Pam Parker's Blog, page 4

Thanks, Tony.

Thanks, Tony.

Thanks, Tony. was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Mrs. Trump: Your Silence Screams Volumes

OPEN LETTER TO MELANIA TRUMP — Who do you want your son to be?

Dear Mrs. Trump:

Did the resignation letter, with the acrostic RESIST, from the President’s Committee on the Arts & Humanities surprise you, even though you are its Honorary Chair? This past year must have been one unfortunate surprise after another for you. Since November last year, you’ve tried to protect your son, Barron, from the First Child’s fishbowl life.

I’m writing to you, mother to mother, from the perspective of the empty nest. My highest goal in raising my boys was for them to become honest, kind and giving young men. To achieve that, I tried to instill in them a healthy respect for other languages, cultures and the arts. To me, a strong respect in those areas enhances the development of empathy and kindness. The very fine book, Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World, by Dr. Michele Borba, was not yet available to me. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it. A higher life than a self-absorbed life is possible only when honesty and kindness guide thoughts and actions. Time will tell if I succeeded with that goal for my sons. So far, the signs are good. They are honest, kind and giving with a tolerance and respect for other cultures, as well as a facility with languages; both are proficient in German and one in French and Spanish also.

Very few Americans appreciate your facility with languages. Most reports say that you are fluent or proficient in five languages. This American does appreciate your linguistic skills and hopes they have influenced a higher degree of tolerance and empathy in you than seems apparent in the clan into which you married. Shifting the focus from greedy consumption and portfolio-amassing to sharing and caring for Barron must be a constant challenge.

Officially, on the White House website, it says, “With a penchant and passion for the arts, architecture, design, fashion and beauty, Melania has thrived on the cultural diversification of New York City. This passion can only be surpassed by her dedication to helping others, and her generosity has been noted.” If this statement is true, if you in fact have a passion for the arts, then I am sure you are also concerned about instilling the same values in your son.

Residing in the White House and raising your son in the media spotlight brings phenomenal challenges to mothering. In that environment, your work is harder, but possible. What do you want your son to be? I presume you want him to be more than a self-absorbed money amasser. Do you want him to share your commitment to the arts and humanitarian and philanthropic interests?

Choices, often difficult ones, need to be made by all parents at different times. I want to believe you have that ability in your marriage, despite the last name you have chosen. Unfortunately, we are aware that the last name in the familie Trump arrives with baggage, huge baggage. If I had to name a motto for the Trump family, it feels like, “Mine, mine, mine and more, more, more.”

“Plato.” AZQuotes.com. Wind and Fly LTD, 2017. 24 August 2017. http://www.azquotes.com/quote/670374

Every language has its share of proverbs and sayings. You must be familiar with the Slovenian one, “Molk je znak priznanja.” Our English equivalent derived from Plato’s quote above is: “Silence gives consent.” We have yet to hear from you, in any language, about your husband’s inflammatory remarks regarding the events in Charlottesville. I hope you have addressed the issue with your son, grandson of Fred Trump, the landlord Woody Guthrie wrote blistering words about for white supremacist actions in a Brooklyn neighborhood. You have the power to overturn that legacy of racism, arrogance and intolerance from a divisive one into a healing one for Barron. Though your first priority is your son, like it or not, like all former First Ladies, you do represent all the children of this country. That includes the homeless children in shelters in inner city Manhattan and the privileged children in shining towers in San Francisco. Please, please use your platform to advocate in developing empathy, sharing and caring in our nation’s children. Remember that the arts and humanities play a critical role in that development. Art, in all its forms, helps bridge the gaps between us and others. We are a nation of others. Barron, like many Americans, carries in his blood genetic soup from many places, including Germany, Scotland, and Yugoslavia. He also bears the stamp of birth into extreme wealth. I believe we can bridge the gap between the extremely poor and the extremely rich through the enhancement of empathy in our nation. That is how this country can reunite and continue to be a light in the world. If for some reason, you are not allowed to speak, perhaps you need to consider if this marriage is worth the souls of your chosen nation and your son.

