This Girl Is All Verb — [Latin for word for emotion: Emovere, to move, remove, agitate, stir up] She darts. Long leaps. Propelling forward. Higher, streaking through space. She takes me with her; I’m soaring. Her face: rapture of delight. She’s uninterruptible. I go with her, stop breathing at the miracle: monologue in motion. Dance steps become words. Try to describe…

My Sister Double Parked and Dropped Me Off — “Wait, I missed it. You’re doing what?” Susie put the brownies down, pulls four paper cups from under her sweatshirt. “Hold on, I’m getting a quart of milk. Do NOT say another word,” Barb hops up, runs across the hall. What could I say? Reeling in confusion, how could I…

An Ode To My Sister (March 1954 — June 2023) — Until last month (and for sixty-eight years) I used to be Jennifer’s sister. I always will be. Now, only in the past tense. I dislike the term, “unexpected death.” Because can we ever, really, expect it? In my life, that answer is “no.” We walked through loss together. It used to be “we.” I’ve lost my…

Why I Miss My Dog More Than My Husband — Since my husband and my dog drove to Montana; it’s been a week of perfect peace and quiet. I felt happy as they drove off, waving in the darkness before sunrise. Just what I needed: Time. Unfettered time to be alone; write with no interruptions; read whenever I want; eat…

Thanks be to God, from whom all blessings flow… ~ The Doxology ~ I sit here at my desk looking at the framed picture of my grandchildren. And I think and feel grateful for this rich life. I wonder. How could I, an imperfect human being, have anything to do with what I see before me as the sun sets on this Friday evening in June.

Graduate: (intransitive verb) to pass from one stage of experience, proficiency, or prestige to a usually higher one — Today is that day. What day? The day my mother died (nearly forty years ago). Always heavyhearted, until today. Here I am in the same hotel I stayed when she was born. Who’s she? Caitlyn, my firstborn granddaughter. Today she graduates; a new memory made. I needed this. Not the dreaded old one. Who am I? Older, happier, and…

Why my dog should be declared a saint — “One day we will again see our animals in the eternity of Christ,” Pope Paul VI said to a boy grieving the loss of his pet. I didn’t need the pope to tell me we’d see our pets again in heaven, I already knew that. …

Stop Apologizing Before You Diminish Yourself Into Oblivion — I confess. I AM one. That is a host of (mostly) women, who over-apologize A LOT. Here’s a list of the most dumb-ass things for which I apologized today: To my husband, for not having time to walk the dog. He wasn’t doing anything of supreme importance, I promise. Asking…

Who Knows Where the Time Goes ~ Sandy Denny ~ — My baby is turning fifteen. Sullen and sulky, glaring up at me Because I stare at him too much. How I wish I could make you understand Your growth, this emerging independent self Has taken me like a storm. I’m off guard: new territory. I’ve had daughters, a sister… I know girls. But never a son Turn into…