Category Archives: Writings

My bird feeder and birdhouse game is lacking. The Eastern bluebird male and female pair are no longer okay with a seedy motel—they want the Taj Mahal. I see them perched on the janky, wire-mesh-bottomed hanging thing I made, propped on the shepherd’s hook. Their sideways looks and disapproving little head shakes tell me allContinue reading “Into the Unknown”

Since training diligently for the half-marathon in October, I’ve trudged. I’ve slodged. I’ve begged and pleaded my body forward. Watching videos on running posture—and actually practicing it—is helping. I feel more gazelle-like now, bounding forward from a strong midsection, asserting march-like steps that keep me in an empowered stance, even on an incline. I’ve shortenedContinue reading “A Softer Way Forward”

Evelyn participated in the Pinewood Derby—her first-ever Scouts activity. It’s the longest-running and most iconic Scout event, starting back in 1953. Her third-place finish for speed earned her a sleek car trophy (“It’s hollow inside,” she reported after an eyeball inspection), along with a participant badge and ribbon. After a short stint at home makingContinue reading “Small Town Saturdays”

There’s this epic cloud parting—Julie Andrews frolicking through the meadows, “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music” swelling in the background—that’s what I see in my mind as I envision the berm with a raised bed I want to create in the front lawn. If you knew how the water drains here—straight toContinue reading “The Rights of Jaclynn”

You know that feeling when you can’t quite catch your breath? Not in the deep, satisfying, fill-your-lungs-all-the-way kind of way, but the opposite. Like something gets stuck. Your breath turns short, worry creeps in, and your eyes dart around as if pleading with the air gods to give you a break. That’s how I wasContinue reading “The Cost of Not Knowing”

You know how to skip, right? Just lift one knee and hop on the opposite leg. That lift-hop motion that you alternate—it turns out that, along with a slight lean forward, is proper running posture. So says the TikTok video I scrutinized and then immediately mimicked, bursting down the hallway to the bedroom and backContinue reading “Blowing in the Wind”

I’m reclaiming my space. Well, it’s not completely my space—I do live with other human beings who have their claims on it too—but let’s not count them for the time being. Years ago, my good friend Reid, father of two and husband of one, told me, “I’d prefer not to have roommates.” And yet heContinue reading “Learning How to Run”

I need two décor items that’ll sit on the left and right sides of the squared-out fireplace hole. Right now, there are two pillow pumpkins—brown with beige tops—seated like lion statues at the entry of a fancy person’s driveway. I thought about plants, tall thin ones, but that’s no permanent solution, especially when fires inContinue reading “Evenings at Our House”

I think everything’s good. Besides a mini fire ant ambush—the sizzling hot bites that lead to pus-filled mounds that ache for days—I’m not a fan of those. But the promise of the week ahead, hitting the 80s, feels right. I bought two ornate birdbaths off Facebook Marketplace yesterday, along with sixteen panels of privacy fence,Continue reading “Bring Me A Dream”

The unlikeliest of pairs. Love, Jaclynn