Stories & Blogs

Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 8, 2024

** In Paris, Norte Dame has been fully restored from a destructive fire five years ago. Artists and craft persons used historic and new materials throughout the restoration. The language changed from artist/craft persons to Companions, expressing the ownership felt by all committed to returning Norte Dame to France and the world with awe and…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 1, 2024

The arrival of Thanksgiving and the coming Christmas season brings the mix of memories, some warm and life-giving, others more difficult. A seasonal truth, for me, would be that both seasons are best experienced and enjoyed in the company of family and friends. Receptions, open houses and dinners are opportunities to tell and listen to…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 24, 2024

For this Sunday Letter, I relied on Beth’s notebook of quotes and wisdom sayings. I wanted to shine the light on the Goodness within people and Thankfulness for their lives and teachings given to individuals and families. Sometimes their words guide us to be and serve others. Perhaps one or even three quotes and sayings…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 17, 2024

** Several writer friends encouraged me to “play with AI.” I keyed 2 lines of a high school senior invited to travel to China for a 3-month study. His strict father was defiant in his response “no, never!” Sent those lines to an AI chat. Within seconds I received a well written and clear one…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 10, 2024

** The church and leaders of faith have been an influencing part of my life from college, vocation and now in my elderhood. The church and faith centers have addressed gaps in food scarcity, racial and gender equality, the pursuit of peace among nations/cultures, and now strong divisions in our society. In my small way…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 3, 2024

** Research and tracking of an individual’s steady listening and viewing political and economic news can have a physical and emotional impact. This can, perhaps, dim someone’s sense of hope, wellness and health, no longer seeing the goodness of others or a bright future. Steady listening and viewing of hopeful, encouraging news and interviews can…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 27, 2024

** The annual State Fair of Texas is now over and with no gun shootings and death as compared to last year. The Fair banned all guns from Fair entry. The TX AG, of course, filed suit on behalf of gun advocates to allow gun entry. The AG lost his appeal. Fair goers, venders, and…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 20, 2024

** Positive news for Mother Earth. California will ban use of harmful plastic bags in 2026. Here is hoping the seals, sea turtles, birds of the air can avoid these deadly entanglements. Santa Fe banned plastic bags 10 yrs. ago. For all of us, no matter the state, bring your bags when shopping now, the…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 13, 2024

** As Hurricane Milton pushed to the Florida coast I was amazed. I watched the Tampa Zoo, Clearwater Aquarium, and others protect the birds, reptiles, the small and large animals in their care. Penguins and smaller species were crated and taken to higher, safe places. Elephants and larger animals stayed in their storm protected “homes”…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 6, 2024

** Great appreciation for the personal comments about “who makes up your Village for support, communications, and encouragement.” People shared that their Village members knew of the importance of staying in contact and how to best do that. So, one outcome of the Sunday Letter is the awareness that strengthening our person-to-person networks makes us…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 18, 2023

** Why I listen to jazz: A jazz group will begin together; then, players will drop back, others step up. Jazz presents the whole as well as the individual, all flowing together. To me, this is why I miss Tuesdays at 9 staff meetings. Seven at the table, the individual reporting, ending with the whole…

Read More...

Roys Sunday Letter fot June 11,2023

** We now have two hummingbirds coming to our feeder. Three or four would be a normal summer count. Global warming, decline of natural habitat? ** Good writing from a Fiction book: “She (he) was too young and had no stories or depth of life to reply upon.” An additional comment from recent presentation on…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 4, 2023

** Saturday, I joined others around Texas and across the US by wearing Orange, as our way of standing against gun violence and harm to innocents. There were speakers, panels, storytelling, and education, and, of course, Tshirts. Across town there was the monthly Gun Show with over-flow lines and parking. ** Interview with researcher/author of…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 28, 2023

** Thursday marked 365 days since the gun deaths of 19 students & 2 faculty in Uvalde, south Texas. My Texas Legislature turned away from the pain, the challenge, of leadership, of courage, to take common ground steps to make schools safe. Dallas ISD has distributed “Stay Safe,” a Winnie-The-Pooh book teaching 5-year-olds to “run,…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 21, 2023

** A Santa Fe writer friend linked me to “836 Valencia.” This San Francisco nonprofit began the unique mission of teaching children and teens how to write their story. This program strives to improve reading and comprehension as an integral part of learning. The empowerment of writing is now in multiple sites in San Franciso…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 14, 2023

** Wendy’s is testing an “AI Chatbots” for drive-thru. The chatbot will be able take your order and answer questions. Wendy’s says Covid, economic changes, and staff shortages are the reasons. Wendy’s drive thru now provides 80% of all their food orders. Gear up people, the times are indeed changing. ** I use Mailer Lite…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 7, 2023

** Beth and I now have our 6th Covid vaccination. Our pharmacist hopes next year the Covid and flu shot will be combined, making protection easier for us and pharmacist as well. ** St. Andrews Episcopal in Amarillo (our home church) was vandalized Wednesday night. Broken people breaking sacred peace and damaging the interior. The…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 23, 2023

** We all know the value and contribution of “Assistance Dogs” that they provide to individuals with physical and emotional needs, disaster search/rescue, victims of crime and really anything they can do for their humans. Something new to me…one of the long-term care facilities here, in Fort Worth has an “Assistance Bunny.” Hallway to hallway,…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 16, 2023

** Anne Lamott writes in Traveling Mercies, “I was raised by parents to believe that you had a moral obligation to try to save the world.” The Sunday Question: What message, if any, did your parent/s give to you? If not parent/s, who taught you to believe, and what was it you were to believe,…

Read More...

Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 12, 2023

** Anyone who lives in an urban area can be approached by a panhandler at an intersection. Arlington, TX has taken a unique approach to signage at these same intersections. “It’s OK to say no to panhandlers.” ** Imagine connecting with a friend not seen or known about since 1965. (And yes, I realize there…

Read More...