Author Archives: cyrein

The purpose of this article is to describe two books that, although each therapeutic, are different from each other in significant ways. The books are Nest, by Debbie Baxter (https://debbiebaxter.com/) and No Sticks No Stones, by Ricia Fleming (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09B4HP329/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0). In the interest of full disclosure, Ricia has been a tap-dancing friend for several years. OurContinue reading “Reviews of Two Therapeutic Books”

The assignment was to write three paragraphs, each one focused on a word beginning with an initial of my name. C is for Criminal My name is Carole and I am a criminal. I am not a bad criminal, but a good one, who causes good trouble, the kind of trouble recommended by John Lewis.Continue reading “Three Initials”

Following is the formal presentation I prepared for my court hearing on January 14, 2021. It follows, exactly as I spoke it. We have many methods of self-introduction and this is one of mine: Judge Kelly: During the early 80’s, I applied for work in a large company as an industrial engineer. After an extensiveContinue reading “Introducing Me, Part II”

We all have many memories. In this writing, I share specific remembered moments from throughout my life that are special for various reasons. I begin with my earliest memories and include just enough information to place them in context. My earliest memory is sitting on the toilet being toilet trained by my grandmother, Josephine, withContinue reading “Ten Memories”

After being shamed in my sixth grade music class and not being allowed to sing with the class, for years I avoided singing unless I was by myself in the car or could hide my voice in a large group, like at birthday parties. Even then, I sang softly, so as not to offend anyone.Continue reading “Music and My Life, Part 2”

There is much that I do not understand in life. One such mystery is any human being who is indifferent to music. I don’t remember when I first realized that music mattered so much to me, but several minutes of my life stand out, as they relate to music. I’ll try to recall them chronologically.Continue reading “Music and My Life, Part 1”

These are stories of my fiftieth and seventieth birthday celebrations and the connection between them. My mother was thirty years older than me, with our birthdays occurring the same week. So, a month before she was to turn 80 and me 50, I told her that I wanted to take her somewhere for 4-5 days,Continue reading “Two Birthdays, Three Stories”

As Yehuda Amachai wrote, “the world is beautifully made for doing good.” When I consider all of the birthday celebrations that I have attended, including many of my own, one in particular stands out as truly outstanding. A second, very different, comes close, though for very similar reasons. The very best one? It happened lastContinue reading “Best Birthdays Ever!”

I have been excited about making a commitment for my first writing workshop EVER. I’m not a writer, but I have stories that I need to tell. This story is not actually one of the stories that I need to tell, but somehow, I always choose the story that is current, the most present, ratherContinue reading “First Writing Workshop EVER”