http://frandorf.com Fran Dorf's "Write to Heal," Coping with Loss, Novels, and Blog on Life, Grief, Culture, Art, and More Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:39:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A few days ago I went to see a performance by "channeler" Roland Comtois, when he appeared locally before a group of about forty parents who've lost children.  I'll admit up front that I'm very interested in this sort of thing, but highly skeptical.  My novels, including the two I ... http://frandorf.com/?p=148 This moving story shared by a very old friend reminds me of an interaction I had with a teenager a few days ago.  The teen told me she'd rather die than be blind. She said it the way she said everything, with certainty. I couldn't let it stand, so I ... http://frandorf.com/?p=147 This story, from Mary, moved me deeply.   Everyone has losses.  A loss doesn't have to be a death. There are many different kinds of losses.  Loss of health, or part of health, or opportunity, or innocence, or even loss of heart. All of these are losses and if we're ... http://frandorf.com/?p=146 Okay, so it's been months since I last posted, and I feel like a neglectful blog-mother, but a lot has happened that has kept me busy. Mainly, most importantly, I've become a grandmother! The daughter of my daughter was born on Friday evening March 5th at 9:06 PM. ... http://frandorf.com/?p=144 TO MY LOCAL FRIENDS, PLEASE JOIN ME: WRITING FOR WELLNESS A Six Week Workshop for Healing and Self-Expression Tuesday's 7:30-9 PM December 8, 15, 22 and January 5, 12, 19 Jewish Community Center 1450 Newfield Avenue Stamford, Connecticut Write about: grief, loss, relationships, trauma, illness, spirit, life. Exercises, prompts, and focused writing tailored to participant needs and interests. Based ... http://frandorf.com/?p=142 This morning, on NPR's The Takeaway, I listened to a discussion about the riveting balloon boy hoax, specifically on whether bloggers too are exploiting their children by writing about them.  Mom 101, a guest on the show who uses her own children as fodder for her blog, made the following ... http://frandorf.com/?p=138 My trusty Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (which by the way is longer than everything except the Longer Oxford English Dictionary) defines "fabulist" as "someone who invents dishonest stories." #2 Fabulist Fun Fact (via the NY Times): Michael Bachman, Republican of Minnesota, and those who believe the pearls that ... http://frandorf.com/?p=137 It's occurred to me while reading Richard Dawkins brilliant polemic, "The God Delusion," that at least once a day, often more, I see, hear, or read something that makes me wonder what universe some people live in, so I'm creating a new category,"Fabulist Fun Facts." Here's #1: SOME PEOPLE ... http://frandorf.com/?p=136 I just did an interview about my write to heal workshops for the terrific publication, Bottom Line/Women's Health, so I thought I'd put a few exercises here, in case anyone reading the article is looking for more. Studies by Dr. James Pennebaker at the University of Texas and many others ... http://frandorf.com/?p=131 I'm posting the video below just because it's lovely.  And because it reminds me to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature, even in the pack of mutant parakeets that are always screeching outside my house.  How did the mutants get there, you ask?  Well, apparently a truck transporting parakeets crashed ... http://frandorf.com/?p=126