Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28 When my mother was 19, in 1951, she won ‘Queen of the Lake.’ I don’t even know which lake; it’s in Southeast Oklahoma. It doesn’t really matter. My mother’s being Queen became legend to us as children. My sisters and I played with the navy blue wallet embossed with gold crowns that was one of … Continue reading The Queen of the Lake is 90
My appointment was at 8:30 a.m. I arrived in the second waiting room about 9:45 after having the first stage of treatment. As I walked in I said aloud, sort of to the surgical tech who escorted me, but mostly to myself, “Ay. They’re all wearing bandages!” It was my attempt at an allusion to a line in the 1960 movie The Grass is Greener. … Continue reading Welcome to Mohs!
I often ponder whether there is a God. I grew up with God-fearing parents and went to Sunday school and church services in a conservative, evangelistic Christian congregation. I attended a Christian college. I worked at Christian colleges for 15 years of my career. I’m not the kind of person you’d think would question the existence of God. I am highly educated. Less than … Continue reading The faith of a mustard seed
I pushed through the door of the cardio movie room and out into the gym. An elderly woman asked me, “What are they doing in there?” “They are buffing the floor,” I answered. “Can we still workout in there?” she followed. I replied, “There’s still one girl in there. I guess you could ask them.” I don’t usually engage in conversation with people in the … Continue reading Do what makes you happy!
I pushed through the door of the cardio movie room and out into the gym. An elderly woman asked me, “What are they doing in there?” “They are buffing the floor,” I answered. “Can we still workout in there?” she followed. I replied, “There’s still one girl in there. I guess you could ask them.” I don’t usually engage in conversation with people in the … Continue reading Do what makes you happy!
In a few days I’ll have been retired for three months. I find myself feeling guilty a lot. I haven’t accomplished as much as I think I should have. My husband keeps telling me I’m new at this. I need to relax and enjoy it. So far I have enjoyed it tremendously, but I still feel guilty. So the other day I took stock of … Continue reading Retirement Guilt
I arrive at the game early and set up camp under the shade of several hardwood trees. Other than this fairly large cool haven, there is no other respite from Georgia’s late summer scorcher. This is an interesting part of the year, this week between the waning days of summer and the arrival of the autumnal equinox. Today marks the first game of little league … Continue reading Saturday morning softball
Breezy is 8. Her parents, Papa and I sometimes talk about how much we miss the baby Breezy. She is growing much too quickly. But we all agree that we love conversing with this older, wiser Breezy. She is simply, in a word, amazing. Earlier this year, when she was but 7, she, her older sister, Papa and I were dining at Taco Bell. Breezy … Continue reading Breezy discovers Michael Jackson
School has started back and I’m beginning to settle into a more normal schedule for my new retirement. I take a shower and wash my hair on Thursday nights; lunch with Breezy comes every Friday. Breezy is particular about how her Gigi looks. She’s already mad at me for letting my gray begin to show, so I make sure I wear my hair down … Continue reading Lunching with Miss Breezy
2017 has been the second worst year of my life. I am just beginning to dig my way out of the destruction and to rebuild. I am trying to fit the events into some sort of framework with the rest of my life, to see the bigger picture. I am seeking understanding. Amidst all the darkness of the year, there lives a little girl who … Continue reading Discovering the meaning of life
Tower of Twins 