I’ve made many friends over the decades, each filling a niche in my life in their own inimitable ways.

I have everyday friends, who share coffee and lunches, shopping trips and movies, and harmless gossip in driveways and across backyards.

I have professional friends. With them, I discuss my passion for writing, dread of deadlines and the wild, creative surges only they can appreciate, because they’ve gone through it themselves.

Then there’s family – my daughter, sisters and nieces, ties born in blood and forged through love and mutual liking. With our son’s marriage came my daughter-in-law and her mom and sisters, and they are no less dear. Even if we weren’t related, I would love them all. Read more…