Articles written by P. Payne

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About me - P. Payne

My writing experience has been varied and enjoyable, especially since I didn't start until my early 40s. When I began college at 39, I knew what I wanted to do .
As a newspaper reporter, I wrote about city and county government, events happening in the court

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Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Growing old: 1 of 36
"When I am an old woman I shall wear purpleWith a hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me,And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer glovesAnd satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter"Yes, I have read the poem and have it hanging on my wall. I will wear purple and a red hat, and just might join a local Red Hat ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Family Law Resolving the child support system in America: 2 of 46
My son is facing a contempt trial for not paying his child support, even though the child support prosecutor knows full well there have been extenuating circumstances that have prevented him from working for some time now. Currently, my son is recovering from foot surgery to correct a deformity caused by Kohler's disease. Un... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Family Values Is it better to raise children in a small or large family: 1 of 23
I am the oldest of seven children, and have five of my own. At times, our family would have been viewed as poverty-stricken, or at the very least, very poor. As my own children grew up, there were many things they could not have or do because of the cost. Although there has never been much money in my birth family or my own ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Education Jobs Should I be a substitute teacher?: 1 of 21
The phone rings between 6 and 6:30 a.m., rousing me from a peaceful sleep. Through half-open eyes, I look to see which one of the school districts is calling for a substitute and decide whether I want to get up.Therein lies one advantage, and one disadvantage, to the substitute position. There usually is no advance scheduling... More..
Relationships & Family > Family Dysfunction Does ADHD in a family member make a family dysfunctional: 1 of 17
Almost everyone has a dysfunctional family in one way or another. By definition, every family has dysfunctional elements in its everyday interaction, whether it is because mom and dad fight too much, mom is a "neat freak," the kids are not disciplined, or someone in the household is diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.Dysfunctional me... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Death of a sibling: 1 of 15
When I turned around and saw my teenage niece walking across the yard, it was like watching my dead sister walk toward me. She was her mother, from the long blond hair to the dancing blue eyes filled with mischief.It was only when she got closer that I could see the subtle differences in the young girl who approached and her ... More..
Arts & Humanities > 20th & 21st Century US History What were you doing when you heard about the death of President Kennedy?: 1 of 14
High in the mountains of Colorado, we had no television reception. The little community of Twin Lakes sat on the highway and the general store and gas station also served as the post office. My husband and I, with a toddler and a new baby, had become friends with the family who ran the store. It was near Thanksgiving, and w... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Writing as cheap therapy: 3 of 35
The journals are tucked away in the file cabinet, waiting for someone to read through them. Periodically, I come across one of them while looking for something else and fan the pages to see what I wrote in the middle of my pain.The raw emotion of those years leaps from the page, and sometimes, tears roll down my cheek once ag... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory Should the media have freedom of speech?: 13 of 103
Freedom of speech, religion, and the press is one of the most precious gifts our forefathers gave us. It has given Americans the right to speak their minds and the press to keep people informed.The First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law that abridges freedom of speech or the press. A 1957 Supreme Court decisio... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Sewing memories: 1 of 7
My mother made me a new green plaid dress when I was in fourth grade, and it hung in the closet ready for me to wear to school the next day. Although green isn't my favorite color, I was excited to have something new to wear. But when I went to the closet to look at it one more time, I was devastated. My little sister had got... More..