Welcome to my blog titled ‘Five Things’ where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. I’ll also share a quote I find meaningful as a point of focus for the week. For photos of my books, kids, pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things, starting with the quote of the week…

"Never think that war, no matter how necessary nor how justified, is not a crime. Ask the infantry and ask the dead." — Ernest Hemingway
Sunday, we hosted our kids, their significant others, and my sister and brother-in-law at our new place in Pasadena. In Rhode Island, we regularly entertained, using any excuse to host a party, but it’s been a while since we’ve been able to gather in our own space. We ate, drank, went swimming under the gorgeous SoCal sun, and made quite merry. I can barely keep my eyes open today, but it was worth!
As we wind up the spring semester, I’ve had the opportunity to study a little bit of screenwriting, which is so exciting. I’ve wanted to translate some of my novels and short fiction work into screenplays but didn’t know where to begin. After a few great conversations with one of our sons who is a screenwriter and more with a good friend who is also in the industry, I think I’ve found a place to start. I drafted an opening scene for a class project today, and it was so much fun. I really look forward to playing with this new (to me) form!
Ray and I went to the Huntington Garden for a couple of hours on Friday. We’re members now, but I was the only one who’d visited so far when I took an out-of-town friend. This time, I wanted to check out the rose garden in particular, and it did not disappoint! The blooms were gorgeous. It’s truly magical! I have to remind myself that it would make a great place to bring a blanket and my laptop to enjoy the beauty and inspiration sometimes only nature can provide.
I am currently reading my classmates’ theses projects. All of them are full-length novels, and all of them are just so good. It will take me awhile to get through them, but we are all trying to read each other’s work as a show of support. I am humbled and inspired by the incredible talent in my cohort!