Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

Within me—my mind, body, thoughts—there’s this inner dialogue I’m observing. It’s an uncertain voice, timid even, and I question its role in my life. At times, I think it’s godlike, an omnipotent crystal ball. Other times, I wish I could banish it from me forever. And still, at different times, I think it’s a telepathicContinue reading “Just A Night”

It amazes me that I can hold up a Pinterest photo of a space and, like a sketch artist bringing a criminal’s face to life, the workers get my vision and bring it to reality. I can’t thank them enough for their care and attunement to our needs in building our house. Their talents andContinue reading “Spaghetti For Lunch”

In a search for a mantra to cope with the unsettled feeling that comes with home uprooting and transition, Dave reminded me of the poem “Desiderata.” He’s pointed it out to me before, and instantly, like a compass finding and bouncing towards North, I felt a sense of security at the suggestion. Before I pasteContinue reading “All is Well”

It’s 88 degrees here in the pool house, and sweaty 4-and-a-half-year-old Evelyn’s body isn’t registering the ridiculousness of her words when she cries, “It’s so cold in here.” It’s not. I’m hot; everyone’s hot, especially the heavy-panting Archie dog. A successful day in South Georgia was had by all. Finding a rhythm in the too-hotContinue reading “Weekend Wildflowering”

An Idahoan blogger was charged with defamation for a post she wrote and ordered to pay 1.1 million dollars. As a fellow blogger, you bet I scoured the news article with a lice comb, picking between the lines at each and every what-not-to-do. And what I found was pretty simple: Beware of your biases orContinue reading “Bias a New Life”

The well water is staining the brick behind and below the hose bib. The writing is on the wall, so to speak (such clever speak!) on how I should expect the shower, toilets, and sink to look. I’m told there’s such a thing as a water softener, but that’s above my pay grade for theContinue reading “Well, Well, Well”

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson I felt rushed out to sea for a few hours, scrambling against the pull, flailing arms grasping for something solid that ran like liquid through my fingers. I had a slight headache mixedContinue reading “Carving It Out”

Dang nabbit, I’ve gone and played my clan game until the cows came home, and it’s 11:00 p.m. A rhythmic drip from the faucet hasn’t been tended to, I’m not in my peach-themed pajamas, and I’d like to be in bed studying Spanish. I’m discouraged. My desire to get a treadmill is tainted by theContinue reading “Unboxing the Pods”

The weather in South Georgia swooshes by like a NASCAR driver having to pee. Is that dark cloud a menace or simply waving a quick hello before it drifts on its way? On a call about writing, Joey spoke of the uniqueness of Kansas’ weather and an anomaly that recently occurred known as a “breakoutContinue reading “Civility Wars”

A lady and her husband passed a cart piled high with doorknobs and light bulbs at Home Depot. Seeing it, she paused and touched the items, “This used to be us.” Turning to look, I stepped toward the cart and set yet another 4-pack of 100-watt bulbs. “Oh, pardon me,” she said, obviously thinking theContinue reading “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”