpse into an era we all lived, and are living...
Writing from the Heart: Everything in moderation
My friend Gerry used to say, “Everything in moderation … including moderation.” He would say it when I was complaining about my sugar habit. Every time I said, “Why can’t I be more disciplined?”...
Writing from the Heart: Happy everything!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices! O night divine … Ohhhhh night when Christ was born!
Each Christmas our high school put on a pageant that could have rivaled any hit musical...
Writing from the Heart: Tidying up
I’m early for once. I’m doing my spring cleaning. And it’s only December. So proud. I think it was the smell of the mold that got me going, or was it the fact that...
Writing from the Heart: Let your opinions go
Years ago I was walking up the stairs at the Cape Cod National Seashore with a friend. It was off-season, and I was blown away by the beauty. The sky was a perfect baby...