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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
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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."

The Homeless — What They Really Need From Us (A Little PB&J, a Lot of Love)

January 16, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

making-sandwiches-for-homeless

Their mission trip to Texas cancelled by the pandemic, the youth of a church in California turned to making PB&J sandwiches for the homeless.  Read more.

This Scary Week I’m Writing About Camellias. Here’s Why

January 9, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

this-scary-week

I didn’t want to write about that man. I wanted him out of my life and my psyche. Then he did what he did this scary week.  Read more.

Christmas — It Ain’t Over Till the Wise Men Show

January 2, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

three-wise-men

Christmas isn’t over till the Wise Men show up. So for folks who still aren’t ready for Christmas, no problem. They’ve got till January 6.  Read more.

I’m Getting Ready to Die. Just in Case. Sheltering at Home Week 40

December 19, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

getting-ready-to-die-    Christmas-gifts

The coronavirus is out there. So I’m getting ready to die — starting with making sure my holiday gifts for my husband are wrapped and ready.  Read more.

The Truth Behind That Happy Family Photo We Just Sent You. Sheltering at Home Week 39

December 12, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

happy-family-photo family-christmas-photo

We’re nothing like that happy family photo we send with our holiday card each year. Our photo rejects reveal we are a testy, scrappy lot.  Read more.

A Baby to Adopt — The Letter That Made It Happen Forty Years Ago

December 5, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

a-baby-to-adopt adoptive-family

I wanted a baby. My husband wanted a baby. After years of trying to get pregnant, it was time to look for a baby to adopt.  Read more.

Polarization in America: Here’s Something You Can Do About It

November 28, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

polarization-in-America people-who-think-like-you wrestling-with-god-in-bookstore

This book is one writer’s response to polarization in America. She asks you to give it to someone who thinks like you — and someone who doesn’t. Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Help Me Be a Fun Grandma. I Need Ideas for My Babysitting Week

help me be a fun grandma

I agreed to provide child care for a week this summer. Help me be a fun grandma. Tell me, how do I keep two kids, 8 and 5, entertained?  Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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  • 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!

tree-trimmer-in-tree

My Husband Is Gone. But the Tree Trimmers Showed Up as Promised.

zumba class in action. Photo by BF Newhall

A Case of the Human Condition: My (Awesome) Zumba Body

Armistead Maupin signs his book, "The Days of Ana Madrigal," at Book Passage, SF Ferry Building. Photo by BF Newhall

Armistead Maupin: The Man Who Wrote the Quintessential San Francisco Novel — On a Newspaper Deadline

ten year old boy in baseball uniform catches the ball. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Superbowl: My Guys Are Talking Sports — And All Is Right With the World

MORE DON'T MISS!

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