Pam Parker

Mrs. Trump: Your Silence Screams Volumes was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

When Grief is Complicated

My open thank you letter to Sherman Alexie — complete with a little video of yours truly — is up at Invisible Illness. Hope you’ll check it out!

When Grief is Complicated was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Audio Work — Pam Speaks too

Reading at Boswell Books in Milwaukee from my essay in the anthology FAMILY STORIES FROM THE ATTIC

Compiling and providing links to some of my audio work — had neglected doing this when I switched the blog over to Medium! So, if you have time and interest for any of these subjects, listen at your leisure. Many of these pieces aired on Milwaukee Public Radio’s Lake Effect, WUWM, 89.7. I’ll list the time at the end of each piece.

Worst title goes to “Mothers & Marmees & Moms, Oh My,” but don’t let that stop you from listening to this Mother’s Day tribute. It is about the greatest gift my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother gave me. May, 2017-4:26

“Fighting the Backbeat” is about a time when my child spoke to me about considering suicide. Mar., 2015-4:31

“My Legacy Won’t Be Whitewashed”- about raising children to be culturally sensitive despite their mother’s very white life. Dec., 2014–3:15

“The End of Pinktober” about Breast Cancer Awareness month. Won first place, large market essay, from the WI Broadcasters Association. Oct., 2012 — 3:36

“Gymnastics Changed My Life” — about former gymnast’s reflections after the Fab Five rocked the London Olympics. Summer, 2012–4:01 (Link on SoundCloud because WUWM had changed their system after this.)

Audio Work — Pam Speaks too was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A Thirst for the Truth

I am attending Beyond Walls: Spiritual Writing at Kenyon in Gambier, Ohio. The location is pastoral, quiet and definitely has the vibe of a New England college campus, which makes this former New Englander’s heart sing. Gambier is nothing like the college towns I’m most familiar with though — South Hadley, where Mt. Holyoke is, would be the closest, but it’s still quite different. (Middletown, CT and Northampton, MA are just too big to compare — not that either are huge.) No, it feels like the town is an afterthought being swallowed by the college campus, which feels rather strange. But, that idea got me thinking about the truth being swallowed by alternative facts.

For our opening night, Tom Ehrich, a writer, Episcopal priest and church consultant, addressed us. He encouraged, instructed and admonished us to think about how writers can change the world. It’s a huge call and I’ll admit to having to stifle the urge to say, “Yeah, right.” Not that I’m getting cynical or anything.

Tom spoke about writing for an audience beyond his walls, writing for people he didn’t know. He asked each of us to think about why we write. To think about it and write it down. Here’s what I wrote, without censoring myself or listening to the voice in my head trying to say, “That’s it?”: I want to touch people, to move them emotionally. Yes. That is my driving force, my truth, to write. Yes, I can own and live with that.

Tom’s answer to the question: He wants to change his readers’ lives. He has absorbed two truths about the value of writing: 1) the truth shall set you free and 2) the pen is mightier than the sword.

Truth has been a recurring theme this week. In writing groups, whether critiquing fiction or nonfiction, one thing the author doesn’t want to hear is, “But that part doesn’t quite ring true.” It’s important to know though, and to fix the wobbly section. It’s true in writing and isn’t it true in our lives? If you’re being dishonest with yourself, you are setting yourself up for some wobbliness in your life. How can you move through and beyond whatever deception you’re using?

He asked us to think of ourselves — the writers — as moral agents. Now many in the room were rabbis, ministers, chaplains and priests. I suspect they already considered themselves moral agents. This is not a term I would have applied to myself previously. But when he talked about writing being serious business and how truth-telling can move things forward, I was moved to consider his message. Truth telling in this age of “alternative facts” matters more than ever, doesn’t it?

Lord, help me be a truth teller.

