Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

A crackly “crshsshhhh,” like the static from a CB radio on a long-haul truck, interrupted the lovely landing ending of the 55-minute mark of my 11 am counseling appointment. As I escorted the patient out, I identified the source of the disturbance – my blue walkie-talkie. I pressed the side button, “You there?” The patientContinue reading “Stucky McStuckerton”

“You okay?” I inquired, addressing the reddened-faced man sporting a tightly trimmed silver goatee and sophisticated glasses. “No,” he replied, his eyes darting past me to the overcrowded lobby, then to the piles of to-go orders, and for a fleeting moment, on me. After providing him with my name, he jotted it down on aContinue reading “Christmas Dinner at Denny’s”

“Someday soon, we will all be together, if the fates allow. Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” Perhaps it’s the buttery way these words flow from Ella Fitzgerald’s vocals or the sentiment that feels like the first bite of warm apple pie, but at hearing this Christmas song’s lyrics I feel myself calm.Continue reading “A Very Merry Christmas”

“She drew the curtains, and she got into bed, without taking off her clothes or her shoes. She felt ashamed and foolish. She felt covered in failure and she felt sure that people could smell and see it on her.” While reading earlier, the author of ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ couldn’t help but pushContinue reading “Ode to Heated Springs”

Hearing the news of my old colleague, mentor, and friend’s wife passing away had me reflecting on their situation. Today, I took the initiative to send an email, expressing my condolences and checking in. Surprisingly, within an hour, he responded, sharing the details of his wife, their final months and providing insight into his mindsetContinue reading “Future Islander”

This week, I’ve seen so much growth in people. And growth that I feel confident in the skill sets the people I work south have, that even without counseling, they’d be like little old me at seven when Dad let go of me on that bike with no training wheels. I finally felt the exhilaratingContinue reading “Sudsy Date”

What would you like to write about? I’m beginning my post with that question tonight; the invitation is like a friend tapping their velvety couch cushion, saying, “Here, take a seat.” I’ll be here for the next hour or so, I tell myself, connecting with you on whatever you want to talk about, take yourContinue reading “A Hope for Snow”

Headway, the company handling insurance for my counseling business, recently requested additional information from me. Typically, these requests are routine, involving simple steps like opting in for a provider or verifying my identity. Since I’ve encountered these before and nothing significant ever changes, their prompts don’t usually concern me. However, today was different. A flagContinue reading “Shifting Perspectives”

“Do I really need such an intense reaction?” I ask myself. It’s a non-workday, and apart from a date to browse vinyl records with Dave at a shop downtown Sumner, my schedule for the week is neatly squared away. It should be a relaxed day. I’m experimenting with a mindset shift, like being careful whenContinue reading “Violation of Privacy”

I love unique holiday theatre events, so when the funny image of one man sitting on an extra-large present with a snowy forest backdrop, and another man in a suit draped over the seated man’s shoulders, caught my eye, along with the pun for “tea,” I got curious. Then I read on: “O Christmas Tea,Continue reading “All Sales Final”