24 Comments
User's avatar
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

What a great time with you both! Oops...I misspoke...2013 was the Boston date that changed the vest wearing abilities.

Thank you so much!

We write because it's a tool for healing.

Expand full comment
Gail Boenning & Jay Armstrong's avatar

It was a great pleasure to share a conversation with you Julie!

Jay and I are grateful for authors who are willing to learn with us as we invite and welcome writers and readers to the OLOL community.

Thank you for the prompt!

Expand full comment
Gail Boenning & Jay Armstrong's avatar

We write because it is a first step in alchemizing thought into action.

(Gail)

Expand full comment
DW Andrews's avatar

I write selfishly because I want to read these stories that won't exist unless I write them.

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

Thank you for sharing DW. I hope you day is off to a great start.

Expand full comment
Gail Boenning & Jay Armstrong's avatar

Is that selfish? Or self-love? 🤔

I'm aware (this is Gail) that you have a quick and creative storyteller's mind. Perhaps one day you'll be sharing them and will join us as a guest on OLOL?

Expand full comment
Margaret O'Brien's avatar

Great interview Julie! I relate so much to what you say about the process of writing.

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

Thank you so much Margaret for listening in. I really appreciate it. I'm happy to know this resonated with you as well.

Expand full comment
Gary Spangler's avatar

I write to expand my connections with others. Ones I already know and others I will come to know. My existential support group?

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

I love this Gary! Thank you so much for contributing. :)

Expand full comment
Gary Spangler's avatar

It was my pleasure to watch all three of you interact today. Though coming from different backgrounds, you are writers one and all.

I just now thought of First Peoples that had leaders for different roles. Chief - strong leadership. Medicine Person - healing, comfort, a sort of Charon for crossing the River Styx, and best of all the keeper of Oral Tradition. Without written or carved characters to record their history, that Figure was the keeper and protector of the group’s ways.

Long ago I worked in State government with a co-worker named Sonia. On a Monday she came to work sounding like she had pneumonia. I quickly offered, “You need some boneset tea!” She looked dumbfounded, then asked, “How do you know about boneset?” I replied that it was the standard remedy for colds, sore throats, and other ailments as a child. And that we harvested some selectively every fall and dried it in our attic.

She shook her head after I finished. Then shared that her mother was the Medicine Woman for a local tribe of Native Americans. (Sonia herself was also part African American, and had been entrusted to learn her mother’s skills.) When cooked down it formed a thick concentrate. Used by mariners and folks in low country settings to treat Malaria.

Sorry Julie. I bounced off the writing topic like a golfball. I mistook boneset for folk lore. :-| Glad I could show up today. (-:

Expand full comment
Gail Boenning & Jay Armstrong's avatar

Stories are encouraged here at OLOL. Thank you for bring us your awareness and memories Gary!

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

I loved that you shared this here Gary. :) I've never heard of boneset tea before...love learning something new everyday!

Expand full comment
Gail Boenning & Jay Armstrong's avatar

I can relate!

I also write to connect Gary. 😊

Expand full comment
Karen DeBonis's avatar

We write because we have stories the world needs.

Expand full comment
Gail Boenning & Jay Armstrong's avatar

I thought of you when I came across this quote Karen:

The best books come from someplace inside. You don't write because you want to, but because you have to. ~Judy Blume

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

I love Judy Blume...she was my favorite childhood author. :) Thank you Gail for sharing.

Expand full comment
3musesmerge's avatar

My pleasure!

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

yes! Thank you so much Karen for sharing.

Expand full comment
Karen DeBonis's avatar

This was delightful listening to your banter, especially Jay's attempts to assuage his guilt over his stash of peanut M&Ms. 🤣 Jay- my vices are chocolate and wine, if that makes you feel any better. Julie--I loved hearing how your running and writing work together to give you an outlet for your ruminations. I can't wait to try your Superhero muffins! I have tons of food sensitivities and I can actually eat every ingredient in them. Question--are the sweet potatoes cooked or raw? Gail- great job hosting this episode.

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

Thank you so much Karen for listening in! GReat question...sweet potato is raw. So peel then grate these are so yummy!! I'm glad they will work for you too. :)

Expand full comment
Karen DeBonis's avatar

Thanks, Julie! I look forward to enjoying these muffins soon!

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

Oh great Karen! I hope you like them as much as I do. :)

Expand full comment
Gail Boenning & Jay Armstrong's avatar

Thank you Karen!

Expand full comment