Here are a few favorite quotes from Tom’s talk:

“Nothing kills trust faster than a lie.”

“People have an instinct for truth.”

“We have a literal thirst for the truth…it may scare us. We may hide from it for a while. Once you face it, you can do something.”

“The genius of oppression is getting people confused about the truth and then going after the truth tellers.”

“One small truth can open doors to more truths.”

Here’s a shot I call “Evening Pastels” near our dorms on the Kenyon campus. Maybe look into the swirling pinks and blues and think about being a truth teller. Where do you have the opportunity to change the world?

Enjoyed this piece? If you did, hope you’ll click the ❤ in the left hand column under share. Those little hearts help other readers find Pam Writes. Thanks!! Also, to subscribe for email updates, click here.

A Thirst for the Truth was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Writers’ Notebooks

The Keys to Writing Progress

Lisa Rivero shared a marvelous post recently on 5 Resources on Keeping Writing Notebooks. Whether you are new to the writing life, or a longtime member, there are ideas in here to get you started, keep you going and maybe introduce you to some new ideas to test out. Within Lisa’s post, I was fascinated with Nicole Bianchi’s look at how some famous writers used their notebooks. Novelists might particularly appreciate John Steinbeck’s use of the daily diary while writing THE GRAPES OF WRATH.

Finding a writing notebook system that works for you is important. And, it may be helpful from time to time, to change things up — try something new. In Lisa’s post, she shares an essay from Randon Billings Noble on Brevity called On Keeping a (Writing) Notebook (or Three), which helped me realize I should consider keeping a writing planner. One of the areas I find most challenging in my writing life is planning for and tracking both deadlines and progress. Perhaps a separate writing planner could help? Clearly the Accountability notebook that I refer to in the post below is about the same thing, and a step I need to take instead of relying on Duotrope to do it for me!

While on the Wordpress format in the past, one of my most popular posts was about writing notebooks. I will share it again here for any who had not previously seen it and hope it may spark something for you:

Writer’s Notebook(s): IDEAS

Using the term “the writer’s notebook” implies there’s one such magical thing and one way to properly keep such a magical thing. Wrong. I would argue that for most writers, one thing works sometimes, one thing another time, and you need to find what works for you — — and, don’t be afraid to switch it up when you need to. The photo above shows different methods I’ve used: post-its for quick jots of ideas, notecards, mini-purse size notebooks, cell phone when I’ve been without a working pen and left myself a message to jot down later, composition notebooks, spirals, journals, three-ring binders. Don’t think I use all these all the time. I don’t. But, at different points, I have.

For me, the most common and frequent uses of writer’s notebooks fall into categories that fit neatly with the acronym: IDEAS.

I=Inspiration

This notebook would be considered by purists to be the traditional “writer’s notebook,” and purists would keep a volume continually updated with notes, lists, snippets of overheard conversation, photos, post cards, tickets, magazine clips, names, etc. — everything and anything from daily life that might inspire and inform future writing. I agree this is a fabulous idea, and I will tell you, it’s not effective for me. I’m not that organized and feel constrained by the pressure of updating and pasting and categories. I keep smaller purse-size notebooks where I jot ideas, lists, names, etc. I don’t do photos, clippings, etc. I rarely move the ideas into a bigger notebook, but I keep a basket of the small ones and will occasionally thumb them for ideas. This works fine for me. Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird describes her use of index cards for keeping track of ideas. And, for me, the importance of recording these moments when I first began doing so related to a comment by Lamott, “You start seeing everything as material.” That’s what the Inspiration notebook is for. Find a method you can use, and use it. Or not. Maybe you have a perfect memory and no need for writing things down. I don’t. I need those scrawls.

D — Dumping

This is not a necessary step for all writers, but it is for this writer’s sanity. My “dumping” notebooks are my daily morning pages, my blah, blah, blahs, my venting and my rejoicing. These pages are for my eyes only and my mental health, only. I need them as much as I need my morning coffee. (See an earlier entry on Julia Cameron’s morning pages.)

