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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."

Widowed: Our Love Is Immortal (Seriously!)

March 5, 2022 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

wedding-vows

Jon may be gone, but our love is immortal. Hear me out. I promise I’m not going to get all cheesy and sentimental on you.  Read more.

Widowed: It’s Been a Year and He’s Still Gone

February 26, 2022 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

widowed It's been a year and he's still gone gravestone-jon-newhall

Yes, I am widowed — it’s been a year and he’s still gone. But I keep thinking he’ll be back any minute.  Read more.

Dying. It’s What We Do These Days

February 19, 2022 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

dying it's what we do these days Dave-McQueen-Zodiac jon newhall

I see that it’s not going to let up, this dying thing. I’m 80 years old now. I’m getting older and so are all my friends.  Read more.

Grievance and Outrage — Good in Small Doses

February 12, 2022 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

mouth-of- grievance and outrage

Grievance and outrage have soured American discourse, public and private, for the past five years. And, yes, I find that outrageous. Read more.

Widowed: I Called Tech Support and Got Ageism

February 5, 2022 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra i called tech support and got ageism

I called tech support and got ageism. ‘Why don’t you get someone younger to help you?’ said the otherwise very nice techie. Read more.

Is There an Upside to Widowhood? I’m Looking at the Possibilities

January 22, 2022 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Melissa-Orme-painting

Now that Jon is gone, I am keeping an eye out for reasons to like going it alone. I’m wondering, are there any upsides to widowhood?  Read more.

Widowed: Did He Die in Anguish?

January 15, 2022 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

did he die in anguish at alta-bates-summit-medical-center

No, Jon did not suffer. He did not die in anguish. It was over quickly, she said. Before he knew what was happening.  Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

My Big Brother Loves Me — The Cataract Chronicles Continued

In 1962, when Barbara Falconer Newhall returned from summer in Europe with souvenirs for family. Barbara Newhall photo

When my big brother saw me without glasses for the first time in a half century, his reaction took me by surprise. Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

CATEGORIES

  • A Case of the Human Condition
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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!

Small children with grandmother on Lake Michigan beach. Photo by BF Newhall.

A Manners-Challenged Kid Who Became the Apple of His Grandma’s Eye

6-year-old boy dressed as cowboy. photo by barbara newhall

A Case of the Human Condition: When a Six-Year-Old Flies Solo

The Writing Room: If It’s Religious, Can It Be Art?

have-him-at-hello-sticker-greenwald

I Was Young and Single for Way Too Long — Why?

MORE DON'T MISS!

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