Published in The Wind Phone·6 days agoMember-onlyThe Movie Whose Ending I Have SeenAnd it’s not one I imagined or wished for — There he is again. My computer does a quiet running commentary on my previous life as the screen flips through the 14,000 photos saved here and presents a new one every few seconds. I think it is in a “wallpaper” labeled setting I can configure. …The Wind Phone4 min readThe Wind Phone4 min read
Published in Crow’s Feet·6 days agoMember-onlyWe All End Up As Ashes Or BonesNo matter what life we have lived, we are all equal in the end — He put his mother in the back of the car. She was divided into three for easier distribution. It was weird to think of her there. The remains of a human. One who had been in my house and spent Christmas with us. Someone loved and lost. The boxes were…Crowsfeet5 min readCrowsfeet5 min read
Published in The Memoirist·Mar 25Member-onlyAre You Mad?I’ve been asked that a few times…the joy of being mad — “Are you insane? Are you on crack? What are you thinking? This is madness.” These and many other similar questions and suggestions have been said to me during my lifetime. And let’s be clear, to many people the word “mad” means angry. I was raised by parents who lived in…The Memoirist5 min readThe Memoirist5 min read
Published in The Memoirist·Mar 23Member-onlyWhen My Grandson Arrived, My Life Was Placed in ContrastBut I struggled with the life I left behind — My son had just had a baby. A beautiful little boy. Well, actually it was his wife who gave birth. But he was there. At the conception and the delivery. And ever since of course. I had gone over to be there when the baby arrived. Got the call that…The Memoirist4 min readThe Memoirist4 min read
Published in Age of Empathy·Mar 21Member-onlyNew Life Always AmazesBut soon the dragons are left behind — I never cease to be amazed by new life. Every. Single. Time. You’d think I’d be jaded and think it’s no big deal. But even with the arrival of grandchild #18, I am not. It is a big deal. The baby is in the seat next to me. He’s two…Age Of Empathy4 min readAge Of Empathy4 min read
Published in Black Bear·Mar 20Member-onlyClean and RelapsedDerailed in just a few short weeks — The street was quiet. It was a cool but sunny winter morning. I had nothing on my mind but enjoying the peace that comes with having a quiet day ahead. My dogs were leading the way and loving that I was letting them have all the sniffs they wanted at…Black Bear5 min readBlack Bear5 min read
Published in The Lark·Mar 15Member-onlyThe Tenuous Bond of FamilyThe grandchildren were the prize — She heard her son on the phone talking to his wife. The tenuous relationship Beth had with him and his family had been strengthened by need. She pictured them in their kitchen discussing her next visit. She saw her grandchildren flitting by, their mother cooking, their father sitting at his…The Lark3 min readThe Lark3 min read
Published in Crow’s Feet·Mar 15Member-onlyBring on the Free MedicationsIncluding the ones used for sex — I went to the pharmacy yesterday to pick up our medications. The bill was $270. That was for three months worth of prescriptions and one bottle of calcium/zinc vitamins to help combat the excruciating leg cramps I sometimes get. My country of Canada has a pretty good universal health care…Crowsfeet4 min readCrowsfeet4 min read
Published in Black Bear·Mar 13Member-onlyHe Was Wielding an AxeBut in the end, it was ok — The police came through the door ready for anything. It was a situation that could have gone another way in a heartbeat. It would have been front-page news in this small community had it done so. In the end, no one was harmed. And it was something of a miracle…Black Bear4 min readBlack Bear4 min read
Published in Found In My Journal·Mar 12Member-onlySmelling Like PatchouliAnd that boat-like smell — I got in trouble that time at the women’s day event. I was managing the children’s table. There was face paint and dress-up clothes and some craft supplies. I lurked behind my table with a teen helper waiting for the children to come. Little did I know I was about…Found In My Journal4 min readFound In My Journal4 min read
