Lisa Chesser

Tapping into Anger, Hitler Youth

Youth The eyes spill anger, the kind that festers. Love turns to hate so quickly. There’s a sort of hell inside a young mind. I see it every day at school and all the time at home. It’s the conflict inside all of us, but as an adult, we master it. We live. We learn.ContinueContinue reading “Tapping into Anger, Hitler Youth”

Portraits of Love

Every day. Four eyes hit me with judgment and love. Dark lashes fan the flecks of green and yellow floating in a sea of amber. Love. Striking out of a pool of black. Forgiveness. But, as they grow I forget that they were always doing this. Waves of black and brown frame her face insteadContinueContinue reading “Portraits of Love”

To Warm the Soul

So when I read through all different kinds of blogs, I found myself laughing, nodding, and often-enough crying.

La La Land gets real.

Here’s to laughter. Plus, my sister and some other really awesome comedians along with a determined filmmaker are working night and day to make this happen. Check it out and become a part of it before it ends. https://www.seedandspark.com/studio/this-is-meg#wishlist

Does money matter for teachers?

People used to ask me, “What do you do?” I’d say, “I’m a Publications Specialist.” Before that I’d say, “I’m an editor, writer, graphic artist, or copy editor.” They’d nod and smile in approval and ask more questions about it. I felt respected. Now, when people ask that question, I say, “I’m a teacher.” TheirContinueContinue reading “Does money matter for teachers?”

Why the School Year Begins with Nightmares

He jumped back. He was so startled that I thought I had a bug on my face when I went into my son’s room at 11 a.m. to wake him. “Wait, what day is it? Is there school today?” he asked. I shook my head and laughed nervously because I had been thinking that IContinueContinue reading “Why the School Year Begins with Nightmares”

Common Core in Florida

If you ask an educator or even a well-informed parent who lives in Florida about the New Florida Standards, there will probably be a very intentional groan of frustration followed by a rant or its opposite—dead silence and a mournful shaking of the head. One of the many reasons I’ve stopped writing so much stemsContinueContinue reading “Common Core in Florida”

Teen Advice in Snippets, Weekly Writing Challenge

Writer’s Challenge Note: I ran out of time for editing too much, but I did what I could in bold. I’ve been an editor for too many years so I know the value of it; however, here in WordPress World I found myself so much more at ease with writing, so much more confident andContinueContinue reading “Teen Advice in Snippets, Weekly Writing Challenge”

See You In the Next Life Joan Rivers

Seeing her face plastered all over the news brought me right back here. I wrote about my sister, Jill Michele Melean, who’s also a comedian and actress like Joan Rivers. When they met, it was magnetic. My sister never forgot her time with Joan because it was genuine. Experiencing authenticity in Los Angeles tends toContinueContinue reading “See You In the Next Life Joan Rivers”

Calling Alzheimer’s

Expecting to dial your grandmother and for her to pick up the phone leaves you hanging on to nothing. Loving someone with Alzheimer’s disease is like dropping a container of tacks on the ground and trying to pick them up quickly. It just doesn’t work like that. You move slowly and it hurts. The tips ofContinueContinue reading “Calling Alzheimer’s”