It was in vivid high definition: some monster person with a melting face and a knife and doors that I could not lock fast enough. There was chasing and close calls. The stuff of horror movies I do not go see, under any circumstance, and yet can somehow recreate at a cellular level. I jarred awake [...]
Author Archive
To vida, noxzema and chi chi, thanks for everything
I will break him out of school half day, slowing the car as he hops in. We will speed away, two people on the same road, age and authority disappearing as we sit side by side in the front seat. We will be alert and together, the excitement building as we approach our city, basking in [...]
She bakes cookies!
On Mother’s Day several years ago, my then small sons brought home an art project from Sunday school. It was meant to be a sort of gift/card for me, the focus of their lesson. It consisted of two large circles placed one on top of the other and fastened by a brad in the middle. [...]
Marathon minion
I suppose watching a marathon is not as hard as running one. Spectators do not get as sweaty. Some sit in lawn chairs, but most stand up, wedged against barriers and each other. There is not much movement on the sidelines. The cheerleaders can only tip toe up and down, squinting, trying to discern one [...]
Spring break: the cheez-it and guinness edition
This week was officially Spring Break. The boys were off from school. I took time off work. While the March grey weather blew dead leaves and dirt clods from the tops of a few shivering crocuses, we stayed in our house and relaxed. No Florida, no skiing, no “stay-cation” exploring the undiscovered neighborhoods of our [...]
Eulogy 101
Over the past few months, several people have asked me for advice on writing a eulogy. Although I have personally spoken at only two funerals and otherwise avoid them, I responded to each request as best I could. They were the friends or grandchildren or nephews of the deceased, sad but not dismantled by grief, [...]
Loops of grandeur
When I was in ninth grade I got a “C” on a spelling test. I was outraged. I responded by wielding the power of the press and, as editor of the school newspaper, wrote a scathing editorial about my English teacher’s unfair grading practices. The issue was not to defend my spelling, although in fact [...]
Love potion
I sat with my hands neatly folded on my black silk lap. Boots tucked behind the carved legs of a velvet chair, hair swept in a bun, ruffles in repose at the neck and wrists of a sweater far too fancy to be functional in any other setting. I sat as lovely and composed as [...]
An ordinary evening of unexpected sequence
If I choose any evening, any ordinary evening, I will find that an unexpected sequence has led to an unexpected result.
This evening began with long underwear.
My son, who attends college in Minnesota, called and said that he was freezing. Could I send him some long underwear, please? I had suggested thermal-lined everything when he was [...]
Trouble and truth in pixie hollow
One of my favorite films last year did not star Mickey Rourke or Sean Penn; there were no vampires or superheroes or ex-presidents; no narcissistic recovering drug addicts or triumphant game show contestants or tortured suburbanites. One of my favorite movies last year was TinkerBell, direct from Disney’s marketing department to DVD. Some adults, especially adults [...]
