The township trucks rattle past my kitchen window these days, hauling last month's Christmas trees. There are displays of Slim-Fast at the front of every grocery store, while candy hearts wait their turn a few aisles in. It must be a new year. Time to go around the track again. I last checked in six weeks ago, on December 1st, when I reached the end…
Well, as it has been said, all good things must come to an end. This afternoon I head to Philly after five days of being totally spoiled at my friend’s house here in Florida. Of course, I will be glad to get home – there’s no place like home — but I will miss the lavish hospitality. I have grown accustomed to the way the…
I never did drugs growing up, unless you count coffee, not that I do. But while I never did drugs, I have been hooked on something else as controlling, and it is this heady premise: I can do it myself. I know you are all shocked to hear I was ever like this, knowing what you presently know of me, but yes, I really was an…
I keep waiting for the Perfect Time, a time in which to write you thoughtfully, memorably, helpfully, with sufficient space carved out to refine, polish and edit, as my spelling and grammer grammar are meticulously checked. And in such waiting, all that happens is nothing. Once again, it's time to reject the Whole Lotta Nothing thinking in favor of a Little Bit of Something. Let me…
I was glad to be home after a whirlwind 24-hour getaway. It had included, among other things, a picnic lunch by a stream and setting marshmallows ablaze by bonfire. (Why? Is there another way to toast them?) I happily anticipated a hot shower to erase the traces of dirt and sweat and smoke. Standing lost in thought, suitcase on the floor, cats circling my feet…
"Well, so how is your husband?" asked a friend I hadn't seen in awhile. Taken off-guard, I stammered, "He died. He's dead. He got very sick quite suddenly and he passed away. Eight months ago today." But as I've had time to rethink it, I want another chance to answer, this time more accurately. Jack didn't pass away. He didn't. The real answer is that he is very much alive and…
My five year old niece stared unhappily at the handwriting task her mom had just assigned."I don't know why, but this just makes me feel like crying!"I totally get that, my nice niece. For you, it is handwriting. For me, it is paperwork. What my friend calls Yucky Papers. Under the best of circumstances, the most I hope for is a temporary truce with Yucky Papers. But I'm finding…
As Neil Sedaka might have sung on a morning like this, "Waking up is so hard to do." It's one of those days when I open my eyes and feel like a Mack truck hit me, and then backed up to see what it hit. A morning when the coffee can't be brewed fast enough. A morning when what I would really like is for someone…
This morning, I retrieved eight delicate sets of teacups and saucers from their haven on the top shelf, and set them on my counter. That it had been a while was evident by the lone spider's wisp stretching across one handle. These lovely teacups and saucers were the fruit of a lifetime of collecting by Jack's favorite Aunt Laura. We had honored the trust of…
Well, tomorrow marks seven months, and I'm not sure what to say about that, except that it is what it is. Other people along the road are months and years ahead of me, but I can't think too much about that because I'm not there yet. I'm at six months, thirty days and about fifteen minutes. That's the nature of grieving, as far as I can…