Fall in Conroe.  I step outside at 630am and I DON’T SWEAT.  Right away.  Ahhh.  This is going to be nice.  Very nice.  I can’t wait for my first Halloween here.  Will there be kids that come to the door?  Probably not many but that’s ok.  I fully intend to go all out anyway.  Until … Continue reading Getting Lost While Checking for Coyote’s

A darkened nursing home.  Elderly citizens sitting motionless in their wheelchairs.  Parked like forgotten shopping carts.  Hanging still like waiting fish.  The TV is off.  It doesn’t matter they’re facing a blank wall anyway.  Mom, Ellie and I walk into the room, my grandmother trailing behind with her walker.  Stubbornly refusing her wheelchair as always.  … Continue reading There’s Magic in Music, or, Old Lives Matter

I woke up Wednesday morning quietly, laying in a pool of gradually brightening morning light.  I can’t tell you how good that felt.  It was as close to joy as I’ve felt in awhile.  I suppose, with a baby, the joy is there but so is the busy-work, the action, the need to clean, care, … Continue reading The life of a Star-Ship Counsellor-Cop

Chargers, formula, the monitor, my shampoo!  My shampoo!!  I don't have room for my shampoo!  I have started packing so long ago and put so much in the suitcase I no longer remember if I packed underwear.  There are so many layers before I could get to where I THINK I packed some underwear that … Continue reading Home, James

She spoke so fast I had to focus to catch everything she was saying.  “I’m from New York.”  She said.  “I’m so glad you said you’re from Virginia.  Everyone around here is like sloooow down, I can’t understand what you’re saying.”“Well, I gotcha.  You’re very thorough.”“Ok well why don’t we get you to fill out … Continue reading too weird for Texas?

What is happiness?  The pure pleasure of a cool swim on a hot day.  There’s something I’ve always loved about the water.   I love just playing, there’s no other word to describe it.  Dancing in the deep end, flipping somersaults underwater and being exuberant because I CAN.  I’m so clumsy, always tripping over my … Continue reading happiness is

The Roomba ate my pajama’s today.  Bill ran over my toad house.  Then I had a doctors appointment where Ellie cried the whole time AND the receptionist gave me attitude about it.  (She didn't SAY anything but she was all like, ugh, you filled out this part of the form wrong..I’ll have to fix it … Continue reading Today Threw Up on Me

Today is the day after.  The first day after my little girl, Ellie-belly-bo-jelly, has taken her first steps.  Ba ba baaaaa.  Confetti and rousing band renditions of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ erupt!  Huzzzaahh!  I.  Am.  RIDICULOUSLY PROUD.  The feelings that washed over me were almost overwhelming.  Joy, awe, disbelief.  Joy.  (My baby is walking!)  Awe.  (Is … Continue reading She Walks!

We had some friends whose dog died today. His name was Parker. Parker was a good dog who had a rough early start. They did the right thing and adopted him from the shelter a few years ago. They gave him so much love and peanut butter sandwiches in such a short time. He was … Continue reading For Parker, and all the furry loved ones who are no longer with us

I like fireworks as much as the next person.  Usually.  But when it goes off RIGHT NEXT DOOR for TWO HOURS when your 14 month old is terrified and can’t sleep because of the BOOMING SONIC PERCUSSIONS, my approval wanes.  I watched minute after minute as they shot them off in the air, some of … Continue reading The Fireworks over the fireworks