Today is the fifth anniversary of my son Steve’s death from cancer. Some of you may recall the story I wrote about finding a poem he had written to me while I was organizing my music files about a year after his death. Today, as we are preparing to move the music equipment upstairs to Continue reading
Today would have been my son Steve’s 44th birthday. He died from complications of melanoma skin cancer treatment at age 39. We have a “Steve” wall: it is a narrow slice of wall that can be seen under the large tv that hangs from the ceiling. When I watch tv I look directly at that Continue reading
So I treated myself to this fancy-dancy underwater camera last year. It took great, clear pictures, but the last couple times out, it either would not turn on, or it did with zoom set to max (not noticed until I tried to process pictures that showed…..nothing but a blur). Then it started working again and Continue reading
Last year, just after the pandemic hit, I lost two fillings. There was no way I was going to let someone dink around in my mouth, so I bought out the town’s supply of temporary filling stuff. Fast forward a year, and now fully vaccinated, I dared to think that I might get those teeth Continue reading
….Hello. And goodbye. And I love you. And love, compassion, peace, mercy. And probably some other things too, but these I know off the top of my head. And why am I pointing this out? Earlier this week Pastor Kaitlin called and asked if I would be a lector for the Easter Vigil service. I Continue reading
Many years ago (um, 48 to be exact…) and long before my TV and movie phobia manifested itself, I used to watch the show “Outer Limits.” One episode has literally haunted me for all those 48 years. An altruistic, benign alien comes to earth and someone tries to kill it. It produces a protective shield. Continue reading
“It’s so nice to see and talk with you!” said Judy, as we met by my car to exchange a package. Obviously there is not much “seeing and talking” going on with the pandemic. “How are the chickens?” she asked as we chatted. “Good,” I replied, adding that we (and numerous chicken-raising friends) had just Continue reading
So, my New Years resolution is to hike all 193 (or 195 depending on your source) countries of the world. This will be difficult, since I don’t have a passport. But YouTube to the rescue! I have been using the site to take train “trips” recently, and have found them strangely motivating. Why not the Continue reading
I lost my dog this week. I walked out the “gulch gate” to pick some heliconia for a wreath I was making and both Lily and Akamai followed me out….usually not a problem, but a cat came out from under the bridge….and both dogs took off in pursuit. Akamai (such a good boy….) did return Continue reading
“When you worry, and you can’t sleep, count your blessings instead of sheep, and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.” That Christmas song was playing on my computer when the phone call came. Our neighbor, Cliff, had heard the ambulance sirens as they went up our road, had followed to offer assistance, and it was Continue reading
The patient was singularly uninterested in self-care, refusing physical therapy, medications and most interventions. They had been hospitalized for months for a life-threatening condition and subsequent complications. When I gave report to the accepting doctor at the rehab facility I pointed out the patient’s lack of interest in participating….in anything…., and opined that any functional Continue reading
The instructions said that in order to make my Poinsettia bloom again, it needs to spend time outdoors in the summer, then be cut back in the fall, and then experience uninterrupted darkness for at least 15 hours a day until Thanksgiving. Cut the plant back, plant it, dig it up, replant it, place it Continue reading
Our Christmas tree cutting permit had arrived, and we made a last minute decision to drive “‘up north” to Arizona’s high desert to cut one. Throwing a half-bag of cookies and some sodas in the truck, my husband and I and our young son, then about 4, took off on a Saturday morning adventure. We Continue reading
It’s the smell I remember, mostly. Thanksgiving Day at Grandma R’s house always greeted me with an assault on the nostrils. The extended family (usually about twelve of us) would gather at the large dining room table, summoned by the 4pm gong of the large pendulum clock on the wall, and wait for the dishes Continue reading
I was standing in the lightbulb aisle at the hardware store, scanning the shelves (fruitlessly) for 3-way bulbs. While I scanned, I became aware of the muzac….and realized I was listening to a Christmas song. It was not even the middle of October, and they were playing “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella.” Now, I love Continue reading
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