“Thank you for taking care of me mommy” — those words caused a rush of emotion so hard and so fast I could barely choke out a response — “I love you sweetheart,” I whispered. “I love you too,” she replied quietly. I could tell she was feeling better — I knew the drill and knew exactly how she felt, when the pain went away — relief. But those words in her little voice got to me, straight away and recalled countless booboo’s and tears of frustration by my little one. Except my little one was 17 and recovering from a migraine. She squeezed my hand and I was holding my little girl again in my thoughts. It was all I could do to resist the temptation of crawling into bed with her and wrap my arms around her and hold her close. She was getting ready for her semester finals, and exhausted, found herself grappling with a headache. Cut from the same cloth – again, I knew the drill. (more…)
This weekend we ripped up old, crumbling parquet floors in the dining room and front foyer. We got great advice from a hardwood floor installer regarding removal. Why is that destroying things always seems much easier than building new? It worked like a charm!
After removing the quarter round (shoe molding), we took a circular saw [...]
I’m wondering if holiday sharing is a common phenomenon among married couples. My husband and I have, since we married in 1986, traded Thanksgivings back and forth between our respective families.
Both of our families maintained strong holiday traditions. Both expected their children to continue to participate after marriage. Allowances were made once grandchildren entered the [...]
The Magic 8-ball I remember from my youth was a shiny black orb, a toy, really, with a glowing “window” that would reveal the final verdict to life’s most pressing questions. I can remember evenings spent with my girlfriends either up in the tree fort or on the back porch, whispering in the dark and [...]
It was dark and cold. My mind was fuzzy, my eyes unable to focus. I shivered as I tried to shake myself into consciousness. I tossed and turned trying to get comfortable. What time is it? I wondered. Rearranging the pillows, listening for the familiar sounds of the house, nothing. My window, almost always open, [...]
Thirty years ago, when I was a teenager in the ’70’s, my dad was schlepping his family to at least one different national park each summer during his company’s shutdown in August. These were two weeks trapped in a hot car with vinyl seats (and I was often stuck to them on the long sweaty [...]
To commemorate the latest work of Ken Burns, and in keeping with this blog’s theme, I thought I would write some pieces on the National Parks as I recollect them from my youth.
My father worked for many years, at RCA, here in Indianapolis and the company would shut down in August for two weeks each [...]
We had been dating for a few months, seriously, and I was certainly smitten. He was outgoing, charming, and handsome. An Italian American, he reminded me of my East Coast heritage and it felt very comfortable and familiar. One day in October he asked me if I would like to meet his parents?
Meet the parents [...]
“Thank you for taking care of me mommy” — those words caused a rush of emotion so hard and so fast I could barely choke out a response — “I love you sweetheart,” I whispered. “I love you too,” she replied quietly. I could tell she was feeling better — I knew the drill and [...]
The Magic 8-ball I remember from my youth was a shiny black orb, a toy, really, with a glowing “window” that would reveal the final verdict to life’s most pressing questions. I can remember evenings spent with my girlfriends either up in the tree fort or on the back porch, whispering in the dark and [...]
Writing my way out of a self-imposed box: the ironic observations of my life
woman, middle-aged woman, woman with 2 daughters, working woman, daughter, wife, female human being, conscientious, devoted, vigilant, slightly neurotic, foodie, techie, writer
