{"id":25,"date":"2026-06-01T10:20:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/?page_id=25"},"modified":"2026-06-02T12:15:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T12:15:50","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"25\" class=\"elementor elementor-25\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bebef6f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bebef6f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9377dd8\" data-id=\"9377dd8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-9aebf87 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9aebf87\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9388011\" data-id=\"9388011\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad9c386 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ad9c386\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider__text elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\tAbout barbara\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a458306 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a458306\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1032\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/about-barbara.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-417\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/about-barbara.webp 1032w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/about-barbara-300x163.webp 300w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/about-barbara-1024x556.webp 1024w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/about-barbara-768x417.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1032px) 100vw, 1032px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34232fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"34232fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I\u2019m Barbara Falconer Newhall and, like everybody I know, I have a serious case of the human condition. I\u2019m grumpy, judgy, absent-minded, and given to all-day shopping expeditions. I\u2019m also, like most people, susceptible to occasional, inexplicable bouts of compassion and generosity \u2014 which, of course, is what makes the human condition so darned interesting.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32de653 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32de653\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Not only that, I\u2019m mortal, sad to say. And I\u2019m getting more mortal by the day. More mortal than I was as a bright-eyed, forever-young teenager growing up in the suburbs of Detroit. More mortal than I was mothering two little ones while holding down a part-time newspaper job here in the San Francisco Bay Area. And more mortal than I was as I wrote away on the one thing I thought might let my words, if not my flesh, live on forever, a book \u2014 \u201cWrestling with God: Stories of Doubt and Faith.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-385643b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"385643b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You might like my book. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, but especially if you find yourself a little of both, you\u2019ll find it enlightening, though I can\u2019t promise Enlightening. \u201cWrestling with God\u201d is a skeptic\u2019s pilgrimage of discovery (mine) through the religions of the world in search of a way to believe in God \u2013 or Something \u2013 in our multi-faith, globalized, tech-obsessed, twenty-first-century world. It\u2019s got an atheist, a witch, a fundamentalist Christian, a progressive Muslim, Jews, Catholics, a Buddhist and a Hindu. The whole ball of wax.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-19599c7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"19599c7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d758dc0\" data-id=\"d758dc0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61b4e2b elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"61b4e2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider__text elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\tA Career in Journalism\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6376191 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6376191\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-418365e\" data-id=\"418365e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7dfa724 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7dfa724\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"498\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/serious-journalist.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-440\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/serious-journalist.webp 498w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/serious-journalist-245x300.webp 245w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed58e61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed58e61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJon and I get married in 1977. Tossing the garter? A fine old tradition that both our kids eschewed at their weddings.\u00a0Photo by Jerry Telfer\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b3ea07\" data-id=\"5b3ea07\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2d0026 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d2d0026\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some background. For years now, I\u2019ve been touting myself as a serious journalist. But the fact is I\u2019m not. Serious, that is.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3c99a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f3c99a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I am a journalist. I\u2019ve been on the staff at places like Good Housekeeping magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Tribune and the Contra Costa Times, and I\u2019ve got boxes and boxes of clips to prove it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d4ec02 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9d4ec02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>But the truth is I\u2019d rather write about my belly fat than the current Federal Reserve interest rate. I\u2019d rather report the wine preferences of my daughter\u2019s husband or have a heart-to-heart with another grandmother about how she manages the art of long-distance grandparenting than contemplate the price of oil in China.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a96b6a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a96b6a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I\u2019m an informed citizen. I pride myself on having a political point of view. (If you must know, I\u2019m a knee-jerk moderate.) And, yes, I \u2018m sometimes given to angry rants at threats to American democracy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cec6598 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cec6598\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It\u2019s just that, when it comes to writing, I\u2019d rather report the personal side of the news. And that means telling stories from my own life that are poignant, life-altering and funny. Especially funny.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8bad4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a8bad4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For a long time I spent my days working on\u00a0\u201cWrestling with God,\u201d\u00a0published by Patheos Press. That was totally pleasurable. (OK, sometimes it was torture, but mostly it was a pleasure.) But then I finally noticed that sitting here at my computer all the day long was just too danged solitary.