Laurel’s Blog :: Page 5 :: Laurel Jean Becker ~ Pathways

A Perfectionist? Who? Me?

· Sunday, March 30th, 2014

· 12 Comments

This morning I began to analyze a behavior I’ve had for years while working my morning puzzles. I like the letters on the crosswords to be the same size and shape. If one is not, I erase it and “correct” it, as if it were wrong. With Sudoku, I like the numbers I put in the squares to be the same size as the numbers already printed—and the same distance…

Love (and Loss) on Valentine’s Day

· Thursday, February 13th, 2014

· 12 Comments

Valentine’s Day—a wonderful celebration for some. A day to get through—to get over—for others. But no matter your present situation, if you have had love in your life—even lost love—it has changed you, hopefully expanded your heart, given you an even greater capacity for love. I first wrote this poem in 1969. I was 21 years old. I have “dinked” with it over the years, adding the perspective of time. …

January Rewind

· Friday, January 17th, 2014

· 8 Comments

As I struggle to release the lovely chaos of Christmas while boxing the ornaments, Christmas miniatures, hearth greens, Santa collection and Christmas crèche, I take a deep breath and inhale the stillness of this cold, quiet January morning. There was a time—when our children lived under our roof—when I dreaded the “let down” of January. I missed the hustle and bustle of shopping or crafting the just-right gifts for family…

Celebrate!

· Friday, December 13th, 2013

· 3 Comments

It’s that time of year again. Lots of decisions to make. What gifts to purchase? What to serve for Christmas dinner? When to decorate the house? Where I am generally not a people pleaser, at Christmas I tend in that direction. To keep myself balanced, every year I make a decision to find something I can do to please myself. Christmas means different things to different people, some purely secular:…

Collision!

· Friday, October 25th, 2013

· 13 Comments

One morning last week I woke to a light dusting of snow—maybe two inches. There is something odd about snow resting on yet-green grass and stubbornly clinging to bright yellow- and rust-colored leaves. Two seasons collided in my yard, and although beautiful, it just didn’t seem right. But nature, as it is, does her own thing, and she certainly doesn’t ask my permission. When I was a child, I wanted…

Infinity Park

· Friday, May 10th, 2013

· 5 Comments

A recent dream gave me insight into my feelings of uncertainty as my husband and I near our retirement with questions about sufficient savings, Medicare changes and Social Security. In my dream, I was standing next to two large pillars supporting an arch with the name “Infinity Park” in wrought iron script across the top. One would think, by the name, this park to be unending—or that one was trapped…

Controlling Jack

· Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

· 6 Comments

A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit. — Richard Bach I once spoke of writing as my “hobby,” but years ago I made a decision to consider myself a professional writer. I ordered letterhead, joined two writers’ organizations, and set aside three hours each day for uninterrupted writing. Three hours is a long time to glue my seat to a chair while knowing full well the world probably…

My Unfinished House

· Friday, March 1st, 2013

· 5 Comments

I dreamed the other night that I was walking with a man dressed in bib overalls. He was my father—who has been dead 55 years. My father is showing me the house he built. The site is beautiful, and I am happy for that. The house is on a rise overlooking a valley. He is proud of his accomplishment and is obviously hopeful that I will appreciate it. My father…

First Santa

· Sunday, November 28th, 2010

· 8 Comments

At the beginning of every Christmas season, my emotions go through a roller coaster process that leaves me a bit shaken. As it is with so many others, my early memories of Christmas have been—painful. I know I am not alone. I know there are many who can identify. The process starts when I don’t want to put away my fall decorations: the pumpkins, miniature bales of hay, faux brightly-colored…

A Perfectionist? Who? Me?

Love (and Loss) on Valentine’s Day

January Rewind

Celebrate!

Collision!

Infinity Park

Controlling Jack

My Unfinished House

First Santa

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