Kathy Payne May 10, 2023 Sun Valley Writing Project Fireflies A memory from long ago comes back to me. I am six and living in the pink house on Ebenezer Road in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the town where my mother and father both were raised. It is the house between Mr. and Mrs. GodfreyContinue reading “Fireflies”
Author Archives: kathypay
Payne Train
Kathy Payne 2023 Sports Writing Final Essay Payne Train I passed the artwork hanging on the wall as I ascended the stairs to the sound of Kendall’s sobs. I saw Kendall’s musical mixed media collage and Halle’s self-portrait. I passed the framed artwork and ribbons for the library “bookmark” drawing contest. Halle won first placeContinue reading “Payne Train”
Stanford DCI 2023 Update
First, if you are new here and want to follow my journey chronologically, please start with my First Quarter Reflections and then follow on to Second Quarter Reflections, Third Quarter Reflections and then, finally, this post. Apologies to the few of you who follow my blog—I realize that it has been a while. I gotContinue reading “Stanford DCI 2023 Update”
Third Quarter Reflections
I’ve finished my third quarter as part of the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI). Here are my continuing reflections on this amazing year of study and reflection. If you are looking at my site for the first time, here’s a description of the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI) and me, Kathy Payne. What was different about this quarter?Continue reading “Third Quarter Reflections”
A Three-Room School
We arrived at Katmandu airport, loaded our bags into a van and started the drive to our hotel. Katmandu was chaotic. Motorcycles zipped by through the crowded lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. There was one stop light in the entire city. It seemed voluntary to stop there and mandatory to blow your horn. Our driver toldContinue reading “A Three-Room School”
The Shot
I once commented to a Kentucky fan wearing a UK shirt that it was almost perfect, except they forgot the D at the front and the E at the end. He did not appreciate my humor. Kentucky’s hate for Duke runs almost as deep as that of Duke’s biggest rival, The University of North CarolinaContinue reading “The Shot”
On Brave Old Army Team
Like fireflies signaling on a hot, summer night of my youth, my first and only experience watching the Army-Navy game in person burned brightly for me, ephemeral, not to be repeated. I grew up for most of my formative years at West Point, New York, the home of the storied United States Military Academy. MyContinue reading “On Brave Old Army Team”
Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute: Second Quarter Reflections
I’ve finished my second quarter as part of the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI). Here are my continuing reflections on this amazing experience. It’s hard to believe that I’m already halfway through my DCI year. If you are looking at my site for the first time, here’s a description of the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI) andContinue reading “Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute: Second Quarter Reflections”
A Walk with Bodi
Below is my Final Essay for Invitation of the Redwood Grove. It is a glorious sunny day in our neighborhood. Temperatures are near perfect at 71 degrees. I’m not sure that anyone who was raised in California can ever appreciate how lucky they are to enjoy this spectacular beauty and weather all year long. MaybeContinue reading “A Walk with Bodi”
Secrets
She had a secret. One that I didn’t know until long after she had died. One that even her son, my father, did not know. Once revealed, it explained a lot about her. But I knew Katharine when I was young and that was long before I knew that most adults had secrets and otherContinue reading “Secrets”
A Year at Stanford 