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2aed128 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2aed128\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>So I started this website in the hope that it would bring some living, thinking, chatting people \u2013 that means you \u2013 into my writing room here in the Bay Area. What started out as a quickie blog back in 2009 has morphed into a tome of 600-plus personal essays. Some of them date back to the 1980s when my kids were little and still within breathing distance. Some date to last week, when Peter and Christina \u2014 now full-grown adults \u2014<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44c50e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"44c50e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1032\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/little-kids.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-457\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/little-kids.webp 1032w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/little-kids-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/little-kids-1024x536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/little-kids-768x402.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1032px) 100vw, 1032px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab93566 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab93566\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Jon and our children in 1991. Those cute little kids are gone, gone, gone.\u00a0Photo by Barbara Newhall<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c324a58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c324a58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Texting me or Skyping from the Upper Midwest or Southern California. Most recently, my posts have limned the sad and challenging days that followed the death of my husband of forty-four years, Jon, on February j19, 2021.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a5b038 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a5b038\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Without Jon and the kids to keep me company, it\u2019s pretty quiet around the house these days. So, please visit often. Think of this website and its hundreds of stories and photos as a book (a scrapbook, a blook, an honest-to-goodness book?). Check out the Navigation Bar on the Home Page. It will direct you to topics like \u201cMy Ever-Changing Family,\u201d \u201cWriting and Reading,\u201d \u201cA Case of the Human Condition,\u201d \u201cMy Rocky Spiritual Journey\u201d and \u201cMy Funny Button.\u201d There, I\u2019ll do my best to make you cry a little, and laugh a lot.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e185c0c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e185c0c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-32c2c80\" data-id=\"32c2c80\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6746884 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6746884\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider__text elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\tSome History\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba59348 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba59348\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Going way back: my first journalism job was in the steno pool at the old LOOK magazine on Madison Avenue in midtown Manhattan (and, yes, I had to learn to take dictation). In those days it was tough for a woman to be hired on as a writer at places like LOOK, Time or Newsweek. (Think \u201cMad Men.\u201d) The women\u2019s magazines were more welcoming, so when I was offered a spot as an assistant editor at Good Housekeeping, I grabbed it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-260d953 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"260d953\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I spent four years in New York, then moved to San Francisco, where I\u00a0 acquired a pair of sandals and some leather bell bottoms. I joined the women\u2019s<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb45086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bb45086\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1032\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grown-up-kids.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-464\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grown-up-kids.webp 1032w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grown-up-kids-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grown-up-kids-1024x536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grown-up-kids-768x402.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1032px) 100vw, 1032px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5266669 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5266669\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The grown-up kids and their SOs come home for Thanksgiving in 2013.\u00a0Photo by Barbara Newhall<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9820ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f9820ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Movement, demonstrated against the war in Vietnam, spoke up for civil rights, and spent a few precarious years as a freelance writer.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf83c01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf83c01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When I\u2019d had enough of living hand to mouth, I went to work for a\u00a0alternative radio station news service called Zodiac. I later\u00a0married my boss, Jon, who has been another (happily long) story. After Zodiac, I worked on the San Francisco Chronicle, then the Oakland Tribune and the Contra Costa Times. My book, \u201cWrestling with God,\u201d was inspired by my stint as the religion reporter at the Times. You\u2019ll find posts about the book, along with reflections on my spiritual journey, such as it is, under the category\u00a0My Rocky Spiritual Journey.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-883bf0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"883bf0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At the Trib I\u00a0wrote a weekly column about the hectic life of a woman with a job, a husband, two young children, a conscience and a much-needed sense of humor.\u00a0You\u2019ll read some of those old columns \u2013 and some new ones in the same vein \u2013 under the\u00a0categories\u00a0A Case of the Human Condition\u00a0and\u00a0My Ever-Changing Family.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0dbe23d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0dbe23d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I also do mini book reviews, and from time to time I pass along writing tips and reflections on the writing life. Look for those stories in\u00a0On Writing and Reading.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9617dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f9617dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1032\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Zumba-img.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-466\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Zumba-img.webp 1032w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Zumba-img-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Zumba-img-1024x536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Zumba-img-768x402.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1032px) 100vw, 1032px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ee27c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ee27c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I\u2019m on the left \u2014 at Zumba.