Barbara’s Riffs on Life

I’m 83 and I’m Dumping My Bucket List

September 28, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 10 Comments

Sometime between the pandemic and my husband’s death I began dumping out the contents of my travel bucket list. Read more.

Three Photos That Bring My Husband Back to Life. And One That Doesn’t

September 21, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 6 Comments

Now and then I come across a photo that brings my husband back to life, and for one sweet moment, Jon is there in all his ineffable Jon-ness. Read more.

Widowed: I’ve Been Writing a Memoir in Essays All This Time

September 14, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 6 Comments

For three-plus years, I’ve been writing blog posts about being widowed. Do I have the makings of a memoir in essays? Read more.

Let Me Tell You About My Daisies — And My Ankles

September 9, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall Leave a Comment

Let me tell you about my daisies. Fresh and perky last week, they had faded and shriveled when I wasn’t looking. Read more.

Is My Writing Too Nice?

August 31, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 4 Comments

I sometimes wonder when I sit down to write — am I too much of an optimist? Am I too hopeful? Too trusting? Is my writing too nice? Read more.

For the Kids: An Obstacle Course — Or a Fairy Circle?

August 24, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 2 Comments

I tugged and dragged and rolled the old logs onto the terrace and made them into an obstacle course. Or was it a fairy circle? Read more .