A Death Dealing Imaginary Car…..I have fought so hard against the things in my personality that seem to obstruct the flow of God’s love in my heart. I have fought against the fears that keep me from doing things I love to do.In my program we call these things my character defects. I am learning … More That Old Car

The Alley Behind the Mission…..The alley behind the mission was a dead end. It went just beyond the mission and then widened into a turn around for cars. There were benches along the alley. Men gathered there for conversation and to smoke. The men talked about the things men usually talk about. things like woman, … More The Alley Behind The Mission

I have begun to make promises to my kids that they will not have to face me being hostile when the time comes for me to have to give up housekeeping. I trust that they will not have to force me to move to a care home. \ For one thing, I have very good … More Growing Old

Once when my girls were teenagers my yougest JoAnna was visting a friend Just before Christmas. The girl was listing all of her families traditions. When Jo got home she was down thinking our family did not have many traditions. As she thought about it she remembered the tradition our family had. She thought “Wait … More Caywood Christmas Traditions

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. You are so dear to me. I am told that my family of readers is from 19 countries of the world.It is likely that some of you do not have English as their mother language. I love you so much. Because of the reality of … More Merry Christmas 2019

What’s Wrong with Norman Rockwell…..Norman Rockwell was an artist who became the cover illustrator for the magazine “The Saturday Evening Post back in the 1950s and 1960s. He was known for creating magazine covers that were sweet, nostalgic, idealized snapshots of American life. A few years back at a meeting I heard a woman say … More What Is Wrong With Norman Rockwell

A very close friend of mine asked me to meet him for lunch. He said he was feeling angry and miserable. We met at Mimi’s Cafe, which is our traditional place to meet. I had their soup, which is always wonderful. I could easily see he was not feeling very comfortable We talked about sports … More

I have four sisters, four daughters and four granddaughters. I guess I must be a specialist in females. I love that. With the females I love being damaged of course I have become an active feminist The way I think about it…we have abuse at the individual level, workplace inequities at the organization level, and … More Being Female

A Truly Merry Christmas…..Said by an Al-Anon member just before Christmas: “Someone should find Norman Rockwell’s body and put a stake through his heart.” My Christmas will not be what Rockwell says it should be. It will be what it is and within what it is there will be much for which I can be … More A wonderful Christmas Memory

 I love Christmas. Every year I think of a necessary part of the story that needs thought as far as I am concerned.If I ask “What is the most important job ever done?”My candidate is Mary giving birth and raising Jesus. The job includes grinding food for baby food, changing and hand washing diapers. It … More Sacred Work