I hear my mother’s words. Sometimes in my head. Sometimes, coming right out of my mouth. “March!” she would say to me and my siblings when we dawdled too long. “March!” I would say to my children when they, too, dawdled. “Just put one foot in front of another,” she advised when I shared a […]
What the hell happened? I mean, really, what happened to this country? I had asked that question many times a day for far too many days. That I was not a fan of the current administration should shock no one although the fact that many of you are still supporters shocks the bejeezus out of me. Railing […]
There are folks out there who breeze through life with nary a care in the world. Calm. Confident. Capable. Chill. People who just have their shit together from the beginning. I am not one of them. I remember many embarrassing episodes, even in my early years, situations when I would burst—I can’t believe I’m admitting […]
History fascinates me. Not the economics and treaties and dates and stuff like that, you know, not the pesky details that one is tested on when studying the subject, no, not that stuff. I find history fascinating when people–ordinary and extraordinary–are the focus. After all, what is the point of history if not to remember […]
You’re here! You are our littlest one. Our newest one. Our Bug. I have yet to hold you but that will be corrected soon. And when I do, I will whisper the same words I have whispered to each of your cousins: I love you. I love you. I LOVE YOU. Can’t wait. Welcome to our […]
“Feed me, Krelborn, feed me NOW!”* Once upon a time there was a lovely garden filled with hydrangeas. The hydrangeas would produce their beautiful puffs of color from early spring to the first frost of autumn. One afternoon toward the end of summer, a little surprise appeared, dangling merrily amongst the blossoms. Fascinated by the single […]
On one summer’s day, out of the blue, the Rooster asked to see my artwork, specifically, my drawings. Can I tell you how much those words delighted me? Can I tell you just how quickly I pulled those crusty old things out of their hiding place? Can I have stuffed any more commas into that first sentence? […]
When I last posted a ‘journal’ entry, summer was on the wane. In that entry, one might have guessed that I was about to redirect some intentions in my life. Which I did. With some success. Ok. With minimal success. Or maybe with an imagined amount of success as only my imagination can suggest. Whatever. […]
I enjoy Facebook. I really do. I don’t post often and if I do, my posts more often than not are about family. My family. Friends I consider to be family. Grandchildren. And, yes, the occasional diatribe about the Toddler-in-Chief currently residing in the White House. Sigh. Moving on… Having recently spent time enjoying an […]
It doesn’t take much to put a smile on the Peanut’s face. In spite of her parents’ insistence on preparing healthy foods, avoiding whenever possible the pre-made, off-the-shelf, filled-with-salt-and-sugar-and-unpronounceable additives, she fell in love with this: When I returned her to Chicago after our holiday camp (including, yes, that trip to DC), we stuffed our suitcases with envelope […]
The morning after the 2016 Election, I sat at the airport awaiting a flight to Chicago. I was numb. I was heartbroken. And I was frightened beyond belief at the results of the previous day. There was an eerie quiet amongst us, those passengers waiting to board. I could say that we all felt impending […]
Over the Christmas holidays, Dear Dave and I decided to take the two older grandchildren on a trip to Washington, D.C. Two nights and two days in that amazing city. A city filled with museums. And, uh, other things. And how did this adventure go, you may wonder? Well, let’s view it as a game—a competition between intent […]
We recently attended an event: Dear Dave’s 50th high school reunion. We had primped and powdered and felt reasonably comfortable in our old skin and not-new clothes. We were a tad anxious, but otherwise ready to participate in the inevitable task of matching old yearbook photos, long-unthought-of names, and the faces which might complete a connection. That task, ultimately, […]
Before the world went digital, we made scrapbooks. Well, I made scrapbooks. Lots of scrapbooks. Bookshelves of thick, chunky, dust-gathering scrapbooks. Like these: It took hours to select which photographs to include and which to ignore. It took even more time to create categories and tags to explain what needed additional explaining. It was a labor of love usually accomplished during slow […]
It must be said that having grandchildren is tantamount to winning the lottery…or finding that gold at the end of a rainbow. It is simply the most marvelous gift Life can hand you. Better than bacon. Even better than butter. Better than children too, actually, although I love my kids, I really do. I just find […]