My grandmother was a sweet lady most of the time. But once she showed her preference for grandsons over granddaughters. It was Easter time. My two sisters and I were at Grandma’s door, ready to leave. Mom was carrying our little brother. “Wait,” Grandma said. “I have some little gifts for you for Easter.” She… Continue reading Even Steven
Category: memoir
Brain Fog, Dementia, or Something Else?
(re-run) I lay on the physical therapist’s table, running names of L countries from the cubby hole in my brain that held them. Laos, Lichtenstein, Latvia . . . Why couldn’t I think of the name of the country where my youngest had sneaked off to see, the summer after her four months in Jordan?… Continue reading Brain Fog, Dementia, or Something Else?
The Rain and the Long Ride Home
(re-run) After spending four nights in a the relatively pollen-free ocean zone, I was ready to come home and face a slew of doctor and tax appointments for me and my sister. I got up to wet pavement and sunny skies. I showered, packed, and rolled my suitcase out to the gate, along with a… Continue reading The Rain and the Long Ride Home
Through the Tunnel
(re-run) Today I ventured through the Caldecott Tunnel that connects the East Bay with Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco. It was sunny on my side but foggy on the other side. Still, traffic wasn’t too bad, and my car almost drove itself to the warehouse sale off of Fruitvale Avenue (yes, that Fruitvale – think… Continue reading Through the Tunnel
Daisy’s Bloody Tuesday
(re-run) Woe is me. I have a weirdo for a rescue dog. I am her third owner. Things go well most days, but then she growls at my bigger dog, who is usually chill with the little goofball. But sometimes the big dog goes off on the little dog growling at her. She pins down… Continue reading Daisy’s Bloody Tuesday
Lockdown Monday
(re-run from 2020) I got up and fed the dogs, shared my morning apple with them, and then ate my breakfast while checking Facebook. I took a quick shower and then had the whole day ahead of me to fill. Let’s see, yesterday I vacuumed up all the dead bugs and cobwebs in the garage.… Continue reading Lockdown Monday
Picnic in France
Long ago, my boyfriend and I backpacked our way across Europe. We flew into Amsterdam and saw the Anne Frank house and the Red Light district. Since he was Norwegian, we next went to Norway and spent the coldest week in August that I’ve ever known. Then we popped over to Sweden and stayed in… Continue reading Picnic in France
The Ceiling Post
(re-run) Today, as I lay on the examination table at physical therapy, I looked up at the ceiling while the PT dude manipulated my elbow and stretched it this way and that. When he left and sent a much younger dude over to put ultrasound on my elbow, I tried to chat him up. The… Continue reading The Ceiling Post
Snowshoeing with the Girls
(re-run) The last time I was in Tahoe in the winter, Valentina, Margo and I went snowshoeing. The guys went skiing, but we girls weren’t up for that. Maybe it was the house party the night before, or maybe it was a fear of snowboarders taking us out as we meandered down the slopes. Full… Continue reading Snowshoeing with the Girls
A Ghost Story
(re-run) This isn’t a Halloween story. No words are written in blood on the hallway walls, no moaning spirits or flickering lights, or candles blowing themselves out. Just a feeling of not being alone. Ghosts, if you will, leftover energy from those who came before us. As a child I was called the sensitive one.… Continue reading A Ghost Story
FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER! 