Patricia Harrelson

Seeing the Nutcracker performed by the San Francisco Ballet is a dreamy, magical, awesome experience. I remember going several times when I was child, and once I had a classmate who had a minor role which somehow made me feel … Continue reading

My brother and son are like two peas in a pod and have enjoyed each other’s company since Culley was just a wee guy about the age Huck is right now. One thing they love to do is play games … Continue reading

When I was seven or eight, I had a neighborhood friend, Kathleen Dutton, who was the sixth-born in a family of six children. As the first born of a large family, I was fascinated with the idea of having older … Continue reading

Huck, Nell, and I dressed in turtlenecks, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, and heavy coats and went to the Twain Harte Christmas Parade last night. Years ago, I used to take my children before it was called a parade. Back then, … Continue reading

Dressed in winter white, Mary Autumn enjoyed the company of family who came to celebrate her birthday. Earlier in the day, she had assisted Mama in baking and decorating a snowman cake. The cake was set before her as family … Continue reading

Yesterday, I went on a field trip with my brother Andy and grandson August. Andy is a water treatment specialist and August is greatly interested in the local natural history. Combining those interests, our plan was to go to Lyon’s … Continue reading

I’m reading The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice for reasons that are interesting but not particularly related to this post. Early in the book, Lestat is consumed by something his friend Nicolas names the “malady of mortality,” a deep shuddering … Continue reading

My mom, Evelyn Stevens Mical, died 26 years ago today. Here are some of my memories about her: She went to college in the late 1930s when that was unusual for women. She graduated from the University of Arizona with … Continue reading

When the Dixons lost eighteen-year old Ashley, the ties that bind them pulled more snuggly together. I spent yesterday in Mariposa with this extended part of my family. A large contingent had come north from Southern California, so the welcoming … Continue reading

With Andrea came the game of Boutros-Boutros Ghali. What I love about this game is that the playing field is flattened and all stops are pulled. Elders and youngsters can mix and match as can a post-modern sensibility with a … Continue reading