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Author, Artist, Storyteller

LIFE'S SECOND ACTS
a blog by Marilyn Woods
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"Be Bold sang Time this year . . ."
One week into a new year and I think I’m ready to begin. I have recovered from a very short, extremely busy holiday season and a siege of...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jan 82 min read
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My Wish for You . . .
Sadly, my local movie house—The Landmark Theater—is closing January 5. I grew up with a neighborhood theater in walking distance of my...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Dec 28, 20242 min read
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Home from another adventurous road trip!
Two-thousand miles in seven rollicking days. We are firm believers in St. Augustine ’s adage “The world is a book and those who don’t...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Sep 5, 20246 min read
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Sky High on that roller coaster again . . .
"except for the Presidential s**t show..."

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jul 8, 20242 min read
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My summer obsession . . .
...gets at that "wild, silky part of ourselves."

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jun 29, 20244 min read
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Summer reading...free!
Take a look at this literary journal's stunning website. Love the title and the graphics and the fact that one of my pieces titled...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jun 26, 20241 min read
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Story Time y'all...
I think we writers are a most supportive group. Big time fans of one another's work! David Reed is a guy whose writing is beyond...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
May 5, 20246 min read
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The Games People Play...
I am a docent. At an art museum. The San Diego Museum of Art. Before you roll your eyes remembering that boring academic lecture in front...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Mar 24, 20243 min read
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Not long after After Goya!
The purpose of this blog post is a giant mushy thank-you to all you hopeless romantics who believe in fairy tales and their power and...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Feb 29, 20243 min read
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I love love.
"Let's fall in love. For if I loved you, time and again you would hear me say that I want to be loved by you, by you, and nobody else but...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Feb 11, 20242 min read
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It's official!
Please join us for a special ABCD Day Luncheon as we welcome guest speaker and published author, Marilyn Woods, to discuss her latest...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jan 20, 20241 min read
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Big week for me!
Just back from Dallas, where I grew up and where it was seventeen degrees all weekend. It's seventy degrees and sunshine this afternoon...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jan 15, 20241 min read
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Adjectives are words that describe the qualities or states of being of nouns: rapturous, reluctant, rowdy...sculptural, sexy, silly...head-splitting, hilarious, hallowed.
Both in my newly formed writing group and my touring at the art museum, I’m focusing on newer, stronger, adjectives in my...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jan 9, 20242 min read
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Sometimes it's hard to turn the page . . .
Erica Jong, celebrated novelist and essayist, was flying high in the late sixties and early seventies when I was chasing toddlers....

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Dec 30, 20233 min read
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Proud to be part of this group and this event!!!
9th Annual San Diego Memoir Showcase& Shaking the Tree Vol.5 Celebration December 14, 2023, 7:00 pmConrad Prebys Performing Arts Center...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Dec 9, 20231 min read
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For your shopping list...
For those of you who love to read and might also need gifts for friends who like to read, hang on because I’ve got great suggestions! I...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Dec 1, 20232 min read
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"...the last act of secular prayer"
Sophie, the bride-to-be and avid reader, has no time for books lately – she’s getting married next Saturday. We’re all in a tizzy!...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Oct 1, 20233 min read
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"I already have one!"
As I wrapped Laurie’s birthday present—a stack pack of books—I couldn’t help but smile recalling something funny my favorite uncle said...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Aug 27, 20234 min read
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No need for rose-colored glasses...
I’ve been gone from Ventura County for almost thirty years but will never forget Ojai’s legendary Pink Moments there. The Shangri-La-ish...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Jul 15, 20234 min read
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Books I’m reading even though my eyesight is temporarily cockeyed.
Six months between cataract surgeries (don’t ask) and I wear a contact on one eye during the day and read at night without the contact...

Marilyn Gardner Woods
Mar 1, 20233 min read
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