Madeleine DeAndreis-Ayres
Jefferson Journal ContributorMadeleine DeAndreis-Ayres was born in Eureka, California into a large family that ate a lot of Rice Krispies and listened to George Carlin and Tom Leher albums while getting dressed for school. She attended Eureka High where, as the editor of the Redwood Bark she started writing for an audience, a passion that has continued throughout her life. She comes from a long line of teachers and chose that profession after attending College of the Siskiyous, Dominican College and Chapman College, earning a teaching credential in English and Music. She started playing flute in 4th grade and continues playing in bands and with her husband Jim, an excellent guitarist who is also father to their three children Henry, Sally and Mae, fine upstanding citizens in their own communities. She recently retired from teaching in Scott Valley and is confident she will find things to do.
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The weeds cry out for water. In other times, the diligent gardener would not have much sympathy for weeds but other times were very different, other times there were plenty more weeds where those came from.
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So you want to see pictures of my new grandson? Sure you don’t, but that won’t stop me. He’s only the best baby ever, said the grandmother before the readers turned the page to study the JPR Program Schedule.
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Back when we were unmasked and innocent, we had our worries and fears. But they seem so petty now. It’s hard to remember what scared us back then: gluten? tweets? breaking a hip? Seems so insignificant compared to what fresh hell we wake up to each day.
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Along with the national debt in the USA soaring to $22 trillion, student loan debt in this country is $1.3 trillion. Come on, that can’t be right. Well,…
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When I was in high school, we “kidnapped” the Spanish teacher’s favorite stool and sent him ransom notes stipulating terms for its safe return. This was…
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My sister and I fought nearly every day for the first twenty years of our lives. She is thirteen months older than I and could land both a physical and…
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Ok, I get it. I'm not 25 or 40 anymore and have no business teaching the Irish Jig to high school students. Oh I can “teach” the jig, I just shouldn't…
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Shortly after the election, my friend Kevin sent me an article from the Huffington Post by John Trowbridge, a comedy writer who took on the topic of the…
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Next month we celebrate Veteran’s Day. We honor those men and women who have served the United States and remember their sacrifice and service. So much…
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Another school year whizzed by. Children are thrilled with thoughts of endless summer and their counterparts in education, teachers, are cleaning up their…
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Oh look, only twelve minutes left of the Christmas shopping season. If you are like me, still staring at your hands when you should be out buying a gift…