Writings by Diane

Isn't it amazing how a bad memory can stick to you like a wad of gum in your hair? You try to remove it, but in order to do that, you need to cut off some of your hair? At first, you’re apprehensive, but in the process, you end up with a nice hair style? At the beginning of my career, I was working at an apartment complex.  I must have upset my boss by interrupting him when he spoke to me.  I hadn't realized I was in a bad habit of talking over him. I was so anxious to prove I was on top of all the assignments, but in this process, wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise. One day, he held up an eyeglass case and said this signified when it was his time to talk. In front of the other staff, he actually held up the case while he spoke to me. I was embarrassed by his demeaning ways. I didn't put any credence in his opinion. I wrote him off as being a mean old man! For a while, I carried this memory like a wad of hardened gum in my hair. It was brittle and would have...

Let it be known when I arrive at the zoo, I turn into an adventurous kid. This latest trip to Zoo Boise was no exception. I am game to whatever was offered. Walk with the wallabies along an enclosed pathway—you betcha!  Go into a greenhouse and be surrounded by delicate butterflies—of course! My husband and son patiently go along with me as I explore in the contained wilderness. There’s a feeling of connection and somehow this zoo has honed it to letting us mere visitors feed certain animals. I got all excited that there was a feeding barn. There were machines that for a quarter filled my hand with pellets that I was able to feed the baby goats and sheep.  They happily licked up the pellets from my hand and their big, sparkling eyes begged for more.   I was only too happy to oblige. I was rushing to the pellet machines and feeding them bunches of quarters at a time, like I was trying to win a jackpot. As we left this exhibit, we walked past the sloth bear habit...