Against the blurred backdrop of December's lists, errands, duties, and party time stands a single picture in sharp relief. It is the face of my young niece, Tessa Grace Cutie Face (I Love Her To Outer Space), sitting across from me at the table in my kitchen. The china is out, the house is quiet, and we are having tea and toast. The idea was…
I woke up with plans, as I imagine you did, unless you happen to be on vacation, in which case, congratulations! Take your watch off and be happy! My first objective today was brewing coffee and consuming same, though you'll be relieved to know I aspire to more than that. I'm also washing clothes, paying bills, and sitting here, writing. Whatever the specifics, you and…
Two years ago I took off my beaded jacket, kicked off my sparkly heels and reentered the dance floor with vigor. Our son had married his best friend earlier that brilliant autumn day, and our joy knew no bounds. Surrounded by friends and family, old and new, Jack and I were having the time of our lives. All the preparation was over, the lists crossed…
I'm not sure when, exactly, but my car's service light came on. Yellow, unblinking, it budged in front of everything else jockeying for my brain's space, and cleared its throat. I wonder how long it had been waiting for me to notice. "Maintenance required," it warned me in a low voice. Or, more accurately: MAINTREQ'D "Shhhhh," I replied, "I'm very busy. And I don't want…
"What did you say?" asked the five-year old boy alertly, addressing his wife and child. "They're going to burn down the school tomorrow? Let me take care of this." With that, he strode to the other side of the block center, picked up the Fisher Price telephone, and dialed the fire station. "Hello? Chief? Yes, Chief? They're going to burn down the school...No, no, I…
On a recent visit to Iron Hill, I found myself lost in thought, engaged in a favorite pastime: people watching. From my vantage point, I watched my favorite first-born serve his customers (I have a favorite second-born, see); I also watched the ones he served. One couple got nachos, another the tuna tataki, and still another the French onion soup and salad. I liked smelling…
When I go to Bally's nowadays, I half expect my better half to trot up alongside me as I circle the walking track. I can see his expectant smile as he finds me, and hear his chatting as he reports in about work, his stringers and headers, his horses and rises, his splinters and calluses. Conversations about nothing out of the ordinary. Questions about what's…
My amaryllis bulb opened further last night. This is year two for that flower, I'll have you know. Ha! And Jack always said I bring plants home to die. Not this time! When I went to open the blinds just now, there it was - unfolded nearly as open as it is going to get and with an extra blossom I don't remember from last…
I appreciated Jack for many reasons. not the least of which was that he could fix almost any beeping, bleeping problem that came along. You never get tired of a talent like that. He instinctively asked informed, useful questions. He'd assess the likely causes of the problem du jour, prioritize what steps to take, which tools to use, and the approach that made the most…
There's ice every where I look today, but it wasn't always that way. As a matter of fact, just yesterday I woke to palm trees and sunshine. For two weeks now, I've sought air conditioning and shorts while my neighbors back home bundled to the teeth and dug for hours in repeated deposits of deep, heavy snow. While I was floating with my niece in…