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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

My Ever-Changing Family

Our family shrinks and grows. People die. People get born. People get mad and won't talk to you for a while. Kids grow up and find partners of their own, and pretty soon there are brand-new in-laws. And a grandchild or two.

Widowed: Or, How to Wrestle a Christmas Tree Into Its Stand Without Calling the Neighbors for Help

December 11, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

watering-the-Christmas-tree

The kids are coming for Christmas. A tree is in order. But how’s an newly minted widow to wrestle a Christmas tree into its stand on her own?  Read more.

Widowed: As He Lay Dying

November 27, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

as he lay dying -- but he was healthy three months earlier to hangs-quilt

I wasn’t in the hospital when Jon died. I couldn’t hold his hand or say any words as he lay dying. Did he know his life was coming to an end?  Read more.

Halloween — A Day for the Dead

October 30, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Halloween-a-day-for-the-dead scary-mask

In the spirit of Día de Muertos, I’m making this Halloween a day for the dead: I’m publishing a story or two told about Jon at his interment.  Read more.

Widowed: Who Will Look After Me Now That Jon Is Gone?

October 23, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Farmers-market

Jon was the one I could count on for rides to car repair shops and colonoscopies. Who will look after me now?  Read more.

The Kids Are Coming for a Visit. No Time to Write

June 5, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

my kids are coming for a visit

My grown-up kids are coming for a visit this week. There will be just the three of us Peter, Christina and I.  Read more.

I Hated My Pandemic Hair. A Daughter to the Rescue. Sheltering at Home

May 15, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall


covid-haircut

My daughter had never cut anyone’s hair, ever. But my flyaway pandemic hair needed cutting. So I took a chance. The results were smashing. Read more.

Not Enough Rain. Not Enough Stories About My Husband

May 8, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

not enough stories about my husband. not enough rain. California-Grapevine-2014-drought

I wish I’d written more stories about my husband. But he was a good guy, and our marriage didn’t generate a lot of bloggable drama.   Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Write Another Book? I Dunno . . .

The Bay Area Book Festival was held June 4 & 5, 2016 in Berkeley, California. Rob Bell signed copies of his "How to Be Here." He talked about -- write another book? Photo by Barbara Newhall

Write another book? I don’t mind the writing. What’s giving me pause is the grueling, humiliating work of promoting the darned thing once I’ve written it. Author Rob Bell had some advice. Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

CATEGORIES

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

 
Need some levity? Push my Funny Button!

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!

Hand painted clay creche with Joseph, Mary, Jesus & Star of Bethlehem, Mexican folk art. Photo by BF Newhall

Christmas in Mexico — It’s All About the Baby Jesus

2024-calendar

Here Comes Another Year!

Man in his 30s lifts dumbells while semi reclined on bench. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Weight Lifting Can Kill You — Shall I Email the News to My Weight-Lifting Son?

sonoma-tile-and-pratt-larson-tile-shower

Beauty Makes Me Happy — Why?

MORE DON'T MISS!

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