A friend of mine recommended I read Gilead. Even though it's a work of fiction, my friend said it inspired her to pass on to her children and grandchildren a similar (but real, nonfiction) reflection on her life. After finishing the book, I agreed and found myself wanting to capture some sense of Life As I Know It. I'd like to pass on to my family some of my thoughts, … [Read more...]
When Africa Stopped By – A Thanksgiving Story
The taper candles burned low, dripping tiny wax circles onto our gold tablecloth. The turkey carcass sat in the pan picked clean, the few remaining rolls were bagged up for the next day's lunch, and crumbly remnants of pumpkin pie waited to be cleared. During the lull, the kids sprawled on the living room floor playing a card game; our neighbors chatted with my mom and … [Read more...]
A Prison of His Own Fears
On a Saturday morning in September, my 86-year-old dad reported he'd been bitten on the forehead by an insect. It swelled up, he said. Strange, I thought. My husband and I drove out to the farm to inspect. He hadn't been bitten. He’d fallen. We took him straight to the hospital, where they admitted him for tests. While there, he ran into some complications, but they … [Read more...]
One Lone Duck Egg – Memoir
I was ten, maybe, visiting my friend Becky, who lived on a farm down the street where they raised cows, pigs, and ducks. She and I spotted a lone duck egg that had fallen from its nest into the pond. I held onto a tree trunk and leaned out to coax the egg toward us using a long stick, finally pulling it close enough to pluck it from the water. Becky’s mom said I could … [Read more...]
