Sharon....I loved the "New man in my life" column today. It was very cute and congrats on the new Grandbaby.

Just a note to say how much I enjoyed your column "New Guy in my Life Takes No. 1 Spot." Being a parent means sacrificing many things. (Jesus knows all about that!) I also love to write and I really enjoyed your story. It sounds like you are a super parent. God bless you as you share your love with your family.

Hi Sharon. I am so delighted to be reading "Birdbaths and Paper Cranes". You and your writing were introduced to me by my dear dear friend in Fresno, Vi S. She always speaks highly of you and with love. You, like Vi, are wonderful and people of such good Heart. I love your writing and ways of looking at Life and you also bring me closer to my folks who are in their mid-80s and who made their home some 24 years ago in western North Carolina. They live in Vilas. Thanks Sharon for the person you are and the better person you can make of me when I read your writing and tell myself to "lighten up and don't forget your humor!" All the very best to you and yours, Karen

Hi there, Sharon ... in your column in our paper today you were talking about a clothesline and how your daughter didn't have one or know how to use one. This is so bizarre because I volunteer at our local Wildlife Center and since we are fully donation-funded, we try to cut corners wherever we can so we hang out our laundry. Yesterday, one of the younger volunteers (17) came and found me and asked if I could show him how to hang the laundry on 'those ropes' with those 'clippy things'. I thought we would all die laughing ... and then your column just brought it on again. You always make me smile, and laugh ... as you did today. Thank you for being you!

Dearest Sharon, I wrote to you a few years back when my Mama died. You wrote back to me about something that your minister or friend said to you about death? Would you happen to remember the quote? I am trying to find it so I can share your quote with my son. He has had a student killed in an accident this week. The young man had just graduated from high school in May. My son was one of his teachers and his coach. The young man was only 18 years old. If you could remember what you told me about death and grief, I would really appreciate it so much. Love your columns God Bless you and give you a great 4th of July weekend.

I just had my shoulder length hair cutt off also! I love it too. It takes a lot of courage though. My husband says he likes, but I think he is just being nice because he really did not want me to cut it.

Well, it hasn't even been a month and here I am writing you again. I just finished your book, "Birdbaths and Paper Cranes" at 2:00 a.m. this morning. I think it my favorite book of all time. Thank you, thank you for sharing your life and stories with us. I feel as if you are a dear friend. My husband died a year and half ago and still "I'm trying to figure out who I am now that I am no longer who I was." after almost 55 years of marriage. Please publish another book SOON!

Sharon, I have loved and followed your pieces for many years. Think you are a very wise and caring person. I actually got around to writing you a real,three small pages, letter a few days ago. Keep up the great work! Jim Peacock

An old table holds memories...as does mine. It's an Ethan Allen, 40+ years of age, warm and welcoming pine marred over the years by family life. Marks in the legs where the high chair butted against it, scribble marks indented on the top as my children mastered reading and math, even a nail hole from one of my daughter's craft projects. It doesn't show, but blends right in. That table and I have lived a lifetime together. I hope someone cares for it as much as I have in the years ahead.

Hi Sharon, I too feel as though I know you well, that is because your columns bring your readers into the story. Some time ago you asked about favorite childrens stories, I have too many favorites to list but one book I would strongly recommend is "The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry", edited by Louis Untermeyer, and my favorite poem is Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash. I was a child care provider in my home for many years, I found poetry was a draw for the children, and their choices sometimes surprised me, but they all had their favorites and were very willing listeners. They also were able to try their hand at creating poems, and they loved to play with words, sometimes rhyming and sometimes not. I look forward to reading your columns on line now as the Ravenn Record Courier is n ot reliable about publishing them. Sue