Stories & Blogs

Roy’s Sunday Letter, July 10, 2022

* The 1st SL through Aweber went well. Most were able to Open and read, but not all. There seems to be a difference in look and feel with laptops, ipads, and phones. WordPress font size and color can be improved. To Register or ensure you are registered, go to “royswritings.com“….site opens on my book….scroll…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter, July 3, 2022

* One part of my 2nd career as Writer is to enjoy learning and stretching together. The switch from traditional Gmail to Aweber email look and feel is one of many examples. Tim of SmartWebNow.com is our guide. Now published, I am asked “What have you learned?” OR “From what you have learned, can you…

Read More...

Finding My Digital Way – Where Is My GPS?

Finding my way through the many, ever-changing digital platforms can be a challenge for anyone, at any age. This is especially true for elders, especially this elder. Just when I find doorway or a way around a suddenly appearing wall, there is the need for a code or undefined symbol to post a photo or…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter, June 26, 2022

* James Patterson  and Dolly Parton have partnered on a book.  Run, Rose, Run. Dolly is an amazing achiever, songwriter, philanthropist…a hero to us all….& more.      ** For my adult life I watched Mark Shields. PBS News Hour, CNN.  HIs recent death at 85, brought forth comments Mark would appreciate:. Generosity of spirit….Irrepressible humor….Could spot…

Read More...

Resilience

In 2005, the storm surge of Katrina over-whelmed planned protections and levies, leaving New Orleans a city underwater with residents stranded on roofs, homes, jobs… a city destroyed. The New Orleans Jazz Festival is an annual international event of music, food, and culture. In 2006, the artists, sponsors, and festival planners decided to at least…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter, June 19, 2022

     ** Do you love the printed page (or did before ebooks)?? “Hello, Bookstore” is an intimate documentary of the now aging owner of his beloved bookstore, and his supporters in Lenox, Mass.  Matt Tannenbaum is the town’s bookseller, through the Pandemic, the economy slowing, and growth of Amazon and digital/audio books.YouTube has trailers and…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter, June 12, 2022

* First encouraging and celebrative news: Diebeda Francis Kere  has been awarded the Pritzker Prize as Architect of the Year for 2022 Born in an African village  with no school, Kere’s determined way carried him through education to become an Architect His education and public place design are astounding, pleasing, functional, and magical. Find him…

Read More...

Why Do I Write?

As a writer of elder age, I am asked why I write stories. My desire is to Engage, I am Interested in how we/I meet and work through life’s challenges. I write from life events I have witnessed or from my “what if” idea bag. What if a shopping center Santa Claus, due to alcohol, was not allowed to…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter, June 5, 2022

* Beth has taught art to African American elders at Como Community Center for 9 months, volunteering each Wednesday. On Saturday, the Center hosted an all Art Day. Various artists, vendors, and classes were held. The elders had their own Art Show displaying their own art. Each elder was proud of their progress, working in…

Read More...

Roy The Elder

Perhaps we all have that one morning or afternoon that has remained with us over decades,  still guiding us even today. Mine was the spring of 1970, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Dr. Sam Samford had finished his class notes when he looked down, was silent. Quietly, in the way of older Southern men, said,…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 9, 2025

The CEO of Starbucks said he wants Starbucks to be everyone’s “third place,” after home and work. Come with friends, visit, perhaps purchase food and drink, but come and be a part of our place. In a similar way, I would like the Sunday Letter to be an ongoing source of encouragement, support, always with…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 2, 2025

FINDING MY PURPOSE IN WRITING THE SUNDAY LETTER 2025 The past weeks have been chaotic, upsetting, and stressful for me, for many of us, perhaps for you too. I stared into a blank screen wondering what I could write about, what would I write about, as well as should I even write or not. After…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 23, 2025

NOTES FROM FULL POCKETS I may not be alone in making notes on daily life or maybe even a random thought. In this Sunday Letter I am emptying my pockets of crumbled papers and notes as each might become lost. One topic in our Tuesday Meditation group was Balance, in ways consistent with in and…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 16, 2025

A Writing On Pets I am writing a Sunday Letter about the benefit of having a pet, fully understanding not every one’s life is matched to care for a pet or may have a medical situation that prohibits a pet. This Sunday Letter will hopefully be welcomed and enjoyed by readers blessed by our pets,…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 9, 2025

A LENTEN SEASON WRITING I attend a writer’s table hosted by Broadway Baptist. We writers were invited to draft a short piece for the individual Sundays of Lent 2025. As a Southern Baptist youth, I am not familiar with, nor practiced the historic rituals of the Lenten Season. For this Sunday Letter readers who also…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 2, 2025

BEING A SENIOR IN 2025 AMERICA I recently completed a story of seniors having lunch at separate tables at Mary’s Grill. Tables were needed to serve waiting families, friends, and office workers. The seniors order lunch Specials and leave small, if any tips. Since Mary’s is a friendly place, for several seniors it is not…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 26, 2025

Friends and friendship join Joy, Kindness, and Peaceful Living on life’s wheel. As I talk with and meet people or on a social platform, I listen to the challenges of making new friends, going deeper with a current friendship, or losing friends through aging, health, or relocation. There is a touch of spirits unique to…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 19, 2025

I began, we began, seeing video of the Pacific Palisades hillside fire and the push of Santa Ana winds on January 7. Today, 12,000 homes have burned with thousands displaced and at-risk for dreams, hopes, and memories to be lost somewhere in the sudden need to flee. Some with a “Go Bag,” others only a…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 12, 2025

INSIGHT ON WRITING PRAYERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY Prayers and Other Notes: There are two mentors I consider personal heroes. The first, my grandfather, who left his east Texas tractor each Friday afternoon then entering a small hut on the side of the barn. He would use two stiff fingers from repairing too many…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 5, 2025

Thoughts on Mentors and Mentoring Most of us, whatever age, gender, and background, have become who we are through family, education, and life experiences. In addition, many of us have received guidance and support from one or more mentors. And now, perhaps from our own experiences and elderhood, we can provide the “pay it forward”…

Read More...