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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

DON'T MISS!

I've written hundreds and hundreds of posts over the years. To help you find your way to the best of the best, I've tagged my favorites "Don't Miss!" Scroll down here to find them.

Another way to locate Riffs on Life that you might enjoy is to click above on your favorite category – "My Ever-Changing Family," perhaps, or "Funny Button." You can also use the search box located way up top to hunt for stories by topic. There's fun reading at "garden," "aging," "kids" and, of course, "Jon."

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

September 21, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

photos that bring my husband back to life huband-now-deceased--waiting-in-airport

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

memoir in essays widowed

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.

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.

Widowed: Jon’s Memorial Tree Is Thriving — Both of Them

August 17, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

memorial tree madrone-sapling-with-secure-dee-cage

The memorial tree planted in my husband’s honor is thriving — both of them. Madrones are fussy, so we planted two to be on the safe side.  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.

A Brutal Forced March Across Germany — A ‘Wrestling with God’ Story

July 27, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

brutal forced march across Germany robert-tharratt-barbara-falconer-newhall

Decades after he endured a brutal forced march across Germany, World War II POW Robert Tharratt told his story for my book, “Wrestling with God.”  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.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

For China’s Young Fashionistas the Cultural Revolution Is So Over

Two teenaged Chinese girls getting their picture taken in Beijing. One has dyed her hair orange.

Until very recently, when I thought of China, I didn’t think of fun. I thought of the Cultural Revolution of the ’60s and ’70s, when traditional Chinese men were forced to cut off their queues, and intellectuals were banished to the countryside to till the soil and be reeducated into the proletariat.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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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!

The papal keys in bas relief over the tomb of John Paul II, Vatican. Photo by Barbara Newhall

I Love Pope Francis — Or Do I?

arranging-furniture-with-a-view

Our Living Room Makeover: We Made Do With Our Old Stuff. Sheltering at Home Week 49

Stalk of overgrown dracena marginata cut back -- on an angle -- so that the stalk can grow new leaves. Photo by Barbara Newhall

The Dracena Is Dead. Long Live the Dracena

Garden Artisan Jillian Steinberger prunes the camellias in Barbara Falconer Newhall's yard. Photo by Barbara Newhall

In the Garden With the Grammar Geek: Is It Ever OK to Use the Passive Voice?

MORE DON'T MISS!

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