May 28Member-onlyThe next step in our long marchForty-one years ago this week, Don and I marched together at our high school graduation. Last Saturday, we finally marched down the aisle. It wasn’t an entirely traditional wedding, as Don’s entrance was to Darth Vader’s theme music and included a dramatic black cape, which he removed with flourish and…Weddings3 min readWeddings3 min read
May 13Member-onlyFostering a New Parenting PossibilityFostering a New Parenting Possibility Most every night of my childhood, my mom would come into my room to say goodnight. And on many of those nights, she would plop down at the foot of my bed, and we’d talk. It was so easy to talk to her. Now, not…3 min read3 min read
Apr 28Member-onlyBefore DonIt was one of those moments that ended up having a tack shoved through it, pinning it firmly to my memory. It happened when one of my best friends, Anna, was visiting me at the Teays Valley condo where I lived with my ex, during that colorless, before-Don time in…Furniture Refinishing3 min readFurniture Refinishing3 min read
Apr 17Member-onlyNo More Sunday ScariesIt used to be that every Sunday evening, waves of anxiety would wash over me because I so dreaded Mondays — and dreaded nearly as much the four days that would follow. …3 min read3 min read
Mar 31Call of the WildJust a few weeks ago, I wrote about how much our squirrel was enjoying life at the warehouse; how it seemed to be the squirrel equivalent of a kid living at Disney, and how much of my days were spent playing “where’s the squirrel” as I pretended to be unable…Squirrels4 min readSquirrels4 min read
Mar 12Member-onlySquirrel in a WarehouseA few people have asked how Rudy, our squirrel, is adjusting to life in the old warehouse we are rehabbing, since I’ve barely mentioned him lately. I’d say he’s like a kid being allowed to live on-site at Disney. With playmates who are available even more than before. Since semi-moving…Squirrels3 min readSquirrels3 min read
Mar 8Member-onlyHare WarsWhile having lunch with a new friend, she mentioned her daughters were recently given a rabbit. The family had experience with goats and horses and chickens and dogs, but never a rabbit. They weren’t sure what to expect. “She’s just a little thing,” said my friend, “but she’s already chasing…Rabbits3 min readRabbits3 min read
Mar 7Member-onlyHazmat Dance PartyFinding Happiness in the Least Likely Location The realization first hit me shortly after Don had to leave Hinton for a few days to return to Atlanta, and I was alone in the big and very old warehouse we purchased a little over a year ago. We had arrived just…Old Buildings3 min readOld Buildings3 min read
Jan 23Puttin’ in the DogIf you live in Hinton, WV, and this is your dog, I swear I’m not trying to steal him. I just like to borrow him from time to time, when I’m in need of a dog fix. After so many years of constant canine companionship, this dog lover finds herself…Dogs3 min readDogs3 min read
Jan 9Member-onlyFinding Freezeland“Isn’t that it?” I asked Don, pointing at the sign for Freezeland Mountain Road. It more resembled a driveway than a road, hidden as it was between houses along New River Road toward Sandstone Falls in West Virginia. Don turned our little Chevy onto the narrow gravel road that wound…3 min read3 min read