E- Exploring

Before discovering the convenient IDEAS acronym, I referred to this notebook as my diving notebook. In this notebook, I do writing prompts and if a story or chapter idea is embryonic, I begin drafts here, before moving to my laptop. (See Promptiful for suggestions for writing prompts.)

A — Accountability

This notebook is for writers who are submitting, engaged in the business side of writing. Here, ideally, you track submissions, rejections, acceptances, but you also keep notes of literary journals that seem to fit with your style of writing. If you have a novel that you are seeking representation for, you will have a section regarding agents as well. Again, this is a notebook that I don’t use. My method is to track my submissions to literary journals on Duotropeand my agents on sheets of notebook paper thumb-tacked to a bulletin board. (See — it’s a matter of finding what works for you, and using it.)

S — Specific Notebook for a longer work

It can be very helpful when working on a novel, to keep a spiral notebook with you at all times, related only to the novel. So, if you’re out and about and suddenly, a scene you’ve been struggling with or a character you couldn’t quite envision before becomes clear, you get it down in that notebook — with a big scrawl across the top of the page, identifying the scene or character. As you work on a longer piece, you begin to live and breathe with your characters, this specific notebook helps you save moments that may enhance your draft.

Hopefully, this post has given you some thoughts for what types of writer’s notebooks might work for you. If you use different methods that might be helpful for others, please do add a comment. Try something new if you feel its time.

As always, happy #writing all.

Enjoyed this piece? If you did, hope you’ll click the ❤ in the left hand column under share. Those little hearts help other readers find Pam Writes. Thanks!! Also, to subscribe for email updates, click here.

Writers’ Notebooks was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

2017 is Halfway Over

June 30th sometimes shakes me up. The year is about halfway done. How am I doing on things I wanted to, hoped to, tried to get done or tried to keep moving along?

What have I surrendered?

Over the years, I’ve learned that periodic self-reflection and evaluation is important for me. Otherwise, I can live a very re-active rather than pro-active life. I try to do a little self-check at the end of each month and looking ahead to the following month. I’m not always good about this. I’ve done it four out of the last six months and I expect to do it this weekend. So, that’s not bad. Yes, I’ve also shed the perfectionist-syndrome which in the past would have had me quitting this practice because I hadn’t done it every single month.

I used to do a Facing Facts on the Fifth series where I would update about my progress on writing goals on the fifth of each month. It helped. And then, I got sick of doing it so stopped. That’s another thing I’ve shed: doing things that don’t make me happy, or at least feel good about getting it done. (Vacuuming doesn’t make me happy, but on those occasions when I do it, I’m glad I got it done.) Surrendering writing Facing Facts on the Fifth eased some needless anxiety for me.

Anything else I’ve surrendered in the last six months?

Boxes and bags of stuff from 31 years in a four bedroom house with attic, basement, garage and too many big closets. Oh, there’s still lots to do but more than a dent has been made! (Have I been “perfect” in my attacking the stuff? Nope. But so much progress has happened and will continue. :-) ) And, I have to thank my daughter-in-law and son for helping me recognize the need to get moving on this project, which I’ve steadfastly avoided for years. Those two have moved countless times in the last ten years and they’ve made it easier on themselves by being minimalists and not becoming attached to too much stuff. I may never catch that attribute, but I can still pare down.

What have I given?

This is a harder one for me to evaluate. I believe I’ve consistently given my love and support to family and friends, far and wide. At least, I have tried to. The work I mentioned above, in terms of the early stages of downsizing, is something I give to me and my husband — steps toward our goal of moving out of a too large home. (Where can I improve in loving and supporting family and friends? In so many ways, but a big one is getting better at managing my snail mail and email. God, I suck at both of those.)

