(re-run from 2018) Eight Christmases in this house and only two trees. Both were living, and they got planted in my yard. Guess what? My yard is full. That’s what happens when you get rid of your grass, fire your gardener, and watch volunteer trees grow on their own, self-planting trees with a little help… Continue reading No Christmas Tree for Me
Category: divorce
Almost Toast
(re-run) Marlene and her friend Beth came out to California from New Hampshire after college to work for Bank of America. They each made a new friend, and each new friend brought another friend to the party (plus one more) until they were a group of seven recent college graduates, living in the city of… Continue reading Almost Toast
Second Time Around
(re-run) Suzanne needed a date for her Alpha Delta Phi sorority party that was being held off campus at one of the sisters’ parents’ house. She invited a guy from her old high school, Mark. When they got there, Mark knew the physician dad, because they’d been on ski patrol together one winter in Tahoe.… Continue reading Second Time Around
Joe Average
(re-run) Emily met Joe on Match.com. They both liked the SF Giants. They both lived in Livermore, although he worked in Alameda and had to get up early at 4:00 a.m. for his job. Joe made an exception to stay up late one night so he could meet Emily and buy her dinner. Emily had… Continue reading Joe Average
9-11
It was 9:30 in the morning, California time. I was doing my usual clean-up after sending our three young children off to school. The oldest was almost 15, the middle one 12, and the youngest just 7. The new Dachshund puppy needed to go outside, but with hawks around, I needed to go with him.… Continue reading 9-11
Give Me Back my Sweater!
(re-run) Once divorced, I discovered dancing in nightclubs, some of them outside with trees and twinkling lights. Barone’s in Pleasanton had live music every Thursday, from May to October. The October nights were cool, with the sun setting at 6:30 or so. I put on my short dancing dress, went bare legged, with sandals on… Continue reading Give Me Back my Sweater!
He Met Her at Work
(re-run) Troy had the best job for meeting women. He was a parks worker for the city of Clayton, which contracted with the county for a workforce from the Work Alternative Program. In other words, drunk drivers and those with misdemeanors could work off their time instead of paying fines. He was their supervisor. Katie,… Continue reading He Met Her at Work
A 4th of July to Remember, or Not
(re-run) It wasn’t a typical 4th of July. I was getting divorced, and I had a boyfriend, although he was a conspiracy theorist. If you don’t believe me, you could just look at his wardrobe. He owned a collection of t-shirts that screamed, I am anti-government, anti-media, anti-logic of any kind. But he was cute,… Continue reading A 4th of July to Remember, or Not
Kuma, the Teddy-bear Akita
(re-run) Beth’s husband had two Akita dogs. She wanted to get one for their six-year-old son. She got Lee a puppy and named him Kuma, which is Japanese for Bear. The two older dogs kept attacking the puppy. The marriage wasn’t going well, either. Beth and her son moved out and got their own place… Continue reading Kuma, the Teddy-bear Akita
Why Are Birthdays Such a Big Deal?
(re=run) If you’re like me, you remember some of your birthdays, the really good ones and the really bad ones. The older you get, the more focused they become as the other ones fall away. Why are birthdays such a big deal? Everyone has one every year, and we each share the date with millions… Continue reading Why Are Birthdays Such a Big Deal?
FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER! 