Tonight I have no words. No words that seem fitting or appropriate. No words to do justice to what is happening in our world. No words to measure up to the feelings I am sure we all share. Tonight I have no words. I have only this picture, a mural we happened upon the other morning as the artist was composing it. I am not sure the meaning of it, but I love it with the same words that fail me now. Continue reading No Words

I was at the store this morning, buying a ridiculously expensive pillow, because I have apparently reached the age where you can injure yourself while sleeping. An older African American man and I reached the register at the same time. There was a moment of awkwardness as we both scrambled to move out of the others way, him telling me to go ahead, me insisting he go first. An ordinary encounter in extraordinary times. We were both (I think) overly aware of our bodies and both nervous to offend the other. I finally convinced him to go ahead of me, … Continue reading Hope Renewed

He is chasing squirrels now, following an afternoon spent raging at his own shadow. An afternoon spent zigging and zagging, turning left and dodging right. Barking at figments and filtered light. Showing his teeth to an illusion, hair bristled, growl caught in the back of his throat. Not realizing he was being played; looking down instead of up. Only when the light shifted, did he realize the squirrels, hoarding their bounty, safe above the fray, were laughing at his expense while he waged war with himself. Continue reading Shadow Chaser

They sent a craft into space today. I am not sure I understand why. I suppose space is the back up plan. The place we can “run” to when we have messed things up beyond repair here on Earth. I suppose space, with the cumbersome suits and lack of oxygen and water is hope for some. I wonder if those astronauts, looking up, look back, watch the world they know burn below them, wonder if it will all still be there when it is time for them to come back, question why love is such a difficult path, why distance … Continue reading The Back Up Plan

When I was young, I imagined myself a fish. I swam in ponds and lakes and pools. Held my breath as I glided under the surface from one side to the other. Willed the air out of my lungs and sank to the bottom, criss cross applesauce for a tea party on the ocean floor. Exhaled deeply before diving in, no air bubbles to betray my location as I silently called for my mother, waited for someone on shore to notice how long I had been under, remark that it had been too long, call my name, dive in and … Continue reading 1:11.02

I allowed myself to get dehydrated after donating blood Saturday, and have been feeling a bit “off” since. In addition, a wicked change in humidity levels has my head pounding and threatening to go migraine, so today I “took a day.” I had things that needed to be done, but it will all still be there tomorrow, and sometimes we need to listen to our bodies, our hearts, our minds, our souls and acknowledge when they are tired, or hurting and just need a day. A day to wear glasses instead of contacts. A day to sip mint tea. A … Continue reading Take a Day

It is a view you have seen many times before. My favorite spot on the front porch. I sit here tonight after a day of rain, no air in the air. Speech reduced to hushed whispers. The neighbor’s story half over heard, his words sinking, the ending halted by a wall of humidity, only muted laughter where the punchline should be. I want to call out to him, ask him to repeat himself, so I can be in on the joke, but my words are heavier than air and I opt instead to fan myself and remain silent. I wonder, … Continue reading Heavier Than Air

A year ago, over the Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I set out on what we told each other was our final scouting trip to Georgia. I had my “Buddy Poppy,” newly acquired from the Veteran outside of the bank, secured to my purse strap for good luck, my oversized, unwieldy and completely impractical atlas for security, and a heart full of anticipation and doubt. A year ago, over the Memorial Day weekend, we stopped criss crossing the state, stopped highlighting areas on the map that we had visited and deemed “not right” took a breath and circled Brunswick … Continue reading Leap of Faith

Well….what should have been a one/two day project morphed into three. You will remember my vision for a tropical, yellowish green kitchen which turned very neon very quickly. Thankfully I have an understanding husband who was willing to help me come up with a Plan B. We started back at square one, selecting paint swatches and ruling them out based on what we had learned about the lights and shadows of this particular room the first go round. I continued to gravitate towards the yellowish greens, but all of the rich mossy, avocado shades turned practically gray in the darker … Continue reading Green Stem