I’ve given time to my writing community — here, with Red Oak Writing friends, online with friends from the Glasgow Writers Group. I’ve tried to promote and share writing I’ve appreciated — here, on Facebook, Twitter and by putting up reviews at Goodreads and Amazon. I reach out to individual writers when a particular essay really resonates with me, in different ways. Often, with a private message on Facebook. Do I do it every time something touches me? Nope, but I try as often as I can.

To my church community, I’ve given time, talent and not enough moola. (Whoops, forgot to get our donation all set. That gets added immediately to the to do list!) I’ve helped with a confirmation class, a task I love. And, I’m serving on a Co-Pastor Nominating Committee which involves a lot of time, but has been the most meaningful committee experience I’ve ever had. Also, in the last six months, in a true stretching opportunity for me, I’ve preached twice. ’Twas a blessing and a privilege, and reminds me of the oft-used-for-a-reason expression that when you give, you get so much more back.

What have I done/accomplished?

I’ve put in good effort in the first half of this year toward attending better to my physical health — I’ve lost almost 10 pounds and I’ve worked out consistently.

My writing life has been singing along — I successfully revised an important query letter and have a very high batting average with it. Am waiting on some responses with fingers crossed. I’ve been out in public more, speaking and reading — the two sermons mentioned earlier, an audio essay on our local public station and reading at the book launch for Family Stories from the Attic. I’ve posted 22 times here and am learning, successfully, to navigate the Medium platform after 9+ years on Wordpress.

I’ve been able to see family and friends and that matters to me tremendously. Some, I’ve only managed to see online, but in real time, and others I’ve been able to see in person, including old friends from grammar school and high school! My husband and I took a much needed trip together to celebrate thirty-five years of marriage.

So, in this mini-halfway through the year self-evaluation/reflection, I am fairly pleased with my forward movement. And, all of this is with a physically challenging month of June — nothing serious, just nonstop — I began the month with a cold that turned into pink eye, then ear infections, then bronchitis, then a sinus infection. I am FINALLY feeling better from all of that, and was just introduced to a new blip, an aggravated sciatica nerve. As I said, nothing serious. The biggest problem for me this month has been poor sleep from all the respiratory gunk and for me, poor sleep, leads quickly to lack of focus and foggy brain. I am happy to finally be sleeping better! My next step is to look at the answers to my questions — What have I surrendered? Given? Done? and begin moving some goals forward and adding others.

If you choose to do something similar, I promise, it will be time well spent!

Enjoyed this piece? If you did, hope you’ll click the ❤ in the left hand column under share. Those little hearts help other readers find Pam Writes. Thanks!! Also,

2017 is Halfway Over was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What if we turn conformity around??

Jaden, a high school student, created a powerful video for a class project called “This I Believe.” She wrote, edited and choreographed this lovely call to us all, but especially to high schoolers, to be themselves. Please enjoy and share with anyone you think could benefit from watching — I think that means all of us!

https://medium.com/media/e3db4ef2b62d9aadfc875c4fb4a253cd/href

Jaden’s Words

How many times have you done something

Just because somebody else did it?

Laughed at a joke you didn’t really think was funny?

Bought a shirt you didn’t like

but all the cool kids were wearing it.

Decided not to like someone

Because nobody else did?

Just like popular culture and trends

Behavior can travel like an epidemic

Conformity is human nature

It’s why you feel uncomfortable

When you’re the only one talking

In a silent room.

It’s why you feel awkward

When you stand up

While everyone is sitting down.

It’s why you feel even worse

When your society, your parents, and maybe even your peers

Denigrate you until you never stand up

and you can’t bear to speak up

But what if Einstein stopped deriving the equation for energy

Because he didn’t want people to laugh at him?

What if Thomas Edison quit building the light bulb

Because he was afraid of what people would think?

What if Amelia Earhart hadn’t flown her plane

Because no one had done it before?

Where would we be?

And where will we be

If our conformist nature

Won’t let us think beyond the person in front of us

In a single file line headed in one direction

And that direction is spiteful, catty and driven by fear

So stop.

