As a woman over 50, who has attempted to get a job first as a teacher, and then as a writer I know age matters…but we’re not suppose to say anything even as our family suffers or else we’re “whining”. Stuff it! We’re women and need to let the world know that we can’t be men, but CAN compete if we’re judged for what we do, not our gender’s perceived faults!

Great article! I’m from the Episcopal Church and love the hugging and closeness! I spent 30 years in my husband’s “keep your distance! I have 18 inches of protection zone…um, church (Calvinist denomination too!)!” . It was hard for the affectionate part of me and I’ve returned.

My dad was Catholic, my mom was nothing really. I was baptized Catholic but mom couldn’t handle that so we changed to the Episcopal Church. That church became the home I not only felt more comfortable in, but found my strength in during my youth. I met my husband in college and we married under the cloud that was his father and his obsession with his church. I was told that, “We don’t have Episcopalians in our family!” I joined their church because I loved my husband, not a wise idea from my perspective today! I have returned to the church of my youth after many unhappy years, and my husband has found his place to a non-denominational church. It’s funny but we discuss our faith more now and though we don’t sit in the same church each Sunday we’ve found our faith home, and it has become more real in our lives than it has ever was before!

It’s frightening to me to see my family all over in your answers to this article. I to tried what seemed like years to but back together the Humpty Dumpty shells that were the family members I grew up with. From abuse and my mother’s using us against each other to keep control separated us far better than simple political disagreements could…I have come to hate Mother’s Day for the anger it can still dredge up in me. However, I believe that the anger that divides can come to a healing - to some degree at least. After 38 years one of my siblings and I have begun that new beginning. It isn’t easy and it isn’t something that came with a snap of my fingers. It’s a long and arduous business.

Oh, I am trying! I have a very small column with a small paper in our town, and I’m working on a young people’s story about my grandmother and growing up in a small traveling circus…but I just cannot seem to get beyond that no matter how much I send out my work. I work on my writing daily. I keep trying though!! :-)

Get a chance to write professionally - you know, for money!

Though we all need to change when it comes to caring for the earth, we also need to be much more accepting because telling someone to change doesn’t usually go over very well, and really causes little to actually change! Here’s to those who have found a way to change, and celebrate the gift that is our earth!

Nice conversation! Thanks for letting me listen in on the memories. I have always enjoyed your work Ms. Huston. I really liked your recent work on “Medium.” We need to see you more on both the big screen, and the little one.