When a spouse dies you are a widow or widower. Parents die and you are an orphan. There is no name for a parent whose child dies. It would make conversations easier when the subject of children comes up.  Do we think by naming it, we give it power? Do… Read full post »

Yesterday a man who delivers a weekly newspaper to our office wished us all a happy mother’s day. He never lingers for personal conversations, so doesn't know I am the only one. The two other women want children but spent their prime fertile years with creeps. Now it is almost too late… Read full post »

I think I was arrested, but it was confusing. The police never said those words or put me in handcuffs. Maybe they thought it could set off a riot. People were in the street, circling around the cars and yelling. If I hadn’t been so scared, I might have enjoyed it.… Read full post »

My husband compares the world to a horizon. Everything falls into place and connects along an expanding line. 

I see the world in circles. They spin, bump and bounce. Connections are delightful surprises within the chaos. 

&n… Read full post »

Just when I think I’m doing okay, I have a day where images and memories of my niece explode inside. I miss appointments, and put the wrong dates on flyers, and question if it’s my brain or if I’m just sad.

I think I’m sad. The memorial services are… Read full post »

This afternoon there is a party at our house for my one year old grandson and three year old granddaughter. My daughter booked a pony, and while she isn’t saying this, I’m sure it was inspired by an unfulfilled childhood wish. One pony is no big deal. It’s the fourteen-animal-pettin… Read full post »

For my "free write" exercise today, I decided to use the obvious inspiration. This is what I remember...won't swear it is the absolute truth, but it's as close as I can get. 

*** 

My family did not go to church on Easter Sunday. It was too crowded and my/… Read full post »

This is an overheard conversation between my soon to be three year old granddaughter, Apraih (uh-PRAY-uh), and her five year old brother Hassani, (Ha-SAN ee) AKA "Sani". I stole it from my daughter's FB post.

Apraih: Sani, I gonna be a mommy. And I gonna have my own hub-band.

Sani: Headband?… Read full post »

My grandson did a marathon reading of the first Hunger Games book before the movie came out. He has never done that. He prefers action...martial arts, gymnastics, hip-hop dance, football and acting. He's currently rehearsing a children’s production of Sleeping Beauty. He wanted to be/… Read full post »

I was at a High School poetry competition this week and saw a glimpse of her face on someone else. When the girl stepped to the mic I saw familiar cheek bones and eyes and red hair, thick like hers once was. This girl had a unique approach to the poem.… Read full post »

This is a revision of a poem I posted a few days ago. It's changed so much I decided to repost it.

"THE TALK"

At family gatherings

in the middle of laughter

someone will stop,

remembering

who isn’t there

Today

a nation talks

about him.

he

has become a… Read full post »

When my son was a teenager, he and a friend came to a store with me. They walked ahead and I was far enough behind no one suspected we were together. Our skin colors don't match. I watched as white woman moved away, holding purses closer.

Years earlier, white women stopped… Read full post »

My parents were coffee drinking lovers. After dinner, mom made a pot and brought Dad a cup. Most nights he stopped looking at the paper long enough to grin a "thank you". They drank it while we all watched TV. Commercials mirrored what I saw: Coffee made you happy and… Read full post »

"You are going to be just like Mother." My brothers pointed to me, then her and back to me. If I hit them I got in trouble because I could never explain why, so I tried to ignore them and silently vowed to prove them wrong. I’ve spent a good part of… Read full post »

On the drive to the airport I decided to be kinder than usual and try to see the world the way my niece had. It became a game I felt I was playing with her and it is possible her spirit dipped in and out to check on how… Read full post »

My brother called early this morning. He knew I would be up before dawn because this is the Baha'i Fast. We eat and drink before sunrise and then wait until the sun sets to eat and drink again.  When the sun sets tonight I'll be at O'Hare airport waiting for… Read full post »

SAY 33 

1. Your main trait: Creativity 

2. The quality you like best in a man: Kindness.

3. The quality you like best in a woman: Kindness. 

4. Your main flaw:  Procrastination  

5. Last time you cried: Today. 

6. Ideal job: Dare I sa/… Read full post »

PACK UP YOUR SORROWS

by Richard Farina and Pauline Marden

Refrain:
Well, if somehow you could pack up your sorrows,
And give them all to me.
You would lose them, I know how to use them,
Give them all to me.

My oldest brother laid on the floor by the stereo… Read full post »

Day 4

My dog woke me up before I wanted to get out of bed. She is my annoying alarm clark that will not be turned off until she gets what she wants. After giving her food and receiving a slobbery thank you, I was too awake to go back… Read full post »

OKay...so here's the deal. My day job is Education Director of the Rockford Area Arts Council and I am in charge of Advocacy for "Arts in Education Month"...which starts tomorrow.

Every day during the month of March, I want to publish short stories on the "Arts4All" Blog of the Rockford… Read full post »

Positive Journaling Day 2* 

The sun followed me to work today. It may do that every day. I'll see what happens tomorrow. 

Most days I forget to look at the sky. A few years ago I heard a news report about a survey where city people were… Read full post »

(This is no one I know, but I love ladies who look like this.)

My friend in life and here (Hiedibeth) suggested doing positive journaling for 21 days. I watched the embedded video on her post and believe what the man said. It reminded me of a quote from the… Read full post »

When I was old enough to understand what Valentine’s Day was, it seemed like the perfect day to get married. So I asked my mother why she and Dad got married February 6^th  when they could have waited eight days for the most romantic day of the year. She made… Read full post »

I have become a curmudgeon. This astonishes me because I am fiercely optimistic. When a pet dies I'm weepy for a week and then run to the animal shelter to find the next new love of my life. When something tragic happens, memorized phrases pop up and out, like… Read full post »