Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

“I’m just so thankful it’s so nice,” my stepmom Paula says, cradling her mug of hot buttered rum and gazing out over the light blue skies reflecting on Lake Sawyer. For mid-December in the PNW, the promise of a dry Santa Boat is rare. “That’s him! See the blue lights?” My dad points across theContinue reading “Santa on the Lake”

Luna, the frisbee-obsessed maniac she was, would chase those discs relentlessly across the sandy football-field-sized area of the Kent dog park. My entire body exerted itself in hurling the disc, and I found myself counting in sheer amazement. There were days when I swore I reached 100 throws, yet Luna, my sweet Australian Cattle Dog,Continue reading “It’s a Beaut Clark”

Waking up, my throat felt two sizes bigger, with no air movement in my left nostril and only 20% breathing capacity in my right. The dilemma hovered—should I or shouldn’t I? Eight people depended on me, their needs dominating my thoughts. Like facing 4th down with five seconds left and two yards to go, IContinue reading “A Slice of Life”

I feel like I’m all over the place, and self-conscious of every word, sentence, and paragraph I write. I’m splitting my attention between a Hallmark Christmas movie, texting, and playing my Total Battle app. Did I mention I have a sore throat and a nose that hurts? I can’t think straight! I’m in a weirdContinue reading “Ninny Muggins McGee”

There’s a snail’s pace to our morning, tracing a maze on the back of the Honey Bunches of Oats box, spies at the fog hanging like tinsel over the trees, and slow sips of a homemade two-shot espresso with steamed half and half in a red and green tree Christmas-mugged coffee. And then, unexpectedly, it’sContinue reading “It’s Not Your Fault”

With one foot out the threshold, the night air rushed in. A step away from closing the door behind me before heading to the car, Evelyn shouted her concern, “We forgot to hug and kiss Dad!” She darted back inside. Considering we’d be gone for only 20 minutes, a final curtain call seemed, well, aContinue reading “Uncoordinated Presents”

“I don’t get it,” Dave says, holding up a craft of a glob of clay attached to a bottle cap. The two pipe cleaner antennae had been ripped off, along with the googly eyes – remnants of a project Evelyn had brought home from preschool. I strategically placed it next to the garbage can, aContinue reading “C’mon Ride the Train”

I’ve been searching for the perfect bread – not a baguette, not a super-soft hoagie, but that Subway or Quiznos-style bread. My looks at local groceries was met with bummer after bummer, so I did what I do? I did it myself. And with just three ingredients – bread flour, yeast, and sugar – myContinue reading “Quest for the Quintessential Loaf”

Do you ever notice that delightful melody right before you ascend an escalator at a mall, where a person in a nice shirt is skillfully playing a piano? Well, at home, that same mood is recreated when Dave takes his seat at the piano. Tonight, his practice included Charlie Brown’s “Christmas Time” and another pieceContinue reading “Real-Life Rudolf”

Strolling down the sidewalk with my 50% off Grande Crème Brûlée Starbucks coffee in hand I’m on an hour break in my workday. A few block walk to Fred Meyer for lunch and a happy hour coffee was an unexpected, but welcomed surprise. On the trek, I felt empowered. Not necessarily like an ape poundingContinue reading “Blue Ribbon Life”