On The Things We Keep

Baby Clothes, Ridiculous Flowers, A Bassinet Skirt. And The Things We Give“I must be flunking Grandma,” I tell my daughter on the phone.  “Oh, I doubt that!” She laughs, music, and I hear joy and fatigue in her voice, stretched as she’s been to play her role in a brand new miracle. “Because,” I continued, […]


The Day I Forgot the Cheez-its

Cheez-Its. Mom Loved Them. Moving On. I knew the day would come when I’d forget the Cheez-Its. It didn’t come on Easter, when I contributed snacks to a Lagrand family gathering. Nope. On that day I prepared a platter of grapes, dried apricots, a carefully-curated collection of cheeses, various crackers–and a box of Cheez-Its. The […]


Acoustic Vacation

Sunrise on Oahu’s North Shore. The Incredible Sweetness of Being, Part Nine I unplugged for this vacation. My husband, Rich, and I flew to Hawaii to visit my daughter, Elaine, her husband, Rob, their boys, Cadence and Sawyer, and Little Miss Kidney Bean, due to be born in September. They’re stationed at Pearl Harbor, for now, […]


Take Me for Granted

Rich, me, and a Nameless Turkey. Thanksgiving, 2007. The Thanksgiving House“We’re thinking of bringing the kids down with three-day passes to Disneyland for Monday through Wednesday,” my brother Tim said, “That is…if you’re doing Thanksgiving again this year.” “Of course we are! We look forward to having everyone here.” Tomorrow we celebrate our fifth Thanksgiving […]


Take Me for Granted

Rich, me, and a Nameless Turkey. Thanksgiving, 2007. The Thanksgiving House“We’re thinking of bringing the kids down with three-day passes to Disneyland for Monday through Wednesday,” my brother Tim said, “That is…if you’re doing Thanksgiving again this year.” “Of course we are! We look forward to having everyone here.” Tomorrow we celebrate our fifth Thanksgiving […]