The Long Way Around
Today I reminisced with a co-worker about old classes that I took for my major in college. I was a film major. Well, Communication Arts with an emphasis in Film. Now, the university has a Film degree, but that wasn’t the case when I attended. And we talked about editing, and directing, screenwriting, and set-design, and cinematography. And I felt that flicker reignite. A flame on a candle long burnt out. I loved making films. However, when I was nearing my senior year and my teachers were asking me, “What are you going to do?” I had no idea. I had fallen in love with a guy that had become my fiancé. I was pretty good and well-rounded at all film things. In hindsight, I probably would’ve made a great director. However, directors ...
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The Daring Life of a Roly Poly
On the way to school, my daughter and I use a sidewalk that splits a planter in two. Some mornings we must be extra careful as this sidewalk also serves as major thorough-fair for a roly poly (or rather, pill bug) community. They go in either direction, from the West to East or East to West. It’s not clear what is desirable on the other side that is any different than the one from which they departed. Both have the same plants, mulch, wetness, and soil. However, no matter what side the roly-poly wakes up on in the morning, it will daringly venture across the sidewalk to get to the other side.
Lovingly, we will gingerly walk through their paths. My daughter will save some lives on occasion. She will pick-up...
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Limited Ego
My sister and I have two pretend self-help books, “Stop! Don’t be That Girl!” and “The Limited Ego.” What? Don’t you? In both of our imaginary books, we dole out untrained non-professional advice on relationships and wellness. On my way home from work, we’ll discuss chapters in our non-existent books.
But to be honest, both of us have learned a lot being on this planet for both relationships and wellness. We are heavy consumers of actual trained advice given in books, radio shows, podcasts, and our own one-on-one therapy sessions. And, actually, the advice we give our imaginary readers actually has some value to it. And if needed, although unsolicited, could be of benefit to people...
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Most Beautiful
I used to be most particular about how the Christmas tree was decorated, a perfect balance of ornament to empty branch ratio. I’d stand back and readjust based on “how the tree made me feel.” I was the queen of reorganizing the tree, my sister could attest to that. Never completely satisfied with decorations clearly in the wrong place. “This ornament doesn’t belong here. This one always goes on top. These are too close together.” But this weekend, as my children decorated the tree, I finally took pleasure in clumped together “these are my favorites” ornaments on my artificial tree. An artificial tree because real trees have needles that could be eaten by curious little monsters. I loved to hear the giggles of my children lying under the tree...
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