It is the day after the day after Christmas, and I am bundled in a blanket, perched on top of a bed, in a cabin, in the woods, and I’m listening to the sounds of birds and cows and the deep breathing of a man who may have had just enough Jameson to drink last night. And I am… what is this feeling? Content. It’s … Continue reading Coffee and Toast
Last summer while my grandson was here, a friend of mine with young children brought them over for a play date. In lieu of wine, I decided to answer one of those spam phone calls on speaker phone for entertainment. I kept a pad and paper to keep up with my own lies, and I also TOTALLY wrote down all the case numbers and phone … Continue reading Killing Time
A familiar “bump” on my shoulder roused me from my sleep. Without opening my eyes, I gave the “bumper” a quick pat on the head, grabbed my glasses and phone, and sleepily rose to my feet. Together, we padded to the back door and stepped out into the night. The ground was wet. It must have rained as a cold front moved in. I glanced … Continue reading Saying Goodbye
Gonna throw my heart out there for a moment. Maybe if I type it out and invite the universe, it will help. I’ve written before about the highs and lows of life happening simultaneously. I get that there needs to be some sort of yin and yang to life, but holy cow, a tiny break in between would be nice. My wonderful residents did some … Continue reading Yin and Tonic
When I first met Rita, she had just turned 90. She was the mother of my boss and a savvy businesswoman. She was nearly blind, lived alone in her home, and I visited her regularly. But not in the way someone would normally visit a 90-year old woman. These were business visits. She was signing all the checks I had written for her properties. Don’t … Continue reading In Memory of Rita
Oh Sandra! My memories of you involve a lot of stuff I can’t post… which made you a pretty awesome person to know! Thank you for coming to every party. For getting all the jokes. For taking Chels under your wing like she was your own grandchild. Thank you for dragging me to Bingo. For bringing the booze. For never EVER holding your tongue. 😂 … Continue reading In Memory of Sandra
I have decided that post office employees can’t possibly suck as bad as they seem. It’s almost as if they suck deliberately. So I think I have it figured out. In a world of email and social media, they have collectively plotted to get us to go outdoors and meet our neighbors. Sometimes next door, and sometimes towns away. Corsicana Auto Parts, I’m coming for … Continue reading Meet-Cute
Each morning, for the past 12 years, I have pulled back three sets of curtains from my bedroom windows, and have looked across at the garden that Wayne and Debbie built. I’ve watched as they’ve tended it, from one season to the next. We’ve waved to each other as we leave our driveways. I’ve witnessed the changing seasons unfold in front of me with colorful … Continue reading In Memory of Wayne
Raspberry seed stuck in my teeth. Driving me crazy. No floss handy (which is not like me), so I thought, “Hair. Yes, a strand of hair will work just as well.” You know what doesn’t work just as well? Hair. Now I have a raspberry seed AND hair stuck in my teeth. If we militarized this and used it as a form of torture, we … Continue reading “Don’t-al” Work
“What’s by the gate?” I stared up at the cute boy, the sun creating a halo around his head. He paused before answering. “Feathers.” “Feathers?” I responded, but stopped my voice just before it raised into a question. I didn’t want to know any more. I’m sitting in the same spot, but there is no cute boy standing in front of the sun now. I … Continue reading Feathers and Clover
Random Pimientos 