Recent Posts
Extraordinary Exhibits in Paris, Part Two
Bonjour mes amis, Today in Alabama is absolutely lovely with a touch of fall in the early morning air as well as that distinctive “ciel bleu” blue sky that only fall of the year creates. This is Part Two of my series on the best exhibits we’ve attended in Paris. This one was special not […]
Exhibits Extraordinaire in Paris
Bonjour mes amis, Over the many years in Paris, we have been so fortunate to see some amazing exhibits. I’d like to share some of them over the next few posts with you again. The best part is how moderately priced they are, usually under 25 euros per person. The arts are supported in large […]
The River Seine in Paris
Bonjour mes amis, I’m sure most of you watched the wonderful opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Magnifique! I watched it LIVE and then again Friday evening with Bernie. However, for some of the locals, it has not been a great experience. Our beloved neighbor shared the frustrations of scrambled metros, stores that are closed, […]
Le Tour de France
Bonjour, I have been remiss in capturing summer memories on my blog. The culprits are travel, a busy schedule and just plain laziness. As we approach the conclusion of this year’s Tour de France, I thought it would be fun to cycle back through some of our photos. This year’s finish will be historic, concluding […]
Books
Her first book entitled Leading Ladies published in 2003 offers practical leadership tips for women, encouraging them to embrace their femininity as a leadership asset.
In Catch Your Breath, Linda has written a raw, honest series of meditations for caregivers based on her experiences in caring for her own mother. These will evoke both laughter and tears as they offer insight and courage to those caught in the caregiving web.
In Bernie ‘s Paris…Travel Stories with Love, Linda describes with tender and often humorous clarity her eleven years visiting Paris with her best friend and lover, Bernard Verdier, a native Frenchman. From Southern belle to world traveler, she will delight you with her Parisian escapades, her love affair with “Bernie” and hopefully inspire you to fall in love with Paris as she has. Bernie’s photographs will ignite the urge to plan a Paris fling. The book is now available.
Now Available: Bernie’s Paris…Travel Stories with Love
This memoir captures an improbable journey between a love-starved, Southern belle and an over-eager, homesick Parisian. If you’ve ever been to Paris or have always dreamed of going, this is a must-read full of savvy tips, funny mistakes, compelling drama—all entangled in the tender love story of two people who had mostly given up on a late-in-life relationship. You will chuckle; you will sigh; you will remember; and maybe, you will call your travel agent!
Now Available from Balboa Press
Whether you have chosen to be a caregiver or were hijacked by circumstances, Catch Your Breath, a series of touching meditations by Linda Spalla, will become a wisp of sanity and a day-to-day stabilizer. Spalla retraces an eight month care-giving journey with her mother, captured in raw, candid images, truly becoming a walk in her shoes. What started as a thirty-days-to-live commitment of care in her home turned into an unexpected eight months of never-ending responsibility. You will feel a kinship with the roller coaster of emotions; from anger, confusion, surprise, resentment, guilt and ambivalence, to finally relief, recovery and celebration. You will learn through the various vignettes some refreshingly practical information on such topics as finding sitters, managing medicine, dealing with sibling rivalry, contracting with Hospice, moving to assisted living, doing will preparation and other legalities as well as funeral planning. You will laugh; you will sob; your heart will soar; your heart will break. You will find solace, encouragement and inspiration for one of life’s most daunting challenges. But especially, you will discover your best self, emerging stalwart, strong and forged by the fire of your caregiving experience. Give yourself a gift of renewal and Catch Your Breath.