CONNECTING HEARTS THROUGH WORDS
Words don’t suffice. There aren’t enough that can express. A and E, let my heart talk to yours. You are so adored by your hard-working and fun-loving parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles: Life will be a great adventure. Along the way, we’ll surround you and pray you'll be surrounded by God’s angels too. Your Nonny... Continue Reading →
May 14, 1985 Dad died in the hospital today. Why, why, why, why, why? Why wasn't I taken instead? Mom, Karen, and the boys could live fine without me. How will any of us survive without Dad? June 9, 2023 Dear Younger Me, These are such good questions. Thirty-eight trips around the sun later, and... Continue Reading →
"Just turn on the power and everything is all set. You don’t need to change a thing. I have it on the correct setting and volume." "If it’s not turned on," she said, "he won't sleep and will be distracted by the children playing outside." I was babysitting for my niece and nephews and followed... Continue Reading →
She gave me a wry grin and shook her head. "Is that getting old?" I asked. "Yes," she said, but then her laughter told me she (sorta) liked my little comedy routine. Now that my daughter, husband, and most of us are doing school and work at home, I say, "Drive safe!" and "See you... Continue Reading →
The stout and stern, dark-haired judge scared the living heck out of us. She fired one question after another, and the sweat beaded on Craig's head. The kind translator had warned us ahead of time not to look at herself but only at the judge when it was time for the translator to repeat the... Continue Reading →
When I heard his feet hit the floor and his bedroom door open, I knew I didn’t have time to move or hide. I was caught. "Hey!" he said. "What are you doing?" "I'm just looking for something I dropped earlier," I whispered (and lied). He was practically sleep-walking so didn't question, but stepped over... Continue Reading →
Trying to wing the toast at my son’s wedding last May was a horrible idea. Once I had the microphone and looked out at that lakefront ballroom full of cherished family and friends, I felt an uncomfortable lump forming in my throat. When I turned to address the bride and groom, the swelling moved up... Continue Reading →
No sooner had the words come rushing out of my mouth that I saw a single, fat tear roll down her cheek. She looked at me with incredulous eyes, and my heart pounded. Backstory: A few months ago, I had been in this same shoe store and noticed that the young employee seemed upset and... Continue Reading →
I once read that you start saying goodbye to your child the moment you give birth. Trusting another to watch them for an hour, their first crawl and first steps, the beginning of pre-school, start of kindergarten, first time sleeping away from home—on and on the goodbyes go. The initial times my younger son and... Continue Reading →
I'm having an affair. I should feel very, very guilty ... but I don't. He's a married father of three. I'm also married with three children. I happen to know his children very well. In fact, I've known his wife my whole life. I am her, she is me. I'm having an affair with my... Continue Reading →
I awoke to the alarm this morning at five thirty, heart pounding, with a list of things I must accomplish today running through my head. First off, dentist appointment. Next, dress, gift, and grocery shopping before returning home to clean the bathroom. Then, send a card, finish emails, and make a meal to bring to... Continue Reading →
It began in the spring of 1985. Actually, let me back up. It began, specifically, at 12:30 a.m. on December 26, 1984—the first time Craig and I said "I love you" to one another. I was a month over seventeen, a senior in high school, and Craig had just turned nineteen the week before, a... Continue Reading →