“Life is always going to be stranger than fiction because fiction has to be convincing, and life doesn’t.” – Neil Gaiman “Passenger Jet Lands in the Hudson.” That “Miracle on the Hudson” headline filled the front pages of many newspapers, not the pages of a novel. I recently saw the movie “Sully,” which recreated U. …
Category: Barbara Pattee
Sep 06
Trip of a Lifetime – Australia and New Zealand: Part 5
Tuesday, April 5: Our group gathered in the hotel lobby for a visit to a predominately Maori school, Kaitao Middle School in Rotorua. Kaitao is a recipient of Grand Circle Travel donations. Roger again acted as our chief for purposes of introductions. A few selected students and staff welcomed each of us with the traditional …
Apr 06
Happy Anniversary, M & M’s®
There was complete silence in my classroom. All eyes were on me. The look of disappointment on the faces of the students was heartbreaking. “I’m sorry, children,” I said. “The principal is in charge.” The week before a planned party, our principal made an unexpected announcement over the PA system. “There will be no Christmas …
Feb 06
Story Starters, Part 3
“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.”–Graham Greene Have you ever found yourself with the wrong friends? A fur hunter in the 1800s was severely …