Desert Agave
A Publication in August
Yesterday the Atticus Review published my essay, Book of Proofs. I’m happy and proud to have the essay out in the world. I was asked recently why I choose to write about my mental illness. The fact of my writing about my mental illness is such a fundamental part of me that I rarely think…
Joy Brings Me Back
It has been no secret inside my head that part of the hope behind my year of chasing joy was that it would start to lead me back to writing. For a long time after my son was born, writing was a pursuit on the margins of my life. He simply needed me too much,…
The Year of Chasing Joy
At the start of 2023, I didn’t exactly make a resolution, but I sort of organically came to the conclusion that this was going to be a year of chasing joy. As in, I was actively going to pursue the things that bring me joy to fullest extent possible, without worries about what I “should”…
Doing it the Hard Way
I make excellent oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. The recipe isn’t a big secret. I found it online at the Quaker Oats site. But the cookies are chewy and just what a cookie should be. I think I like them even better than regular chocolate chip cookies. Almost three years ago I baked a batch for…
Special Breakfast
Every Sunday morning our family has what we fondly call Special Breakfast. I started making Special Breakfast on Sunday morning when my son was small, pretty much pre-verbal in fact. At first, I made the same pancake recipe every week. I remember one week my tiny son coming downstairs, seeing me at work in the…
Early Morning
I’ve been waking early for months now. And by early, I mean this morning I got up at 4:30. I try to stay in bed until 5:00, but sometimes I just can’t manage it. I don’t want to wake this early. I’d much rather sleep until 6:00 or so, but my body has other ideas.…
Meditation
My mother-in-law passed away this month three years ago. Her death was sudden and unexpected — a terrible accident — and it still feels like a horrible surprise that she isn’t still with us. Her mother lived well into her 90s, and my husband and I always assumed the same would be true for his…
Breakfast Songs
I am not a monster, so of course I sing to my cats. (I assume this is a universal thing? Making up and singing songs to your pets?) This summer their breakfast song went viral at my son’s summer sleep-away camp. He shared the song with the other campers and counselors, and apparently it got…
Loud
The house is a very loud place today. Men are up on the roof thumping, drilling, and hammering. The cats are freaking out and did not eat their breakfast. Since I got home, one cat has become my little furry shadow. I am giving her pats and I fed her some fish cookies (otherwise known…
Free
Today I am feeling a little free. You see, this morning I mailed off four Christmas packages to family who live far away. I grew up in Wisconsin, but have lived in New Mexico since 1998. Most of my family is still in Wisconsin or surrounding states, and once we had a child, I declared…
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