Author Archives: sharonbraverman

Lessons in Learning

When I was teaching, May was one of my favorite times of year. It’s when there was a short breather before sprinting to the finish line and wrapping up the year with a big bright bow. It was right after spring break when we were assessing our students, taking pleasure in their progress. It wasContinue reading “Lessons in Learning”

It’s Good For You

Scrolling through a list of programs and movies streaming on Amazon Prime recently, we were looking for something lighthearted and humorous to view. That’s when a Canadian version of a show called “Last One Laughing” appeared. Have you heard of it? First off, the name alone made me smile. I mean it’s initials are LOL!Continue reading “It’s Good For You”

A Breath of Fresh Air

I have nine magazine subscriptions.  When my hard copies arrive, I put on the kettle, gather them up, and plunk myself down in my retro teal twill swivel chair and get ready for a Peruse Fest!  After I flip through the pages, I make a note of articles I want to read in further detailContinue reading “A Breath of Fresh Air”

Playing with Others

It was a case of you don’t know, what you don’t know, until you know. I was aware maybe the fourth time we gathered around the glass table in their Tustin backyard under the pergola, sitting in aluminum chairs tucked in close.  All materials lay before us just waiting for the challenge to begin.  TheContinue reading “Playing with Others”

The Soundtrack of My Life

From my journal: May 21, 1988 Redondo Beach, California “Heard “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on K Earth 101 this morning…I couldn’t help but smile…” Songs are powerful.  They can transport us to a time and place when we first heard a particular song, or they can bring up memories of an event, fillingContinue reading “The Soundtrack of My Life”

There’s a Holiday for That

From my journal: December 21, 2001 Thousand Oaks, California “Never went to work in my pjs before!  Pajama Day at school was fun!  Wearing pjs made the day very relaxing.” There are many things I miss about teaching; the students, creating new ways to teach the same subject, and the sense of community.  I alsoContinue reading “There’s a Holiday for That”

Art in Crafts?

I’m seeing myself in a whole new light these days, as I recently learned that all the time my family and friends complimented me on being artsy, they really should have been referring to me as craftsy.  This notion has been bothering me, but I’m not sure why. I mean, is being an “Artist” moreContinue reading “Art in Crafts?”

Waiting Just Outside

Thinly slicing sweet Fuji apples to bake on parchment-lined trays recently, I happened to glance out our kitchen windows into our backyard. There before me I saw an amazing flurry of activity. A breeze was ruffling the pale triangular jagged-edged leaves on the limbs of our white birch trees. A pencil-sized bumpy gray lizard layContinue reading “Waiting Just Outside”

Here’s to Women!

From my journal: March 6, 1986 Redondo Beach, California “Wish I could see her more often and that we lived closer. She’s so down-to-earth, fun to be around, honest, humorous and expressive…Three thousand miles is a very long way away.” Although I wrote that about my mom more than 35 years ago, I still feelContinue reading “Here’s to Women!”