I am staring out the window into my own backyard. The morning is gray and rainy. This is not the view I had planned for today. Five months ago, Carrie Bradshaw (okay, fine, Sarah Jessica Parker) made an announcement. She and Ferris Bueller (okay, fine, Matthew Broderick) were going to perform together on Broadway in the classic “Plaza Suite” by Neil Simon. My fav, in … Continue reading Unplanned
Do you remember eggs at 4 am? Outside the door, the world was still spinning. There were kids and pets and work deadlines. Doctor’s appointments and vehicle maintenance. Groceries, credit cards and family drama. Global issues, political unrest and disease. But none of that mattered. Because we had eggs at 4 am. And we slept in on Tuesday. And clothes thrown in the dryer with … Continue reading Eggs at 4 am
This morning I took a friend to a surgical center for a minor procedure. Sitting across from me in the waiting room was a young girl, and although she was well-behaved, she was impatiently peppering her grandfather with questions. She was about the same age as my grandson, so I happily tuned in and eavesdropped to pass the time. To slow her rapid-fire inquisition, Grandpa … Continue reading The Name Game
I’m giving up coffee, wine and chocolate for Lent. Oh wait, no, I’m giving up LYING for Lent. Also, brussel sprouts and liver. Continue reading For Reals
Across the street from the apartment there is a school. Like most schools, the bell rings around 2:40 in the afternoon and a hoard of children leave the building. Around the corner, there is a RiteAid. This particular RiteAid gets very busy after school, but yesterday it was busier because of Valentines Day. As we were all waiting in line, a 30-something woman (who I … Continue reading Abandoned Hearts
It’s that season again. I would like to thank whoever made February the shortest month of the year. It’s the height of flu season. It is the ugliest part of winter. For some, February is also a reminder of loss and loneliness. Across the country, elementary school kids are cutting pink and red construction paper into the shape of little butts, but no amount of … Continue reading A Tale of Two Hearts
I can’t see. And I can’t breathe. And I am panicking. I kick for the surface, but one of my legs won’t work. It’s caught. I am trapped. I kick harder. I feel a grip tighten around my leg. Scott, my dive buddy, is holding me down. I continue to panic. My brain tries to recall classroom words. Bubbles. That’s all I can remember. If … Continue reading Under Water
It is 6:30 am, and I wake up to the sound of birds and the muted light coming through the screens in my room. I reach for my cup of water and lazily flick an ant off the top before taking a sip. I make my way to the bathroom and notice a spider who has taken up residency in the shower overnight. I am … Continue reading Just Like Heaven
I don’t know if late September can be classified as “dog days” of summer anymore, but it’s a hot day in Texas, and it’s not even 9 am. Texas has a way of holding back fall until you are so grateful for it, you begin to declare it your “favorite season” on those dumb social media questionnaires. Today I’m trying to embrace the warmth. Stepping … Continue reading NYC FOMO
Pink. I woke up early and came into the living room to think. No, that’s not exactly true. I didn’t sleep well. I’m not myself. This has been one of those Texas winters where winter never truly kicks in. It’s been cool enough to need a jacket, but the air conditioner has run more than the heater. And more often than not, the temperature is so … Continue reading In The Pink
