Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

This is 70: Grateful, Grounded and Ready for the Next Chapter

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Embracing life Today is my birthday. I never expected to be so happy at 70. Dare I say happy? What is happiness anyway? Okay, I'll say I never expected to still feel good, to feel on top of my game, to be exploring opportunities and making new connections. To feel as if I have value and I am valued. I know someone my age who calls herself a dinosaur. "Oh, woe is me, I'm so behind the times," … [Read more...]

Why Linda Lives Forever in Baby Name History

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How often do you think of Linda? Not as often as I do, I'll bet. It's a relic as far as feminine baby names go. A few years ago, I learned of a club for Lindas. I saw a photograph of a recent club gathering, a gaggle of Lindas in matching shirts posed at a Rainforest Cafe, on their website. I thought "Good grief, they're all old." Oof. I'd fit right in. I didn't like my name when … [Read more...]

Family Recipe: a Finnish pancake with three ingredients

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But what's it called? My Finnish grandmother made an oven pancake that I loved, and now my grandkids enjoy it whenever they visit. My mom often made it for dinner, too, because who doesn't love breakfast for dinner? For years, I knew how to say it, but didn't know how to spell it. In my family, we called it KRUP-sue-AH, and I thought it was spelled krupse. I recently shared a picture on … [Read more...]

Words by the Waves: a Beach Access Trail StoryWalk®

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Gordy and the Ghost Crab on StoryWalk® My annual trip to Ocracoke Island became extra special this fall when I discovered that my picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab, had been chosen to be displayed at Robbie's Way. I learned this from Marci Mason, who lives in the Pirates Quay condo below the unit we rented. Earlier, she had stopped in the library, noticed my book on the counter with a … [Read more...]

Building Trust with a Narrator: How Long Does It Take to Connect with the Voice?

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Who is this person telling the story? And do I trust them? Any time I begin reading a new book there's a period of adjustment when I struggle to feel comfortable with the narrator's voice, and to trust that I'm in good hands. It's almost like making a new friend. You kind of wonder if and when you want to see them again. Occasionally I find myself caught in an internal fight not to put … [Read more...]