Thoughts & Observations

Welcome to the blog, a chance for me to share in small doses (but don’t hold me to that!) thoughts that I hope are largely amusing, potentially poignant, on occasion insightful and rarely blah.


Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

The Traumas of Publishing

A lot of people have been asking how I feel getting my book, Unwrapping, published. The first word that came to mind was trauma. And there’s an explanation.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Protest and Hope

Unexpectedly running into a protest rally offered something my wife and I have been seeking since January — hope.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Sunday Night, Love Night

My father enjoyed pondering ways to find serenity amid stressors such as managing “alternate side of the street” parking nights.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

In Production

Unwrapping: A Novel About Generational Trauma has reached the production stage! Soon to come: links to order it.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Sustaining Self

The author shares personal insights about taking on a healthier lifestyle and a secret about the perfect self-improvement plan: it’s the one that works for you.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

The Heart Always Knows

Last week, I posted about what will apparently be the final concert of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. But after Friday’s announcement about the retirement of John Lyon, I ruminated some more about words, music and relationships.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

A Weird Solo Trip

A fun couples weekend trip to see a favorite band turned into a solo jaunt thanks to a sick pup. And a weird solo jaunt at that, thanks to an unexpected occurrence.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Saying Goodbye

My Uncle Marvin’s recent death brought me to a recognition that I’ve previously applied to people, but realized can be applied to places, too. They come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Medical Billing? Gotta Hate It.

A recent frustrating experience with a misread lab test by a medical professional gave us a bird’s eye view of why health insurance rates are through the roof.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Proof!

Passed a milestone toward publishing my novel, Unwrapping, over the weekend, and decided to blog about the significance: In short, it’s a lot more real. And that’s a bit scary.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Switcheroo

Leaving the company that agreed to publish my first novel was complicated. Ultimately, it came down to trusting my instinct. The story behind a late-in-the-game switcheroo.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

A ‘Shpil’ On My Mom

A reflection on a piece of my heritage I can attribute solely to mom: the importance of an appropriate Yiddish word in the appropriate moment.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Bye-Bye, Spectrum

The end of our relationship with Spectrum was far from a parting of sweet sorrow. How one utility (mis)handles a simple request to terminate service.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

The Patience Game

An update on the status of my novel, Unwrapping, brings with it reflections on the concept of patience.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Are You a Patriot?

The recent presidential debate and Monday’s Supreme Court ruling discouraged me about the state of our nation. When I’m down, I turn to music. This remarkable song was written some 40 years ago by Steve Van Zandt. It rings as true today as ever.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

The Puppy Parable

Why can’t we learn from our puppies how to all get along? Seems too simple, right?

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

34 Counts for Truth

The guilty verdict against Donald Trump and the fallout shows just how far some will go to destroy foundations of our country.

Read More
Leslie Gura Leslie Gura

Trauma and a Movie

The movie A Bronx Tale on its surface is about a young man balancing wisdom between two very different father figures. Underneath are the elements of trauma.

Read More

What People Say About Unwrapping