\u00a0Barbara Newhall photo<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5721f93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5721f93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some other things you might like to know about me: I grew up in Michigan (Detroit and Birmingham), graduated with a teacher\u2019s certificate and a BA in English from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), and spent a year at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. I like hiking, Zumba, and my trusty point-and-shoot camera.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0186639 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0186639\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I live in a mid-century house \u2014 I think of it as a three-story rancher \u2014 on a woodsy hillside. Its view includes an aging Monterrey pine, a couple of acres of lush poison oak, and a glistening scrap of San Francisco Bay.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-61c7d96 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"61c7d96\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d69650\" data-id=\"6d69650\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a41c443 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a41c443\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider__text elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\tWhat\u2019s Next?\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-63f608c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"63f608c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f701a0\" data-id=\"5f701a0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bf798f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1bf798f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"348\" height=\"347\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/white-hair-grow.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-480\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/white-hair-grow.webp 348w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/white-hair-grow-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/white-hair-grow-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c25a07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7c25a07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I recently let my white hair grow out, after years of coloring it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a0ce1f\" data-id=\"8a0ce1f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ce85e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ce85e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What\u2019s next? Well, the truth is, I\u2019m getting older. I\u2019ve been doing that for decades, of course, and so have you. And now, besides being a widow, I find I am well into the fourth quarter of my life, which gives me a lovely vantage point for surveying the human condition, especially my particular case of it. I\u2019ll let you know what I discover in this, to me, brand-new territory. Who knows. Maybe my next book will be all about getting older . . . and older.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fa889f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2fa889f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I hope you\u2019ll enjoy the thoughts and stories I share on these pages. Please sign up to receive my\u00a0Weekly Update, which will link you to my most recent Riffs on Life. You can also follow me on\u00a0Facebook,\u00a0Pinterest\u00a0or\u00a0Instagram. Meanwhile, please share links to your favorite posts with friends \u2014 and click that comment button from time to time. I\u2019d love to hear from you.\u00a0 \u2014 BFN<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8c41acd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8c41acd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d2d849\" data-id=\"4d2d849\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63324d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"63324d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1032\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/anne-frank.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-491\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/anne-frank.webp 1032w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/anne-frank-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/anne-frank-1024x536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/anne-frank-768x402.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1032px) 100vw, 1032px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e94ffee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e94ffee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDiarist Anne Frank has been an inspiration to me as a writer ever since my mother gave me a copy of her book when I was a young teen. Here, I\u2019m paying my respects at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.\u00a0Barbara Newhall photo\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3847a19\" data-id=\"3847a19\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3b5e1a2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3b5e1a2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;widescreen&quot;,&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;laptop&quot;,&quot;tablet_extra&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile_extra&quot;],&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4e0c40\" data-id=\"e4e0c40\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-969493d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"969493d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7afc599\" data-id=\"7afc599\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eba4a21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eba4a21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Get my riffs on life by email<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ca42c7 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"8ca42c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-755eba6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"755eba6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>True stories often told through a humorous lens \u2014 because you just can&#8217;t make them up!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88f0c6c ekit_wpForms_container-form-button-full-width elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-wp-forms\" data-id=\"88f0c6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-wp-forms.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con ekit_wpForms_container\"><style id=\"wpforms-css-vars-145\">\n\t\t\t\t#wpforms-145 {\n\t\t\t\t--wpforms-field-size-input-height: 43px;\n--wpforms-field-size-input-spacing: 15px;\n--wpforms-field-size-font-size: 16px;\n--wpforms-field-size-line-height: 19px;\n--wpforms-field-size-padding-h: 14px;\n--wpforms-field-size-checkbox-size: 16px;\n--wpforms-field-size-sublabel-spacing: 5px;\n--wpforms-field-size-icon-size: 1;\n--wpforms-label-size-font-size: 16px;\n--wpforms-label-size-line-height: 19px;\n--wpforms-label-size-sublabel-font-size: 14px;\n--wpforms-label-size-sublabel-line-height: 17px;\n--wpforms-button-size-font-size: 17px;\n--wpforms-button-size-height: 41px;\n--wpforms-button-size-padding-h: 15px;\n--wpforms-button-size-margin-top: 10px;\n--wpforms-container-shadow-size-box-shadow: none;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t<\/style><div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full wpforms-render-modern\" id=\"wpforms-145\"><form id=\"wpforms-form-145\" class=\"wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form\" data-formid=\"145\" method=\"post\" enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" action=\"\/barbarafalconernewhall\/about\/\" data-token=\"52231ce3402e4a603c558c8cf4a89ba1\" data-token-time=\"1780701992\"><noscript