Stop walking blindly in front of you.

Look around. Look at the person next to you.

Smile. Maybe even say hi or give a sincere compliment.

What if you saved that person’s life?

What if, because of you, they had the courage to be different?

You helped someone realize that they are enough.

And because that person is so inspired by our kindness

They do the same.

What if we turn conformity around into something more innovative

Than selflessly following the leader?

It starts with you.

And me.

And the person sitting next to you.

Because I believe the most powerful thing

You can contribute to the world

Is your true self.

And through others benevolence and courage

They can set a good example for you, and me,

To become the best version of ourselves

That we can be.

Many thanks to Jaden for allowing me to share her lovely work!

Enjoyed this piece? If you did, hope you’ll click the ❤ in the left hand column under share. Those little hearts help other readers find Pam Writes. Thanks!! Also,

What if we turn conformity around?? was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Keep the River Flowing

“Some say love, it is a river…..”

Note from Pam — June 14, 2017 — I was happy to see the following post pop up in my Facebook memories from four years ago. This chunk echoes for me:

I’m not happy with my writing right now, but I’m still doing it. I’m not happy with my pace, but I’m at it. I’m not happy that this is such a hard section to slog through, but I’m doing it, because if I don’t, this story will never be read. This is my work to do — to share this story that I love, these characters that I love, hoping that others might love them too. I am the author of this story, no one else.

Change the word story to life in the last sentence and see what it does for you:

I am the author of this life, no one else.

Ultimately, this post is another cry out to myself to persevere. Quitters don’t finish things. Period. What do you need to keep plugging away at? The original post follows.

Pam Parker

Jun 14, 2013

Roses and Writer’s Block?

“Some say love, it is a river…..”

Something happens when spring finally, really and truly, sproings — love abounds! Everything is growing, blooming, increasing. In Wisconsin, we’ve had an Irish spring — lots of green, lots of rain, and a slow movement toward warmer temperatures. In my neck of the woods, the baby animals are plentiful if you’re observant enough. Every weekend, wedding parties are in the parks getting pictures taken. The June anniversary shots are popping up in my Facebook feed, and mine will be there too next week. And, flowers — finally flowers are everywhere! Monochromatic days have been buried in our memories. In complete concordance with the times, the rose bush on the side of my house has exploded these last few days — thanks to my love who worked hard pruning it and replacing the trellis this year.

Robert Burns equated love with a red, red rose, (if you’re interested, there’s a lovely, lovely version of Carly Simon and her sisters singing the poem here) but the soft white ones with a hint of pink out my window come to my mind when I think of love. The bush was planted by the original owners of our home, an older couple who happen to attend the church we now belong to and we see them sometimes. I’m sure they’ve been married over sixty years. (Ed. note — 2017 — he has passed on and she is in a nursing home now.) Despite not being the most green-thumbed individuals, my husband and I have managed to keep this rose bush going, and now, thriving. Love and marriage can be a lot like rose bushes — some thorns, some amazing beautiful times and some times when external conditions drag you down.

Being a working writer is not unlike being in a loving relationship. There are times of ecstatic bursts of creativity, of quiet ho-hum routine, of turmoil, of difficulties, but as in a good marriage the effort to go through all the steps is well worth it. I’ve been in a season of difficulty in my writing. I’m not a big believer in writer’s block, but I’m getting converted. Though spring has made it feel like all good things are increasing, that hasn’t been the case with my writing. My writing feels icy and still stuck in winter. I’ve allowed my inner critic to get far too vocal and I’ve been singing the “I can’t do it,” blues. But that season is done. I’m not happy with my writing right now, but I’m still doing it. I’m not happy with my pace, but I’m at it. I’m not happy that this is such a hard section to slog through, but I’m doing it, because if I don’t, this story will never be read. This is my work to do — to share this story that I love, these characters that I love, hoping that others might love them too. I am the author of this story, no one else. Even in the wintry times, when the writing doesn’t come easily, we need to channel Bette Midler: “Just remember, in the winter, Far beneath the bitter snows, Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love, in the spring, becomes the rose.” And now, from the beautiful Bette, enjoy, The Rose:

https://medium.com/media/518552ba210d05cce0feb9750f16fea9/href

Keep the River Flowing was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Interesting Stuff

