On Marriage

This morning, Keith gets up first. He lets Heathcliff out for his ‘hurry up’ then Freya. From the comfort of bed, I hear her barking in the woods beyond the mountain road turn-around. I smell the coffee, which Keith sets up to brew by 5 every morning – we’re early...

New Year’s Do-Over

Smells of gingerbread and sugar cookies no longer waft from kitchens. Sweaters with reindeer flying across their chests tuck away in bureau drawers. Red, green and white decorations return to boxes and bags stored under basement stairs. The Christmas holiday has...

Vanaprastha Weightlifting Club

“Grunt it up, you old lady!” “I’ll show you, you old man!” Welcome to the Vanaprastha Weightlifting Club, membership two hearty, humorous souls. (Thank you to our son Alex for giving us these wonderful t-shirts!) Keith and I are gut-centered types. In terms of the...

Expectations

A Child’s Expectations My parents will be there for me forever. They will always be good parents, everything I want them to be. Santa, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa will bring me the gifts on my wish list, things I marked in the Sear’s Christmas catalog and more. I...

Listening

Mother parks her walker beside a blue cushioned booth in the assisted care dining room while Daughter unloads the red cafeteria tray. Mother wears deep purple corduroy pants and matching white and purple flowered turtleneck, an attractive and serviceable ensemble for...

Priorities

“Whether they articulate them or not, everyone has values in life. I recommend the following.” So spoke William Jennings Bryan, III, former pastor of Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas and now Director of Intern Program and Professional Formation at SMU’s...