class=\"wpforms-error-noscript\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/noscript><div id=\"wpforms-error-noscript\" style=\"display: none;\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/div><div class=\"wpforms-field-container\">\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-145-field_2-container\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-type=\"text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-id=\"2\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-145-field_2\" >Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-145-field_2\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\" >\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-145-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-id=\"1\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label wpforms-label-hide\" for=\"wpforms-145-field_1\" aria-hidden=\"false\">Email <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-145-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-large wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1]\" placeholder=\"Your email address\" spellcheck=\"false\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-145-field_1-error\" required><\/div><script>\n\t\t\t\t( function() {\n\t\t\t\t\tconst style = document.createElement( 'style' );\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle.appendChild( document.createTextNode( '#wpforms-145-field_2-container { position: absolute !important; overflow: hidden !important; display: inline !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; z-index: -1000 !important; padding: 0 !important; } #wpforms-145-field_2-container input { visibility: hidden; } #wpforms-conversational-form-page #wpforms-145-field_2-container label { counter-increment: none; }' ) );\n\t\t\t\t\tdocument.head.appendChild( style );\n\t\t\t\t\tdocument.currentScript?.remove();\n\t\t\t\t} )();\n\t\t\t<\/script><\/div><!-- .wpforms-field-container --><div class=\"wpforms-submit-container\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"wpforms[id]\" value=\"145\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_title\" value=\"About\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_url\" value=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/about\/\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"url_referer\" value=\"\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_id\" value=\"25\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"wpforms[post_id]\" value=\"25\"><button type=\"submit\" name=\"wpforms[submit]\" id=\"wpforms-submit-145\" class=\"wpforms-submit\" data-alt-text=\"Sending...\" data-submit-text=\"Subscribe\" aria-live=\"assertive\" value=\"wpforms-submit\">Subscribe<\/button><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/plugins\/wpforms\/assets\/images\/submit-spin.svg\" class=\"wpforms-submit-spinner\" style=\"display: none;\" width=\"26\" height=\"26\" alt=\"Loading\"><\/div><\/form><\/div>  <!-- .wpforms-container --><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9943a6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9943a6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We respect your privacy and do not share your email with anyone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ab0451 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7ab0451\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1e6b498\" data-id=\"1e6b498\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32dcfaf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"32dcfaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">let\u2019s connect<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1800bc3 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1800bc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c4b70d e-grid-align-left elementor-shape-rounded elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" data-id=\"4c4b70d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"social-icons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-social-icons-wrapper elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-icon-facebook elementor-repeater-item-165fe5c\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Icon-facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"icon icon-facebook\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon- elementor-repeater-item-30a73af\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_215_310)\"><path d=\"M23 0H9C4 0 0 4 0 9V15V23C0 28 4 32 9 32H23C28 32 32 28 32 23V15V9C32 4 28 0 23 0Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path><path d=\"M16 24C20.4183 24 24 20.4183 24 16C24 11.5817 20.4183 8 16 8C11.5817 8 8 11.5817 8 16C8 20.4183 11.5817 24 16 24Z\" fill=\"#9DD4C7\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\"><\/path><path d=\"M25 8C26.1046 8 27 7.10457 27 6C27 4.89543 26.1046 4 25 4C23.8954 4 23 4.89543 23 6C23 7.10457 23.8954 8 25 8Z\" fill=\"#9DD4C7\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_215_310\"><rect width=\"32\" height=\"32\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-linkedin-in elementor-repeater-item-cab548b\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Linkedin-in<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-linkedin-in\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M100.28 448H7.4V148.9h92.88zM53.79 108.1C24.09 108.1 0 83.5 0 53.8a53.79 53.79 0 0 1 107.58 0c0 29.7-24.1 54.3-53.79 54.3zM447.9 448h-92.68V302.4c0-34.7-.7-79.2-48.29-79.2-48.29 0-55.69 37.7-55.69 76.7V448h-92.78V148.9h89.08v40.8h1.3c12.4-23.5 42.69-48.3 87.88-48.3 94 0 111.28 61.9 111.28 142.3V448z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-46136c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46136c2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b79dc57\" data-id=\"b79dc57\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29fbd86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"29fbd86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"173\" src=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/need-some-levity.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-281\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/need-some-levity.webp 400w, https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/need-some-levity-300x130.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-850005e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"850005e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b4e87d\" data-id=\"6b4e87d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77f5d84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"77f5d84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">To my readers<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3782dfc elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3782dfc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71e1a95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71e1a95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ad89ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8ad89ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About barbara I\u2019m Barbara Falconer Newhall and, like everybody I know, I have a serious case of the human condition. I\u2019m grumpy, judgy, absent-minded, and given to all-day shopping expeditions. I\u2019m also, like most people, susceptible to occasional, inexplicable bouts of compassion and generosity \u2014 which, of course, is what makes the human condition so [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25"}],"version-history":[{"count":88,"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":537,"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions\/537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}