Vicki Atkinson's Blog, page 25

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Lit Fest

Hey, friends –

I felt like many of you were with me in spirit on Saturday at the Printers Row Lit Fest.  What a great event!  I had the best helpers EVER – husband Paul and our daughter, Delaney.  We enjoyed every bit of the adventure – gorgeous Chicago on a sunny day with temps in the mid-70’s and the opportunity to mix and mingle with readers and writers in a vibrant, exciting location.  The Printers Row neighborhood DOES NOT disappoint.  It’s a feast for the s...

“Tree” Ring Circus

 

I enjoyed catching up with a friend this week and we shared some giggles about a tussle between two of his family members over Labor Day Weekend.  I’m not sure if the hilarious story has the makings of a great commercial for hearing aids, a landscaping business or a jewelry store. Here’s what happened.

My friend called and said he had a crazy story to share about his family’s Labor Day celebration.  It was a combo event – both to enjoy the long weekend and to acknowledge two mileston...

Peanut Butter Cup Confessional

Happy Friday, Friends!  This morning’s post is nearly writing itself.  I woke up giggling about yet another moment of self-imposed silliness and figured I should just share, confessional-style. Especially in a week where I wrote about jeans that were too tight.  Oh my.  Maybe it’s a theme and I’m working it out by sharing? 

Last night hubby Paul and I were cocooned on the sofa catching up on some favorite tv programs and my sweet tooth started talking.  Loudly.  If I hadn’t spied the cont...

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Honoring a Veteran

Writing about my mom’s life required some tender diligence and editing as I introduced her siblings.  My aunts are still alive, or at least I think so. One of the most painful by-products of my mom’s death was the detachment that occurred as my aunts distanced themselves from me and from my sweet sister Lisa.  If I allow myself, I can unpack the ‘why’ but I try not to dwell on it because it’s still a potent pocket of pain. 

My mom also had a brother.  I refer to him in “Surv...

When You Crack Yourself Up: New Levi’s

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Super Lisa!

When my sister Lisa was born, we didn’t know the extent of her vision issues.  Over time we learned and thanks to many doctors along the way, Lisa’s vision was corrected as much as possible, but she’s still legally blind in one eye. 

As a tot, Lisa loved looking at picture books but had little ability to read.  The words jumbled on the page and made even rudimentary reading difficult for her.  But she’s “Super Lisa” – through and through – and always had a workaround.  Whether it wa...

Promo Fun…Printer’s Row LitFest

In my years in higher ed, I loved doing ‘table work’ – staffing events and supporting students, faculty and staff to promote services or provide quick meditation or deep breathing lessons for stress relief – on the spot.  Doing programs for parents was a highlight, too.  So much so that the textbook I wrote with my dear colleague Linda was often used by parents and the parent blog that I wrote was featured in a popular book at the time, “The Happiest Kid on Campus” – a book intended to comfo...

Cheers to Little Birds

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Readers, Writers, Book Lovers? Shepherd Helps!

Thanks to friends Diana (D. Wallace Peach) from Myths of the Mirror and Cheryl Oreglia from Living in the Gap, I learned about a wonderful resource for writers and readers alike, called “Shepherd”. 

How does it work? Authors showcase one of their books along with five books they recommend.  Books that are sources of inspiration, tools that may have aided the writer in the journey of writing and publishing.

Shepherd’s intention:

 It’s a great way for readers to find new fa...

Lovely, Little Books

My mother-in-law, Maxine, was one of the most gracious women I ever met.  I cannot believe she’s been gone since 2009.  She was around for many years of the mayhem with my mom, Sue, and despite being shocked and overwhelmed at times, Maxine was always a soft landing spot, reminding me that Sue’s lack of manners and inability to contain the chaos within was a function of her dysfunction. Maxine’s armchair diagnosis of Sue?  Priding herself on being raised well, Maxine suspected Sue was never ...