The old house sighs after a long day, creaking as she settles into the night. The sounds of sirens blaring off in the distance, the city nowhere near slumber. Tucked into our cozy bed, the dogs snoring between us, the cat purring atop me, a blessed nocturnal truce. Something so simple as our bedtime routine, … More Bedtime Stories
I am still finding it really difficult to write. Countless posts have ended up in the drafts folder, languishing. My mind is too jumbled, my heart too heavy. We all have our periods of challenge and heartache at some time or another, and I am no different. I know how much writing helps me calm … More On the Little Things Lost
(This blog should have been published weeks ago, but- life. I am determined to getting back to regular posting, so please bear with me.) Have you ever had a holiday where you thought, “Dear Lord, we could write a country song about this one!” I’m just going to be honest; this holiday has been a … More Better Late Than Never: Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas
I am curled up on the couch with Marley this Christmas Eve, Dan in his chair next to the fireplace. We’ve turned off the television and are enjoying the festive lights and relative quiet here in our Southside, Birmingham, neighborhood (other than the occasional fireworks). The comforting hiss of the gas fireplace accompanying the blessed … More Missing Pieces
There are times when my heart feels filled with shards of glass, glistening and beautiful, but painful to embrace. Sometimes it is too much to take in; the worry, the pain, the heavy responsibility. My brain freezes, numbing the pain, allowing my heart time to just be. Memories of what was and dreams- or perhaps … More Shards
I’m lying in bed listening to one of the wonderful sleep mixes Dan has put together for us. The view is crystal clear after last night’s storm blew away most of the remaining leaves. Marley is snoring between us and the fluffy comforter feels wonderful on this chilly night in Birmingham. Along with listening to … More On Medicinal Escapes: Part I
Don’t let this angelic face fool you- this too-good-to-be-true loving dawg is an addict. Her drug of choice? Shiva’s cat food (and she’s possibly an adrenaline junkie, too, as she is certainly challenging fate by taking said food from the said Demon Seed..I mean, that takes guts, right? We found Shiva’s bowl wiped out a … More Marley-Tails: Upon Which a Mystery is Solved
I am yet again mired in one of my frozen phases, causing my ever-growing level of anxiety to go through the roof. By ‘frozen’ I mean that I cannot seem to focus or accomplish tasks that are normally ridiculously easy for any normal person to do. I feel frozen in place mentally; sometimes just writing … More On Freezing in Fall
I had to smile. Lying in bed with Dan last night, Marley between us gently snoring as we talked and dreamed, one of Dan’s relaxing sleep tracks playing, and the soft whir of the fan bringing in the somewhat cooler-for-Birmingham summer breezes through the open window. Ahh, and the katydids! Their full-blown serenade filling the … More This Moment
I had a great talk with my therapist a few days ago. I told her that I was yet again in what I can only describe as a frozen place where my anxiety is so intense that even the most mundane tasks feel monumental. I have withdrawn from just about everyone and everything and I … More A Frozen Summer and Writing Therapy
The View from Here 