We got the creeping crud for Christmas. Three working in the medical field combined with coming together after various family gatherings means germs are rampant, and general lack of sleep during the holidays adds insult to injury. By the time our grandson woke up on the morning after Christmas with a high fever, he knew …
Finally Finished
Done! That feeling of relief or of exasperation you get when the thing happens that you’ve been plugging away at steadily, or in the case of my right knee, unexpectedly gives out again. After nearly forty years of managing an odd catch somewhere in the anatomy of my right knee, I had learned not to …
Keep the Light On
Old school Christmas lights ran in series so that if one bulb burned out, the entire string went dark. If you could find the faulty bulb and replace it, the series was restored, but testing each bulb often wasn’t worth the effort. For years, I saved the spare bulbs provided with each light strand I …
There’s Time
Single digits in the countdown to Christmas for an adult means everything seems to move faster, but for a child, the days creep by at a sloth’s pace, same as ever. There’s no real hurry and twenty-four hours lasts just as long as it always does, there’s just that sense of urgency that presses in …
Eye To Eye
Little Amelia points to the floor next to her and says, “Sit down, Lolly.” She has a game she wants to play or a book to read, or maybe she just backs up into my lap or grabs me around the neck and gives me the biggest hug she can muster. When we’re playing outside, …
Light & Life
Newborn cries are a welcome relief to parents and caregivers alike when a baby is delivered into the world. A collective inhale and a sigh of exhale accompany the mother’s final push, but not before the baby takes his first breath. The whole room is waiting expectantly, and if anything prevents that all-important gasp, immediate …
Chasing the Wind
Amelia and I were outside enjoying the sunshine in the backyard with Jake and Ella, the Great Danes. Out of nowhere, Jake tore across the yard toward the fence, Ella close on his heels. Such outbursts typically mean there’s a bird or a squirrel bold enough to enter their territory or a package is about …
Whatever You Want
Ophelia Rose was my daughter’s cat. Crating her was always tricky but she traveled well. She went on many vacations with our family, but she did not love the vet. When I opened the door to the veterinary office, her weight shifted to the rear of her crate and she would start hissing. They managed …
More Than God
It’s the time of year for making wishes and wishlists. I’m from the era of Sears Roebuck & Co. Christmas Wish Book. Eldest of three, I learned that checking the mail insured I got the first look. I remember pouring over the pages, cover to cover, listing, revising, and listing again. My shopping was limited …
Dangerous Cravings
The palmetto trees swayed rhythmically as I watched down the street for the arrival of my children and grandchildren. Occasionally I glanced toward my phone to check the time and to make sure I hadn’t missed any messages. I switched on the Bible app to get ahead on some reading, knowing my time would be …
A Fitting Reply 