Susan

The Tennis Shoe and the Broken Window

August 27, 2021August 26, 2021 Posted in classmates, college, high school, Iowa, Iowa State University, locker room, memoir, physical fitness, physical fitness award, softball, teacher, windowLeave a comment

It was senior year in high school. I was on my last semester of PE, my least favorite class. I maintained a straight-A average in all other classes. Not PE. It alternated between a B and a C. I was feeling good. We were in our next-to last unit, the physical fitness award. I already… Continue reading The Tennis Shoe and the Broken Window

The Second Shot

August 26, 2021August 25, 2021 Posted in board and care, California, care home, Coronavirus, Covid 19, herd immunity, hoax, memoir, OCD, vaccineLeave a comment

re-run) Three weeks ago, I boldly asked the care home owner where my older sis lives if I could have a vaccine. The CVS nurse was inoculating the 5 residents and two care givers, meaning they would have three extra shots in the ten-dose vial, which would be thrown out at the end of the… Continue reading The Second Shot

My Two Gophers

August 25, 2021 Posted in beach, birdfeeder, birds, California, contractor, Coronavirus, Covid 19, cows, gophers, Iowa, memoir, squirrelsLeave a comment

(re-run) Now before you tell me that gophers are solitary creatures and that I only have one gopher, let me explain that I have a little beach house with a gopher and my regular house with a gopher. I am an Iowa girl, living in California. So both houses were bought because of the property… Continue reading My Two Gophers

Government Cheese and Pinto Beans

August 25, 2021August 24, 2021 Posted in beans, dad, government, hospital, Iowa, memoir, mental health, moccasins, mom, secret, therapyLeave a comment

I was nine or ten when my mom took me and my younger siblings downtown to a place to get some free food for poor people. Our dad was out of work for six weeks. My mother was humiliated. We waited in line until it was our turn. As the worker handed Mom her block… Continue reading Government Cheese and Pinto Beans

A Mouse in the Bed

August 24, 2021August 23, 2021 Posted in childhood, grandma, Iowa, memoir, memory, mom, mouse, storms, trees, validation, voleLeave a comment

(re-run) When my oldest was in 4th or 5th grade, she told me one morning that there was a mouse in her bed. “There’s no mouse in your bed!” I said. “There is,” she said. “I felt it crawling over my leg.” She went off to school, and I told my mother, who was visiting… Continue reading A Mouse in the Bed

My Favorite Oak Tree

August 23, 2021August 25, 2021 Posted in bobcat, fences, gardening, memoir, neighbors, pine tree, sunand shade, tree hugger, trees, valley oak, [pine treeLeave a comment

I can’t stop my neighbors from making bad decisions, like three years ago when the neighbors kitty corner and below me cut down five large pine trees and changed my back yard forever. I lost a number of plants to the afternoon sun, plants that had established themselves in shade. My own small pine tree… Continue reading My Favorite Oak Tree

Peace Corps Fail

August 22, 2021August 21, 2021 Posted in dogs, memoir, Midwestern, Peace Corps, postal service, relationships, Spain, teaching, travel, Venezuela1 Comment

(re-run) It was in the spring of my first year of teaching when the call came. I was at Greenwood Elementary in Greenwood, Nebraska. I had applied to the Peace Corps the year before. They had just seen my application. They wanted to fly me to Chicago for an interview that weekend. They gave me… Continue reading Peace Corps Fail

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Match Date

August 21, 2021August 19, 2021 Posted in California, dating, firsts, gym, honesty, humor, online dating, weight loss, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) Ingrid had been on the online website for a little over a month. She had tried meeting a few guys but only if they were willing to email back and forth and actually pick up a phone and call. Fred had flirted and called, and now it was time for them to meet. He… Continue reading He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Match Date

Betting on a Jersey Girl

August 20, 2021August 18, 2021 Posted in betting, dating, firsts, marriage, marriage proposal, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) He was working in Pittsburgh, auditing Gulf Oil for Price Water House. One of his married buddies approached the crowd at the water cooler and asked a guy, John, if he wanted a blind date with his wife’s friend from dental school. “Wait!” Arthur said. “You already have a girlfriend, John. How about me?… Continue reading Betting on a Jersey Girl

Daisy’s New Perch

August 18, 2021August 17, 2021 Posted in animal rescue, animal training, barking, Christmas, dog behaviors, dogs, gardeners, memoir, park, quiltLeave a comment

(re-run) My suburban house is dumb. The small bedrooms are on the front of the house, with the family room tucked behind the garage. There are no good windows for Daisy to see out of, no couch to jump upon to watch the street. Until the day I cleaned my office. I ended up pushing… Continue reading Daisy’s New Perch