“A Question of Luck“ I met Tess my freshman year of college at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She was from Omaha and had skin and hair like Snow White and long nails painted a fiery red. skirt! March 2009
“Sex Talk“ my grandmother turned around and said, “A woman who has sex before she is married is nothing but a common whore!” At 17, Mom was still a virgin and the words were a slap in the face. skirt! February 2009
“Dita and Me“ I started running when I was 15 years old because it was something I could do on my own, and all I needed was a pair of shoes. skirt! October 2008
“Out on my Own” Sitting in the wooden Adirondack chair beneath the clock tower later that first night, I called home to confirm with my husband that it had in fact been almost a decade since I was on my own. I wanted him to acknowledge the significance of this insight. He disagreed, and reminded me of the trip I took to New York City shortly after we were married. Okay, eight or nine years then, I said. I wanted him to know how strange it felt to be alone. I wanted him to know that it felt like I had been sucked back in time. That it felt as if I were not three hours away from home, but oceans, countries and entire continents away. skirt! August 2008.
“Circles and Stars” I was a new bride, filled with love, wanting to believe that a marriage could last forever, but I was surrounded by second marriages and step-siblings. skirt! December, 2007.
“Not Mine“, If only I could do what she’d done, have what she now had. The Envy ran through my blood. My shameful secret, I was bound by envy like a straightjacket. Seeking release, I wanted to know if her life was better now? skirt! January 2007.
“Dress Up“, “Let’s play dress up,” I’d say to my younger sister, “You can wear the silver heels.” I might have added to convince her. skirt! July, 2007.
“Caught in the Current” Will stood, at the top of the rock, his body electric, filled with the thrill of the height. Dad hunched forward, to listen to the excitement in Will’s voice, and as they stood at the edge of the rock I could hear Will say,
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” And he jumped. skirt! September, 2007.
“Are We Done Yet?” But the thought of saying no, I’m not done, keeps me up at night. The scheduled sex, the waiting and wondering, the final plus mark on the pregnancy test, the ten months of discomfort, the feeling of claustrophobia, of suffocation, and the fear that I’ll never be alone again. skirt! April, 2006.
“Literary Love Affair” I read to understand and escape my world. skirt! February, 2006.
“Dual Diagnosis” “Please God don’t let it be me. I’m not like her, I can’t do what she does.” skirt! September, 2006.
“Everything in Moderation” “idle hands are the devil’s tools!” skirt! July, 2006.
“Not Alone” “Where does God live, Mommy?” Will asked. I took a deep breath, thinking about how to explain my foggy concept of heaven to a four-year-old. Literary Mama, 2006.
“The Birth of Readers“ My family didn’t have much money growing up, but I always knew I could mark an “X” next to as many books as I wanted in the Scholastic catalogue. Literary Mama, 2006.
