One of the most satisfying things about Riehlife is having readers reach out to us. Matt Kulak wrote to us to share a family story about listening to Just When the Sun Went Down, by Edna Florence. You can see the lyrics to “Just When the Sun Went Down”–a Civil War song–here Here is my…
One of the most satisfying things about Riehlife is connecting with new readers and hearing their thoughts. Matt Kulak commented on “Just as the Sun Went Down”–a Civil War song chosen by my father Erwin A. Thompson. Here’s a lovely letter he wrote to Pop. –Janet __________ So although the facts may disappear from history,…
It’s Saturday. My turn to spend time with my father. I’m ready to go. And, then, I’m not. My cold–or, whatever it is–takes a turn for the worse. I’ve been struggling with it for several months now. It keeps coming back, or, maybe it never leaves. I’ve called Pop several times, but he’s been out…
Image from University of Arkansas: The Office for Campus Sustainability I met Khadijah Lacina through Story Circle Network. She is a regular guest columnist for Riehlife. This is the third post in her series on Creative Parenting. 1) 2) Creative Parenting: My Head Is Full of Poems Creative Parenting: Poverty as Creative Catalyst In her…
I’ve lived my life on the edge. It’s been a life filled with outrageous and often imprudent risk and adventure across continents. But now? It’s all about staying the course. Few friends would have predicted that I’d come back home to the Midwest and stay in one place for so long doing something so hard…
What if, indeed, as Buddhist say we are all mothers to one another (past-present-future)? How would that change your part of the world? 2)What are the stories of mothers you’ve known? Wikipedia agrees that Mother’s Day isn’t just about biological mother’s. It’s about nurturing. Mother’s Day is a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood, maternal…
“Flower Cloud Land” Copyright Janet Riehl 2012 (This morning after my father got ready for his day, I read him this post. He said, “Yup.” And that was all that was needed.) My mother–Ruth Evelyn Johnston Thompson–died May 1st 2006. Today is the 6th anniversary of her death. We miss her. A strong matriarch and…
Going through my files this morning I stumbled over a conversation last year on February 18th. A friend and I talked about the my father’s Long “Good-Bye.” [text below] We talked during what seemed like an eon of anchoring caretaking. The family system was under stress with death and surgery and a long, hard winter….
I’m wearing my flamingo Airstream trailer pajamas as I write this. They’re aqua with puff of snow, red scarves flying from the pink flamingo’s while lights outline the Airstream’s door and windows. When I was a girl, our Christmas–like everything else in our family life–was do-it-ourselves from tree to treats to gifts. We cut our…
My father Erwin Thompson–musician and raconteur– tells this true story of old-fashioned square-dance music–when it was just music. Janet __________ There was this fiddler back some years ago who was learning. He had one piece that he played quite well, but it was a struggle for him to learn. He hadn’t gotten around to learning…