Writer Brian Doyle in One Long River of Song wrote that Europeans who first saw them called them “flying jewels.”  They had never seen them before and lo, hummingbirds are only known in the Americas.

With hope, a little anxiety and love in my heart, I boarded a plane for the first time in two years to officiate at my nephews wedding in Minnesota. After failing to get Uber to note our address in Southern California as anything other than “Bing Crosby at Greer Garson” (a road sign that is two homes away from our home), I decided to drive the 8 miles at 4:00 am and leave the car at the Palm Springs airport.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time on the Oregon Trail.  Driving it. Walking it. Reading diaries from it and putting characters on it. In 1852, the first year that the most families came across, there were all kinds of fascinating things that happened.

To begin in beauty once again, I present the cover of my September release, The Healing of Natalie Curtis. I love it! The story of Natalie Curtis is set mostly in the Southwest and this cover says that to me.

I chose to open Story Sparks this month with a beautiful sunrise photograph taken by a Canadian friend Amar Athwal. You can find more of his wonderful photographs at banffmoments.com. Dostoyevsky wrote that in a time of despair, “beauty is more important than bread.”

For years I’ve misquoted William Shakespeare’s words in Romeo and Juliet by saying “Waiting is such sweet sorrow” instead of using his word, “Parting” as being the source of the sadness. I say “wait”  often. It’s a command I give to Caesar while I untangle his leash or pick up his poo.