A passion for words and wine
I did not drink blood again after that long ago day when she said we should all be blood sisters. Seal our commitment to one another by the sharing of what ran through our veins. And we did. A small pocket knife made the incisions and the three of us…
And what community is to me…
My community is those who I can gather at a table with. Share a meal, a joke, some wisdom. Sometimes a mission in life. Not always agreeing. In fact, it’s a given we probably won’t. But we share something deeper.
Humans were not created to live an isolated existence. I’m…
But I didn’t kill Horace
I didn’t kill Horace. When I rolled the car, skated on thin ice, brought home the vicious dog.
But I confess, I stole a chocolate bar when I was six. Got in big trouble. My father was the Police Chief. Being a criminal was not allowed.
I didn’t kill Horace…
What was he thinking?
He had been watching her walk this route for weeks, the same way, every day. On the trip out she always had a boy with her. They walked close together, boy and woman. Usually talking, occasionally holding hands, or she would give the boy a rub on the shoulder. Sometimes…
Imagining a future where there would be a home filled with love
At eight o’clock in the morning he took them to the car. He ran it for a few minutes, warming it from the chill December air while he hunched down, staring ahead. They sat in the back seat close together, sad. It was their first Christmas in this house, their…
Connection to birth family
In the Bible there’s a story where King Solomon is asked to help make a decision. Two mothers come to him with a baby that they both lay claim to. The narrative goes that they both gave birth at the same time, in the same house but one of the…
Alone at last
I have never lived alone. First there was my family. Loud, then sad, then quiet. But never alone
Then there was my group. Living in community. Dozens of us young people. Not allowed to be alone. Stay with the crowd. Disciplined for taking a walk in the woods. Instructed to…
Playground lessons
Jacob sat down on a bench. His son Elias ran over to the playground. Jacob took out his book. Decided to attempt to read. Although staring at his phone was easier he was trying really hard not to use it unless he needed to. …
With power to destroy
My shame is hidden behind a smile. Under the clothes that make me invisible
My shame lurks on quiet footsteps, paths where no one else will find me
My shame is in the way I do not talk unless spoken to; friendliness not to be interpreted as confidence kept in…
This Creature that Resembles Fear Itself
What keeps me up at night is a creature, a giant spider that traipse across the floor with clattering, scrambling feet climbing into shoes to hide until tomorrow.
It’s the rat that evades the traps and scampers around the room searching for leftover candy wrappers, crumbs from long ago breakfast…
