Puffins, Cod, and Empty Shelves
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
I was in the beautiful land of Canada this past week where I learned the power of friendship, and the price we pay for broken relationships.
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Doggone Days: A Just 3 Minutes Story
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
It's hot. Oh, and it's humid, too! That must mean the dog-days of summer are here. I volunteer at the animal shelter and the dogs there are all wanting the same thing we are: to belong. We all want to belong to a pack, it's instinctual and necessary. And we all want a leader who makes wise decisions and takes everyone into consideration. Because, if the unthinkable should actually happen, we want to know our pack has our back.
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Wild Magic: A Just Three Minutes Story
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
I was so depressed one day I couldn't even make a decision about whether or not to eat an egg. Then a shot rang out and I thought I was in a true crime drama. But what happened next reminded me that the world is still filled with magic.
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"Meeting Racism" A Just 3 Minutes Story
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
Racism is ugly stuff. I thought we'd left it behind but I guess it was just hiding. I didn't know what racism was until I met it in the kitchen one day after a party my parents gave. The person targeted was someone I loved dearly. Remembering the story, even now, makes my face grow hot with anger and shame.
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"The Three Kings" A "Just 3 Minutes" Story Standing Up for What's Right
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
Back in the 1960's our country was divided over racism. We'd long ago fought to end slavery but civil rights were still a dream away. This was especially true in the heart of coal country, up in the hills of West Virginia. This is a story about the time my Dad stood up to The Three Kings: who ruled the town, the mines, and the church. Since what's old is unfortunately new again, with all the executive orders dismantling DEI and wiping black contributions off government websites, it's a timely story for today.
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Cowboys and Indians: A Big Girl Pants Story about My Daddy
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
I wish my Dad was still here so I could celebrate Father's Day with him just one more time! But this little story will have to suffice! When I was a kid, we didn't play organized sports. We roamed the neighborhood like feral cats. But we mostly behaved because, back then, any parent that caught you doing something wrong had permission to punish you any way they saw fit, whether they were your parents or not, so like I said, we mostly behaved. But there was this one time when things went very wrong. Thank goodness my Daddy figured it out!
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"The Hangin: A Just 3 Minutes Story"
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
Trump reinstated the death penalty by executive order in January 2025. As we reconsider capital punishment in America, this is a story worth hearing. It took place back in the 1940's. What happened in this story was so powerful it pushed my father into the ministry. It's a powerful reminder that family violence has multiple victims. Please share this story with people who need to hear it.
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Pip and the Sheriff: A Just 3 Minutes Story
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
Memorial Day invites us to honor those who have given their all to protect our Freedom. On a visit to the vet, a scared little Jack Russell mix has the opportunity to do just that. A magical story that just happens to be totally true.
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Whale Fall: A Just 3 Minutes Story
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
Ever wonder what your legacy from this life will be? What have you done worth remembering? What will you leave behind that anyone else will want? When my sister died this year these legacy questions began coming one after another. And then during a week at the beach, I saw something that helped me name exactly what I hope to leave behind when I'm gone. Now the only question is how to do that.
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Chaos vs Violets
Stories by Donna Marie Todd
With all the chaos in America these days, it's good to remember that man is never really in charge. Our power is more of a delusion than a reality. And, I highly recommend a springtime walk as a way of scrubbing the soul from all the dirty grunge of our current political fiascoes.
info_outlineI lost my husband when our son was newly sixteen. His birth was relatively painless, since it was a C-section. (The recovery from surgery, was not much fun, but epidurals are pretty amazing things.) But I just delivered the placenta. This is the story of a mother's love and the length of time it often takes us to finish birthing our children.