Would you have imagined that a loaf of homemade bread could send me into a crumpled pile of tears on the couch? My brother would say, Yes, please tell me what does not send you to tears, dear sister. But ignore my brother. We got a call last week that a very close family friend…
Here I will reveal to you a bit of my childhood fantasy, as there were two stories I was a part of when I was growing up. The first was Charlie’s Angels. My two friends pretended they were Jill and Kelly. I was Sabrina, with her gravely voice and stunning good looks. I was also…
A friend made herself comfortable in my living room a few evenings ago, delighted to discover the loveseat she chose to sit in was actually a rocker. (I was a little worried she might still be there come morning.) The other girls filled mugs with decaf coffee, and soon we were all cozied up in…
A friend at church asked when my daughter is getting married. I said, May 25, and her eyes got big. She said, Oh, that’s really soon. Like I should be scared. So I was scared. I had one of those talks with God where he sits calmly in the chair and I pace all around…
When my mother-in-law sold her wooded 72 acres in Kila, Montana, one of our tasks was to clean out the garage and pack everything. But the garage had become home to a few pack rats. Bile just rose in my throat. Have you ever experienced pack rats? The huge nests they build out of everything…
In Montana there is a rule: The man with the ice-worthy shoes must support the woman who wore the lovely black dress shoes with the ridiculously inappropriate slick soles. Thus, as we walked into church a few days ago, my preacher husband slowed his pace and offered his steel-reinforced arm while I slipped and slid…
My parents have a massive bedroom that runs the length of their garage, ending in a large bay window that lets in the light. It’s a large and inviting space for us to gather and open Christmas presents. This room is also where my nieces sleep on pallets laid out on the floor at night…
I don’t recognize the number when my phone rings, but I’m not surprised to hear it’s the public health nurse on the other end. One of my students has a confirmed case of pertussis. Even though I’m healthy it has been suggested I start an antibiotic just in case. Every teacher of this student gets…
This is a formal apology to my father: We sat at Mr. D’s Grocery Store in Lander, Wyoming, waiting for the barista to finish a big espresso order before we could place ours. Dad sat in between me and my 19-year-old daughter. I had offered to make Daylight Donuts Coffee at home, but he insisted…
Is your only purpose to build a tower?
We found our seat in the already filling high school auditorium –Matt with an aisle seat so he could stretch out his long legs. Hands opened programs, and we spoke through the coming choir songs. Oh, this one is my favorite, I said. Anticipation. Lights dimmed. My pulse picked up. Rows of students in flowing…
Every September my dad packs Hungry Man meals in the camper of his best friend, loads up four wheelers, and fills his quiver with arrows. Hunting season has arrived. That means when we returned home from our Christmas visit in December we unpacked luggage, presents, and a cooler full of elk meat. (Here I pause…
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