I have been ill, physically ill — pink eye, ear infections, gloppity green goop coming up when I cough. Charming, I know. Writing is hard for me when I feel like crap, but it’s always necessary. So, just a few thoughts from my antibiotic/cough medicine/eye and ear drop inundated body —

I’m anxious to begin a blog series I’ve been pondering for a while called IPPIKSO — Interesting People/Places I’ve Known, Sort of. In another day or two I’m counting on being able to dive in and kick it off — here’s hoping!

Sometimes life hands us situations — like goopy eyes and ears for example — that make us slow down, step back and breathe deeply (when that doesn’t force us to cough up a lung). I’m napping a lot, reading when I can concentrate (so loving LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson), watching James Comey testify before Congress (good God, that’s one smart man). I’m also pondering IPPIKSO and where to begin — Interesting People & Places I’ve Known, Sort of — — should I stick ONLY to people and places I’ve directly known? Or can it become an eight degrees of separation thing? I mean, really, why not? If I find someone who could connect me to my dream people, people I WANT to talk to, well, why not? Right? I mean someone must be able to connect me to Tom Brokaw or Tom Hanks? Judy Collins? Bruce Springsteen?

The series will deserve its own graphic, and thanks to a good friend, we’re working on it:

(Thanks to a very interesting friend who will hopefully appear in IPPIKSO)

Places — I do have a long list of places to write about — predominately in the States & western Europe, but not only there. My favorite cities abroad? Glasgow — Paris — Prague — Tel Aviv….where to begin? Favorite places to be in the mountains? Chamonix, France? Murren, Switzerland? Boulder, Colorado Favorite places to be by saltwater? Tel Aviv? Cape Cod? Southern Gulf Coast of Florida? Favorite places to be by freshwater? New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Wisconsin.

People? My goodness, my life is FULL of fascinating folks. It will be a matter of finding who is willing to be interviewed and share some of their stories. In my orbit now are:

several folks personally or through a partner or friend facing transgender issuesseveral teachers who change lives by caring and following througha Pulitzer-finalist author who focuses on kindnessa striving actress in NYC, another in Hollywooda woman running a farm in western Massachusettsa veritable neighborhood of intriguing folks in Austin, TX (including an alt rock star)a single mother in Ohio raising fine young menveterinarians with giant heartsa prominent photojournalist based out of NYCthe director of a folk music venue in CAa single mother in N.J. raising three children and assisting with her father’s needs while she tries to keep her sanity studying guitaran up & coming literary agent & podcastera former Olympic gymnasta professional dancera major gifts officer at a prominent Chicago museuman archaeologist with an interest in Peruvian textileslawyers in the northeast and midwest working in so many different facets of law…..

Okay, let’s face it. Everyone is interesting! Every single one of us. We each carry stories — don’t feel put off if you didn’t make my list above — my list goes on and on and on.

So, what intrigues you, dear readers? Any thoughts, interests on where to begin?? While I sometimes loathe those blog requests, this time I really want your feedback. What, where, who?? Any starting points you want to see for IPPIKSO??? If you’re unsure how to leave a comment in the Medium format, after the tags at the end of this article, you’ll see a heart and a cartoon speech window. Press the speech window to leave a reply. And regarding the heart, see below. Thanks for visiting.

Enjoyed this piece? If you did, hope you’ll click the ❤ in the left hand column under share. Those little hearts help other readers find Pam Writes. Thanks!! Also,

Subscribe for email updates

Interesting Stuff was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.