Category: memoir

God and the Pandemic

Posted in carpool, Christian school, Covid 19, God, horse, kindergarten, memoir, pandemic, vaccineLeave a comment

My oldest child went to a Christian school for kindergarten. It was tied to the church that ran her preschool. She turned out to be the youngest one in the class, a full year younger than her carpool mate. They shared an October birthday. Let’s call that girl Shannon.  Let’s call her mom Debbie.  I’ll… Continue reading God and the Pandemic

Dance with Me, Young Jeremy

Posted in dancing, dating, humor, memoir, Nebraska, Omaha, relationships, restaurant, worstsLeave a comment

(re-run) Each dance bar in Omaha ended the night with its signature song. One bar closed with Last Dance by Donna Summer, another used Shout from the Blues Brothers movie (by the Isley Brothers) as its sign-off song. But my fave dance bar closed with the song New York, New York. It seemed an odd… Continue reading Dance with Me, Young Jeremy

Car Shows, Men, and Elvis

Posted in beer, Carmel, cars, dogs, Elvis, exercise, humor, memoir, Monterey Bay, Pebble Beach, relationships, Spain, Study abroad, wineLeave a comment

(re-run) It’s funny how memories of one thing lead to memories of other things happening in the same time period. Like the Twin Towers falling, or JFK getting assassinated. Or Elvis dying. Today is the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Forty-two years ago, I was stepping off an airplane from Spain (by way of Morocco).… Continue reading Car Shows, Men, and Elvis

Dancing my Life Away

Posted in aerobics class, ballroom dancing, dance club, dancing, disco, fraternity, girl friends, jazzercise, memoir, Michael Jackson, Omaha, PE, polka, Prom, sorority, square dancing, swing dancing, tap dancing, teens, wedding, wigLeave a comment

A newish girlfriend asked me the other night how I learned to partner dance. It got me thinking about how my fancy footwork has gotten me to where I am today.  As a child, my older sis got to take tap dancing. When I asked if I could, too, the answer was no. “Here are… Continue reading Dancing my Life Away

Feeling Better

Posted in animals, birdfeeder, birds, Depression, dogs, exercise, food, Iowa, medications, melanoma, memoir, mood, nature, sunshine, ZumbaLeave a comment

I have some down days every year, but mostly I don’t. I know I’m lucky. I have also aligned my life to feel better. Coincidentally, a relative’s therapist told her the five things she needs every day to get out of her funk. Nature – I grew up outside in Iowa. As kids we played… Continue reading Feeling Better

My Inherited Dog, Boomer

Posted in animal training, animals, California, dogs, honeymoon, memoir, pregnancy, raccoons, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) Boomer was never my dog, although he came into my care when I married his owner.  I’m not sure how old he was when I got him. My dog, Tess, was two and Boomer was older. A small, part Beagle-part terrier, Boomer had not had a regular dog’s life. He had never eaten dog… Continue reading My Inherited Dog, Boomer

It’s All About the Bacon

Posted in animal welfare, bacon, Beyond Burger, BLT, California, Impossible burger, Incogmeato, Iowa, meat, memoir, pig farmers, restaurant, vegetarianLeave a comment

I grew up in Iowa, and I’ve always loved a BLT, but now that I’m living in California, it has to be a BLTA, with avocado. Of my three kids, none of them eats pork anymore. One eats poultry and fish, one eats fish, and one is a true vegetarian.  No vegans, though. They all… Continue reading It’s All About the Bacon

Getting Away from all the No, No, No’s

Posted in animal adoption, bands, books, boyfriend, California, childhood, dogs, humor, memoir, outside the box, piano, relationships1 Comment

(re-run) My mom, bless her heart, had to keep five children in line, mostly by herself.  She did this by keeping everyone in his or her place, as in, “No, you can’t do that!” I just found out that my younger sister also wanted to play clarinet in the band, like I did. But I… Continue reading Getting Away from all the No, No, No’s

My Friend, the Thief

Posted in babysitting, bus, cherry pie, department store, Des Moines, downtown, flat feet, Iowa, memoir, shoplifting, shopping center, store, store security, troll dollsLeave a comment

We took the bus to go shopping downtown.  We weren’t old enough yet to drive, and it was a boring Saturday. Debbie suggested the shopping trip. We had a shopping center (before malls) within walking distance of our houses. A bus trip was more adventurous. Debbie was always up for adventure. She had moved in… Continue reading My Friend, the Thief