In fall 1972, when I was an introverted, nerdy 11-year-old, on the chubby side and already in 7th grade at Booker T. Washington Jr. High in Conroe, Texas, I signed up for beginner band. I really didn’t know what instrument to play, but after our director, Ray Sanders, let all of us newbies try our … More Me, my clarinet and the thrill of being in band: It all started 52 years ago when I was just 11, but it seems like yesterday

Many of you know that I have an adoptive family and a biological family. They’re both awesome and I’m forever grateful to have them in my life. Ten months after my brother Robert “Robin” Workman – one of the three older full siblings I found in 2005 – passed away in Florida in January 2009 … More Cherishing a weekend trip to Oklahoma to visit my late brother’s teenage namesake and his wonderful family

For once, I’m delivering a short — and definitely sweet — post. Not long after little Archie joined our family in October, Kay came up with a new word for him combining sweet and precious — he’s swecious! Looking at these pics I took this week, I think that fits perfectly. He’ll be 5 months … More Sharing the latest photos of our adorable little Archie is definitely worth a brief blog post, don’t you think?

Happy 2025, everyone! I’m going to count this as good luck for the new year: An adorable green lacewing perched on my finger and didn’t seem to want to leave me. I was in our kitchen on New Year’s Day and saw something tiny flitting around the stove/oven. I reached out quickly with my right … More A visitor flits by to bring good luck on New Year’s Day

If it’s December, I’m listening to Betty. And tearing up. And marveling. Her voice could bring sweet, melodic beauty to any song. Betty Louise Campbell Workman Cazad died 32 years ago, five days before Christmas on Dec. 20, 1992. Lung cancer. She was 71. She had quit smoking years earlier, but cancer still came and … More My holiday soundtrack, featuring the gifts of my birth mother Betty – and the voice of the father I also never met

I love you, Sister Terry!! The sister I never had until I was 44 years old turned 70 today, Dec. 19, 2024. She is beautiful, loving, passionate, a perfectionist like me, a devoted mother, and a grandmother-to-be. I found her and our 2 brothers, Crys and Robin — my three beloved full siblings — in … More As I continue to count my birth family blessings, wishing a happy 70th to the wonderful sister I was gifted at age 44

Say howdy to Archie! And then say awww, he’s adorable! I took last Friday off from work so Kay and I could drive to Hugo in southeast Oklahoma to meet some wonderful folks who breed Havanese puppies in Vinita in northeast Oklahoma. Kay found them online, and although we’ve never adopted a dog from a … More We’ve got Archie, and our new family member couldn’t be cuter. Now all we need are Jughead, Betty and Veronica!