Monthly Archives: May 2015

Seeking Understanding

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Julie Hooker

Years ago, before sitting down to a colorful dinner of paella, the same dish Lois Kozlow served at my wedding, Sue’s daughter sang a song she wrote. Woke up this morning with a tear in my eye, So many memories … Continue reading →

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1st World Problems #2

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Julie Hooker

I spent my day at the St. Regis in Deer Valley listening to TEDxWomen streamed from Monterey, California. Sitting next to Rebecca, my nineteen-year-old friend and a former student, I learned a lot. Emotions matter. I don’t want to be … Continue reading →

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Pomegranates and Psychosis

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Julie Hooker

Psychosis and Pomegranates This week, one of the men working on my house, noticed two prints from T. Doskova on the wall. I have three of pieces of Tanya Doskova’s hanging in my home. (Tanya Doskova) Steve admired the pomegranate … Continue reading →

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Happy Mother’s Day to Me

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Julie Hooker

My neighbor used to call me every Mother’s Day and say, “Happy Mother’s Day to the woman I know who most wants to be a mother.” My first year teaching in Orem, a town that neighbors Brigham Young University in … Continue reading →

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Trigger #2: Bernese Mountain Dogs

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Julie Hooker

Every minute.  Every day. Triggers. The triggers “that drop like trapdoors,” throw me out of my “safe, sane world.”  But, they do not always drop me into a dark desolate place. More often than not, they snowball. Like rolling snow for … Continue reading →

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My Jewish Mother — Happy Mother’s Day, Lois!

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Julie Hooker

My Jewish Mother, Happy Mother’s Day I met my Jewish mother in Mexico. She invited Dwight and me to stay with her in San Miguel Allende. Lois and Richard traveled for his work. He was an artist. Somehow, even after … Continue reading →

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Trigger #1

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Julie Hooker

A few weeks ago, my friend, Heidi, our school librarian, the one who keeps our us from crossing that thin red line into barbarism, invited me to listen to Neil Gaiman at the Eccles Center. She had two seats in … Continue reading →

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My Late Husband

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Julie Hooker

Today, while my students created a poster with a summary of Neil Gaiman’s book, The Graveyard, I walked from group to group. Somehow, five 14-year-old boys ended up in a group together. When I stopped to review their vocabulary, one … Continue reading →

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First World Problem

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Julie Hooker

First World Problem Text Messaging Before Neil Gaiman’s Interview FRIEND:          What are you wearing tonight? ME:                 I’m going to wear the pencil skirt you like and a white blouse. I’m having a fashion mishap. My wool cape is at my … Continue reading →

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