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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

  • A CASE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
  • MY EVER-CHANGING FAMILY
  • WRITING & READING
  • MY ROCKY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
  • WIDOWED
  • FUNNY BUTTON

A Case of the Human Condition

I’m Barbara Falconer Newhall and I’ve got an incurable Case of the Human Condition. And since you do too, I’m counting on you to laugh and cry along with me as I riff on life as we know it . . . Below you'll read about my creaky, old fifties house, my forays into home gardening, my shopping stories, my spectacularly low-fashion wardrobe -- and more.

I’m 83 and I’m Dumping My Bucket List

September 28, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

dumping out my bucket list the-breakers-newport

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

Is My Writing Too Nice?

August 31, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

NASA-satellite-michigan

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.

Tending a Friendship — I’m on Her Calendar and She’s on Mine

August 10, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

tending a friendship on the trail. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Tending a long and deep friendship — we’ve done it by setting a hiking date once a month, without fail, so that I’m on her calendar and she’s on mine.  Read more.

Getting Older: I’m Not ‘Keeping Busy’

July 20, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

older: I'm not 'keeping busy'

I’m getting older and older. I’m not ‘keeping busy.’ I’m busy, which is not the same thing.  Read more.

Sheltering at Home Revisited: The Virus Arrives

March 16, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

covid-19-warning

Sheltering at home revisited: The virus arrives, the shutdowns go into effect, and we find out how much our “mere” acquaintances mean to us.  Read more.

Widowed: We’re Older and Kinder Now

February 10, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

we're older and kinder now kindness-carey-mulligan-as-felicia-montealegre

I’m older and kinder now, but not because I’m a virtuous goody-good. It’s my irresponsible id, my reptilian brain, that wants to be kind.  Read more.

Here Comes Another Year!

December 30, 2023 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Here comes another year. Some of us have accumulated a lot of them. My glamorous Aunt Grace had racked up 98 years by the time she left the planet.  Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Jesus Was a Loser — Does That Make Donald Trump a Winner?

Barbara Falconer Newhall with Scott Dikkers, editor of "Trump's America: The Complete Loser's Guide" at Book Expo America 2016. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Jesus was a loser who couldn’t keep his hair out of his eyes. That’s satirist Scott Dikkers channeling Donald Trump in his new — very funny — book “Trump’s America: The Loser’s Guide.” Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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  • A Case of the Human Condition
  • My Ever-Changing Family
  • On Writing & Reading
  • My Rocky Spiritual Journey

 
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TO MY READERS

Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.

My Oakland Tribune columns, btw, are reprinted by permission of the Trib. With the exception of review copies of books, I do not accept ads or freebies of any kind. Click on the "Contact" button if you have questions. Enjoy!

 

DON’T MISS!

High School Revisited: The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same — Only Different

recycle-can

Widowed: Are Tears Recyclable?

moderna-vaccine-patient

I’ve Got Covid Arm. Good News? Sheltering at Home Week 48

Three-year-old girl asleep with her blankie in her car seat. Photo by BF Newhall

A Cry in the Night — ‘Mommy, I’m Scared’

MORE DON'T MISS!

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