The Secret Scripture: Book Review

 

Published 2 April 2008

I have not read very many books set in Ireland, so when I found a review of  The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry on Goodreads, I decided to reach back to a book published in 2008. It's notable that this book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. I was also interested in a protagonist, who was a centenarian, Roseanne (Rose) Clear McNulty, reviewing events from the first quarter of her life. 

The Correspondent: Book Review

 

Published 29 April 2025

Oh, I enjoyed this book. The novel features a woman in her seventies named Sybil Stone Van Antwerp. However, the genre is epistolary, meaning that we read a series of letters that Sybil and a handful of friends, family members, and at times strangers write to each other. Sybil is an avid reader, and some of her correspondents are famous authors, which makes for some fun cameos of sorts. (This is all fiction, however.)  

For me, the more engaging exchanges take place between Sybil and close friends and family members.  Having more than one person comment on past events gives us more than one point of view, and much of the novel's conflicts have to do with these clashes of perception.

Goodbye to Gary, My Mom's Husband

 

Gary M. Lloyd and Donna W. Lloyd
Wedding Reception November 2, 1989

Earlier this month, my mother's husband of thirty-six years was tested positive for influenza. He was already unsteady on his feet due to his normal pressure hydrocephalus. He ended up falling sometime during the first week of January 2026 and was diagnosed with a bi-lateral brain bleed on January 7, 2026.  A week later, he passed peacefully with family at his bedside. A week after that, the family celebrated his life with a viewing and funeral at Berg Mortuary in Provo, Utah prior to an internment in Lehi, Utah. Gary was 91 years old. 

I will remember him for being friendly, diplomatic, dependable, and devout.  He was a great partner to my mother for decades.  

I am providing a copy of his obituary here since it will be behind a firewall at some point: 

2026 WOTY: Listen

 

Photo by Catherine Singleton
via Creative Commons

Instead of making a New Year's Resolution, I adopt a Word of the Year.  If you have not heard of this concept, you can read this post by Jess at her blog Cultivate & Navigate. 

Basically, selecting a Word of the Year (WOTY) helps people to avoid failing in the ways the New Year's Resolutions often end up. Instead of focusing on a specific behavior, the WOTY (aka focus word) can take on different shapes and meanings over twelve months. It's an act of meditation that encourages changes in thoughts, words, and behavior.  What that looks like specifically can transform from day to day.  

I like that better. When I selected a New Year's Resolution, I often gave up four to six weeks into the year. Over the last nine years, I persist through the entire year thinking about my focus word. 

I usually pick something that will stretch me. I may not always incorporate the focus word into my character completely, but I usually learn a lot about myself and adopt some strategies for self-improvement along with self-awareness. 

Happy 14th Blogoversary

 

Image by Scott McLoud
via Creative Commons

Ah, the earth has made another trip around the sun, and this blog has accrued another anniversary, or blogoversary, if you will. 

This post will be number 510.  If my math is correct, this blog has posted on average three times each month (with some wild variation).  My goal is to post at least twice a month. 

Even though people have turned more towards social media posts that have images and posts that are shorter (I'm looking at you, Instagram), this blog still receives about 300 hits a day on days that I do not promote any content. 

Views for this blog
between Jan 2012 to Jan 2026

According to Blogger's statistics, these are the twelve posts that garnished the most views during 2025. Of course, there are a lot of evergreen posts on the posts most viewed during 2025 from all available posts. However, one post (More Community Building) did break through into this year's most viewed posts. 

Without further ado, here are the Top 12 Most Viewed Posts during 2025: 

1. Movies about Love and Sex for People 50 Plus. ( Posted 13 April 2013).  Link

2. More Community Building (Posted 31 March 2025). Link