It’s happening. Our funky side yard with its treacherous stairs and shabby retaining walls is getting a new look. Read more.
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."
Do We Live in a Pointless Universe? I Need to Know
The more comprehensible the universe seems, the more it seems a pointless universe, said Nobel laureate physicist, Steven Weinberg. Read more.
When a Widow Laughs. Or, a Backyard Work in Progress
Standing in the mess that is our backyard, talking and laughing with the landscaping crew, I wonder: Is it OK when a widow laughs? Read more.
Widowed: Her Stolen Car Came Back, but My Husband Didn’t . . . And All Shall Be Well?
The same death that took Jesus took my husband. Can we say then that all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well? Read more.
There’s a Dandelion Growing on My Grave
We picked out a gravesite for Jon last month. And one for me. Jon’s grave was next to his sister’s. My grave had a dandelion growing on it. Read more.
Widowed: 2020 Was a Very Good Year — For Jon and Me
2020 was a very good year for my husband and me. We had time for each other, and it seemed there was plenty more time ahead. Read more.
Widowed, I’m Staying Put. And So Are My Bricks
I’m widowed, but I’m staying put for now. Also staying put are the charming old bricks in our backyard staircase. Read more.






