Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Mittens from Sweaters

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Years ago when I was going through my late son's clothes, I came across a thick, wool Abercrombie and Fitch sweater that his sister loved to borrow. I was never a fan of scratchy wool, but she had loved it. It looked as if it had been washed and had shrunk. What do do with it now? I'd seen pictures of mittens made from sweaters, and figured it couldn't be that hard. Of course, this was … [Read more...]

Be Bold. Be Cranky

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When crankiness hits: I consider myself to be a generally upbeat person, but sometimes I feel like a cranky old lady. Today, for example. I went to Dicks Sporting Goods to buy a pair of Brooks, my favorite athletic shoes, with a 20% off coupon I'd clipped from The Free Press. Brooks jogging shoes fit my problem feet well, even though I speed walk more than I do jog. In the 70s, jogging … [Read more...]

The Pain of Writing

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There's a physical toll: Writer's Cramps used to mean cramping in your hand from holding a pen or pencil. Most writers don't use pens; they use computers, which results in neck, elbow, or shoulder pain from keyboarding. My issue is pain in the upper arm, with shoulder and neck soreness. It comes from using my mouse--that little gizmo writers rely heavily on when editing. When pain began to … [Read more...]

Packing Light

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How much is too much? As I was packing my large size suitcase for a five day flight to visit friends across the country, I noticed my husband had packed a duffel bag for himself. That's it. "Anything you need to pack that I can put in my suitcase?" I asked. "Nope," he said. I stared at his bag, puzzled. How can he pack so little and I have so much? I used to pack lighter. Now I need to … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Andrew Devendorf

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What: I wrote a personal essay on the grueling experience of having my brother go missing, and later learning that he died by suicide. When my brother went missing, I learned that we have no social script for handling these tragic situations. While many people provided my family with love, compassion, and support, there were also people who added to my family’s distress. My essay … [Read more...]