TreeHouseLetter

On the Connecticut Polls today and what the example of one elderly woman--who fled the communist take-over of Saigon--can each us about elections.

On Gay Street in Baltimore on the way to Johnny's for dinner, I saw a large woman on the sidewalk, squatting at the wall. Poetry for Emergencies, 1 poem, a bit of Harry Potter, a bit of Poe, and a dream from the US Poet Laureate.

A curious thing happened last week. Learn of marigolds, of love, and of the unforgettable character an author writes about, Elzeard Bouffier. A story rejected by editors then printed and shared in languages the world over. "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." Antoine de Saint-Exupery On marigolds, on love, 1 book rec.

True story vs story and fact vs fiction; take a ride to Oklahoma and visit Whiskey 918. And, meet Macabea in Clarice Lispector's masterpiece, The Hour of the Star. 2 Book recs; On poverty; On music; Writer's Toolbox, ages 9 to 99

The evening with the 44th POTUS (President Of The United States) went about as planned.  He was all business, in and out, no meal just speech. Sylvanus Thayer Award On a  Strong Military and Secure Nation Toolbox: Speech and Rhetoric

Come along with me to the Five Points Neighborhood in West Buffalo for this Foodie special with confession. Explore "texture" in writing and Dante's Third Circle. As Oscar Wilde once wrote, "I am not young enough to know everything." But I know this much.

I want to share two moments with you, rendering them as best as I am able. They are startling in the manner that makes an imprint, a fully sensual memory. Perhaps what makes them so vivid is the sheer unexpectedness of the occurrences. Math geek alert. Pilot's Glory.

Who do you think won? I am back, working with Riverside Studio to share this True Story of Military Life. Thank you for listening, as always.

Happy Birthday to the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence is comprised of five distinct parts. Hear about them, the language, its length, and how the signatures are categorized.

"There are some things which men confess with ease, and others with difficulty.  No one ,  for instance, will confess himself a fool or a blockhead . . . " Epictetus . If Epictetus were alive, he may be surprised to learn that I am  No One.  That  No One  who played the part of the fool and blockhead and figured you may benefit from my stupidity.

On narrative lust and the pleasure of rereading with C.S. Lewis. I’ve recently come across a few passages worthy of rereading, which is also a subject of this letter: a peek into Amor Towles 2024 short story collection, A Table for Two.

On travel and British Columbia in summer. EATS and FEATS: where to eat and what to do. And how I have changed after this particular trip. *Title is a play on the 1959 film from Alfred Hitchcock: North by Northwest.

Poetry for Emergencies. On grief. D. Adam Boaz with a poem from his anthology, Voices from the Second Life.

I gave this speech at New Canaan Town Hall on Memorial Day. I read it here for THL listeners, sharing stories which honor 7 local residents who died during the Vietnam War. Video recording of the speech is available on my site under Events tab.

Toolbox: On Speechwriting and public speaking. Research and preparation for the town Memorial Day speech. Finding the story and pulling it together... and, doing so as the first woman to speak at this event. The holy trinity of writing. Title quote from John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Fields.

Let's take a moment for teachers. That teacher, you know the one. Because, I have a confession to make. . . On poetry for emergencies, E. E. Cummings, and J.S. Bach. David Foster Wallace and This is Water.

On Kansas City, life in the middle, and a meditation on mothers.

We had not met before though we met in other ways, I suppose. On Vietnam and Operation Frequent Wind. And, honoring three marines.

Poetry for emergencies. Friends are leaving, selling their houses and moving away. Mary Oliver on things and Lau Tzu on excess .

I suppose it is the unexpected and the good which sustain us. Learn about a discovery in a second-hand book by Penelope Fitzgerald. In the process meet characters and listen to a cheeky retort from the protagonist.

Earthquake and eclipse may signify the end of times. For both to occur in a week, after a deluge of rain and flooding, it is easy to lose your moorings. Geography Instructor on the quake and Annie Dillard on the eclipse.

Nuts and nonsense. On Mixed Nuts, contronyms, and a classic film.

I love reading about the type of characters and situations I have encountered in my own life. What is less than pleasant is the recognition of less than admirable qualities that bear similarities to my own. George Washington's Rules and C.S. Lewis's Four Loves provide insight on civility and barbarism in an age when their relevance is more important than ever.

The importance of the English textbook and lessons on writing style. Part 2 of 5 with a book rec, a style guide, and passages from four writers: Confucius, C. Keegan, D. Grohl, and Lincoln.

Leo Tolstoy's classic story, C.S. Lewis and "The Four Loves", and a surprising message on the day of a military funeral.