Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

My adrenaline is pumping, and I’ve got a fresh, red, cat-like scratch wrapped around my wrist. My hair is damp, and my hands smell like dish soap. So, what have I been up to? Well, what else could it be at 9:18 pm on a Friday night other than chasing three Muscovy female ducks, grabbingContinue reading “Duck and Cover: A Wild Night in the Coop”

Have I ever shared with you my once paralyzing fear of schizophrenia? It was a relentless tormenter, surfacing unpredictably like a prairie dog in my mind. I could never escape its grip, and after years of battling it, I reached a point of utter exasperation. At a friend’s suggestion, I wrote a letter to myContinue reading “Putting Down the Gun”

Feeling ganged up on in a couple’s session, a client suddenly turned to me, pointed, and said, “Now you be quiet.” Understanding the reason behind their reaction, knowing it was okay for them to feel that way, and recognizing that it didn’t sit well with me, led to me standing and calmly stating, “I needContinue reading “Cash Rich Wannabe”

“Is that you? Duck, duck, duck.” With my neck cranked toward the skylight, I sent my familiar voice upwards, urging the tapping sound, if not a woodpecker or flicker, that the thin, long neck, bill, and beady eyes would show itself. But nothing. So, with a mug full of coffee, I stepped onto the lessContinue reading “A Witch’s Words of Whimsy”

I absolutely adore the way our house cleaner diligently scrubs away those unsightly rings around the toilet bowl with a pumice stone, and how their loving craftsmanship miraculously transforms every soiled spot on the base and lid into a pristine, showroom-worthy display. And with a final polish and a touch of a fragrant scent, makesContinue reading “Sidestepping a Serial Killer”

Fifty-four miles, that’s the distance our adorable little train track has covered since we received it as a Christmas gift last year. Even though it hasn’t left the confines of our living room, Dave’s app keeps a running tally. Today, for the first time, we decided to set it up around the kitchen island, completeContinue reading “Yep!”

Love, Jaclynn

Couples counseling is akin to me, the head chef, trying to understand a meal’s preparation process as the cooks responsible for it share their methods. Today, in the metaphorical kitchen, I observed the two cooks unfortunate inability to see each other’s perspective, an escalation of emotions, swearing, and a heaping of mistrust in assembling theirContinue reading “Cooking with Couples in Counseling”

Taking a moment to ground myself, I’m savoring the sour cream and onion seasoning one chip at a time while waiting for my veggie sandwich in a cozy local deli. It’s a comforting place, where you can overhear interesting conversations among community members. Today, a uniformed police officer and a fireman playfully argue about whoContinue reading “Therapist Troubles”

A few times a week, I find myself falling into trap doors leading to melancholic, woe-is-me rooms. The trigger is time slipping through my fingers, especially the time I spend with Evelyn, my Dad, and all the people I hold dear. It’s like carrying around the heaviest boulder of grief, and I can’t stand it.Continue reading “The Unimaginable”