Bonni Brodnick Blog

While attending The Leo Marchutz School of Painting and Drawing (see "The Leo Marchuz School: A Visit to My Alma Mater" , July 22, 2026), I was fortunate to live in this historical and elegant 18th-century Aix-en-Provence manor called Domaine de Valcros. Set in a pastoral landscape, one could hear nightingales trill at night and the hollow bells from a gaggle of goats passing during the day. Since it was the "south of France," I thought it would be balmy all year. WRONG. I froze my ass off that winter. The floors were tiled, and the bedrooms had a measly heater in the corner.  We lived in the servants' quarters, accessed via a circular stairway at the back of the manor, or bastide , which is French for a country house in Provence. There were three young French men who attended the University of Aix, and three American girls: my sister Pamela Kogen (now an acclaimed San Francisco artist), Lynn (from Seattle), and me.   The proprietaire (our landlord) was Chantal ...

Cat Cohen stars in her Off-Broadway debut of "Broad Strokes," a one-woman show about a near-fatal stroke she had at 30 years old. It's sharp-witty, with a blend of cabaret and original songs. But it breezes over her stroke. I wanted more about how it upended her life, and now she's back on stage. My stroke left me completely zonked out. I had to relearn how to walk and talk. I know there are all kinds of strokes, but I left the theatre feeling a bit meh .  HOWEVER, I applaud what Cat Cohen has done. Certainly, kept us amused for the entire performance. She took an untouched topic for a show and raised awareness of strokes. And that, my friends, is a good thing.

(*Note: Originally published as a  HuffPost  Contributor) If   your child is living in the dorms, there is reasonable assurance that fire codes and drills are in place. A parent can be assured that sorority and fraternity houses have safety measures in place, too. But off-campus housing? Hear me out.  Our daughter, who was in her junior year, elected t o move a mile or so outside of town, away from the main campus. "But, Mom, it's going to be so cool. I'll be living with my friends in a house !" she announced after she had signed the lease with seven other girls. During sophomore year, she and her "sisters" (sorority speak) were in a stately BRICK house built on campus in the 1920s.  They were now living in a WOOD house built in the 1940s. As the premises are not under the direct auspices of campus housing, my husband and I were adamant about a few safety issues. We urged our daughter to check whether there are any fire extinguishers in the house, specifica...

Listening to jazz music in the park by the river on a summer evening made me think how grateful I am to sit in the park by the river on a summer evening listening to jazz music. #liveisgood    #gratitude    #thankful    #strokesurvivorsneverquit  

And in today's news . . . KATIE COURIC MEDIA is re-running the story about my book, My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery . Sincere thanks to Nancy Steiner, Life and Career Coach, for the excellent questions! Read  it here:  "She Couldn't Walk or Talk After a Massive Stroke -- But She Had One Goal" .

No words are needed. Breath deep and enjoy . . . Photo Credit: Bonni Brodnick