Family – nastran andersen

Who is on your island?

It’s a question my husband and I have asked each other before, usually over a glass of wine and if we’re lucky, in front of a fire. We first broached this topic late last summer, one of those what-if topics like “What you would do if you won the lottery?” Or another fun question for automotive enthusiasts – “If you had one million dollars and were allowed to spend it only on cars, what would you buy?” It started simply enough, on the heels of the lottery conversation; fantasizing about being so wealthy as to have your very own island and the ability to invite anyone you wish to live on the island as well. The island could be large or small, it could be rustic and undeveloped or feature every luxury imaginable. Your people might live nearby and you would enjoy seeing them every day. Or you may want to see them only once in a while but they still need to be there, so you must relegate them to the other end. It doesn’t have to be a tropical island, it could be in any sort of climate that you wish. It’s your island, you make the rules. We had a good laugh putting some family members who shall remain nameless on the other side of the island, and even cast some of our friends after the characters on Gilligan’s Island and Fantasy Island. But the lighthearted chat for us turned into a much more reflective dialog; who do you choose and why? Read More…

by Nastran

The Dishwasher

Since becoming a writer, my daily world view has changed. I make a very conscious effort to pause at certain moments, regardless of where I am, to appreciate those with me and observe what is around me. Read More…

by Nastran

Transition

Life has a way of throwing curveballs. You think you’re prepared, in a ready stance and watching for the fast pitches to come in on their regular cadence. And generally you hit those, sometimes even knock it out of the park. But a curve is different, it’s slower and it drops when you least expect it. Sometimes you’ll see it right before it happens, but by then it’s too late and you know it’s a miss. Just when you’re settling in and feeling confident about hitting the fastballs, the Great Comedian decides to mix things up to keep your game interesting, maybe even teach you a couple of things along the way. Last week I was thrown a curveball.

by Nastran

What inspires me

I met a young woman on the plane ride home from Boston last Friday. We gave the cursory greetings as we settled into our seats and for most of the flight she read her book and I wrote a scene for my novel. But during the last 45 minutes we started chatting and dove deep into some personal details with each other in a way that only perfect strangers can do. She noticed I was writing and I shared some about my new journey on that path. I noticed the engagement ring on her left hand and learned about her upcoming wedding. We discussed marriage, family and faith and at one point my eyes even brimmed with tears. Her story, what little I know of it, has stayed with me all week and I found myself reflecting on why I was so inspired by her. A few specific qualities stand out, the same qualities I admire and am so attracted to with my own family and dear friends. There are many categories from which to draw inspiration in this world, but these are the five that impact me in the greatest ways.

by Nastran

Things you may never see

There is significant mention of Iran in our media lately – so much controversy surrounding the nuclear deal, sanctions, mullahs and the like. For nearly 40 years the U.S. has had a broken relationship with the country and certainly there is a lot to have concern about with the current regime, so many unanswered questions and a foundation of mistrust. But I don’t want to write about politics or government or nuclear weapons. I am not trying to spark a debate about what is a good deal or a bad deal. Inspired by a friend over lunch conversation, instead I would like to share what I know about the country as a destination and the uniqueness of the people and the culture.

by Nastran

A summertime short story

The early evening sky gleamed, a uniform silvery blue with flat gray clouds hanging in painted forms like a child’s drawing. The summer sun had not yet set, leaving enough light to see my friends as they sped ahead of me across the lawn, the world draining of color in the disappearing light. It was hot, deep-south hot. The humid air draped us like a heavy curtain, thick and damp with the anticipation of a midnight storm. The nighttime creatures were starting a chorus, crickets and tree frogs chirping their summer melody. The smell of freshly cut grass dusted the air. There was laughter ahead; I watched as my friends played tag, darting in a zig-zag pattern on their way to the creek. I picked up my pace and tried to catch up with the group.

by Nastran

Reflection

Why do we pause in our lives for reflection when someone has died, or when we’ve reached some milestone like a birthday or certain number of years of something? Why are we not present with each other, with our children, with our family and friends every day? I am as guilty of this as anyone, caught up in work or on my phone or scanning social media… I’m watching my own kids transform before my eyes and find myself making new life decisions, wishing I could retrieve what I might have missed.