Pennies and Thunder
My window was dark, the ceiling light reflected in the glass. I sat on the beige carpet of my room, my new room, with the Big Girl bed, not a … Continue reading Pennies and Thunder
Tag: Remember the Time
Ship to Shore
“I can’t wait to see you, Daddy!” I said into the telephone. My father, calling from Hawaii replied, “What are you going to do instead?” Dad had been deployed with … Continue reading Ship to Shore
Death of a Cheerleader
When I was thirteen, I had a huge crush on the boy who lived across the street. He had dreamy brown eyes, and he totally rocked a short-sleeved plaid shirt. … Continue reading Death of a Cheerleader
Thanksgiving Then and Now
When I was a kid, we always lived far away from our extended family. For our little family, this meant spending all of our holidays on our own. This didn’t … Continue reading Thanksgiving Then and Now
A Progression of Farewells
It was still dark when my son woke me up, crying. “Shhh, shhh, honey,” I soothed, stroking his hair. “Do you want to nurse?” “No, Mommy,” he said, “you don’t … Continue reading A Progression of Farewells
Outsourcing Sex Ed
The sex ed classes I had as a child were taught by the public schools I attended. In sixth grade, we were segregated by sex and went into separate rooms … Continue reading Outsourcing Sex Ed
Halloween Pie
When I was a kid, the month of October sounded like the whir of the sewing machine as my mother made Halloween costumes for all three of us kids. Not … Continue reading Halloween Pie
Rebel Without a Cause
My left hand on the steering wheel, I shifted gears with my right then reached past the gear shift and pushed in the cigarette lighter. I could feel my little … Continue reading Rebel Without a Cause
The Big Old Whiny Freakout
When I was four years old, my mom and I were at the mall. This was a California mall which means that where malls in colder places have roofs between … Continue reading The Big Old Whiny Freakout
Picking Favorites
When I think about the teachers I’ve had, I first remember the ones who embarrassed me: The fourth-grade teacher who caught me giving bunny ears to my best friend as … Continue reading Picking Favorites
Fifteen Bands for Fifteen Dollars
May 14, 1994. Weeks from graduation, my friends and I drove to the park-and-ride and took the Metro from safe and boring Fairfax County, Virginia, to RFK Stadium in Washington, … Continue reading Fifteen Bands for Fifteen Dollars
Imperfect Happiness 