Published inThe Narrative Arc·PinnedMember-onlyMy Precious Granddaughter Is My Favorite Person in the WorldShe’s like sunshine on a cloudy day — My granddaughter came into the world without making a sound. Her mother, my daughter, had used cocaine when she was first pregnant, and my granddaughter was born blue, limp, and silent. She barely weighed 5 pounds, was 21 inches long, and looked like a wrinkly, pale, newly hatched chicken. The…Family5 min readFamily5 min read
Published inThe Wind Phone·PinnedMember-onlyMy Plan to Take My Own Life and Why I Did Not Want to LiveIt would take a miracle to change my mind — Warning: Discussion of suicide and physical abuse Years ago, in profound desperation, I felt there was no way to go on living with the torment in my soul and ache in my heart, so I started a plan to take my own life. I spent a reasonable amount of time…Suicide6 min readSuicide6 min read
Published inThe Narrative Arc·PinnedMember-onlyI Found Out Why School Teachers Deserve an Enormous Amount of RespectA day in the life of a substitute teacher — I retired from my 42-year nursing career in 2020 and started looking for side jobs where I can choose the days and hours and not work if I don’t feel like it. I do not want to be tied down if I decide on a last-minute vacation or activity. Knowing…Schools8 min readSchools8 min read
Published inCrow’s Feet·PinnedMember-onlyThree Important Things To Know as a Senior Before Getting Into a Serious RelationshipMost of us seniors have dealbreakers — Pointers on dating after you are 65 years old. Health Recently, I went out a few times with a nice guy. I noticed his left hand shaking continuously. We lifted our wine glasses for a toast, and he almost dropped his. When I asked about it, he said he didn’t want…Aging5 min readAging5 min read
Published inBlack Bear·PinnedMember-onlyHere’s What a Substance Abuse Addict Looks Like After 28 Years of UseIt is self-destruction — My oldest daughter came to my house for Christmas. I have written much about her drug struggles since she was 20. She will be 49 in March. Her body, inside and out, has taken a lot of wear and tear. She has had severe bouts of endocarditis from septic MRSA…Addiction5 min readAddiction5 min read
Published inThe Narrative Arc·Sep 28Member-onlyIt’s Rude and Cowardly, But Being Ghosted Can Turn Into a BlessingThat person with no integrity has done you a big favor — Have you ever been ghosted? Someone walks out of your life and stops talking to you or answering your calls, texts, or voicemails. Suddenly, you don’t exist. Often, this is a person you’ve known for a long time, loved, and trusted. Ghosting is often seen as an immature or passive-aggressive…Life Lessons5 min readLife Lessons5 min read
Published inCreative Passions 💖·Sep 23Member-onlyAt Times Dementia Could Make My Mom So Much FunShe would say the funniest things! — “I’m calling 9-1-1," my mother yelled from her recliner. She lived in an assisted living residence and had moderate dementia that was getting more severe. She scolded the children, running around in her room and being “rowdy and disobedient.” Mom was getting worked up with the chaos, making one child…Aging6 min readAging6 min read
Published inBlack Bear·Sep 21Member-onlyThe Personal Journal of a Mother Whose Child Abuses Illegal DrugsExcerpts that reveal a heartbreaking story — *TW: Drug abuse and addiction JOURNAL ENTRY 1994: Dan was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Katie will be out on the street. Could she have been doing more than smoking pot? We can’t believe any of this is happening. Twenty-nine years ago, when my oldest daughter was 20, I…Addiction7 min readAddiction7 min read
Sep 10Member-onlyMy Heart Leapt Tonight When I Came Close to Killing a Dog in the RoadIt was so dark on the drive home — I left my sister’s home in the country around 9 p.m. tonight. She lives way out there! I must take a long, winding, hilly, and curvy road to get home. I’ve driven that road 100s of times. The speed limit is 50 mph. …Life3 min readLife3 min read
Published inBouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs·Sep 4Member-onlyOn My Way to Anytime Fitness, I Got Sidetracked to the BakeryThe specialty there is Snuggles, and they are scrumptious — Our finest local bakery is Petroski’s. They have world-famous pastries, and the biggest seller is their Snuggle. It’s a flaky, thin pastry with a cream cheese filling and glaze icing. It’s 18 inches long and about 2 inches wide. It is unique and popular in our part of the state. …Bakery2 min readBakery2 min read
