I’m eight years old and walking into my family’s apartment. Inside my boots my toes are numb from my five-block trek home from school. Not much warmer inside; our landlord isn’t too generous with heat, even in the middle of January. My face feels stiff from the cold, but I smile seeing my mom walking […]
Few Ingredients, Many Comforts Read More »
Every month in her now discontinued print publication, O magazine, Oprah Winfrey wrote a column, “What I Know for Sure.” Here, she shared how her life experiences led to discovering what she now knew for sure. At a certain point in life, it becomes easier to weed out the superficial, the stuff that doesn’t add
What I Know for Sure Read More »
What would I give, or give up, to go back to those hours, those days before January 20, 2019? Back to the time when my dear friend Don was still alive, still present in this life, and mine. To be celebrating with him today, on what should be another of his birthdays. When you think back
His Birthday Today… If Only Read More »
One writing prompt assignment given in my nonfiction writing group was to tell a story using only three-word sentences. My instructor shared that she often used this prompt when writer’s block threatened. I chose a timeline format for these sentence snippets to reflect on a specific decade of my life. This was originally written in
Writing Prompt: 3-Word Sentences Read More »
Grandparents Day, celebrated in the U.S. on the first Sunday after Labor Day, is on September 10 this year. Internationally recognized on the fourth Sunday of July, when in 2021, Pope Francis declared World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Whether celebrated in July or September, Grandparents Day deserves its due. If you are/were fortunate
They Made Me What I Am Today Read More »
So, it’s September and back to school is on the horizon. With that, a memory of one such event in my life. Seeing the 18- and 19-year-old baby faces in my first FIT design class highlighted every one of my adult years. Any enthusiasm for returning to school took a nosedive as I thought of
“But Ma, he followed me home.” I looked up at my mother, my eyes, and voice pleading, already knowing in my eight-year-old bones she wasn’t buying it. Her lips pressed into a thin line; she watched the stray mutt lope over to our dog’s food dish. About the size of a miniature pony, the brown dog
Who doesn’t love the sight of a full moon? Countless poems, songs, and myths attest to Sister Moon’s power to enchant and inspire romantic notions. On the practical side, the moon’s silvery glow has long been a guiding light for travelers, whether over land or at sea. Tonight, she will not only be full, but
By Any Name, She is Inspiring Read More »
Years ago, I broke the habit of making New Year’s resolutions. The whole venture seemed too compulsory. There was too much outside “encouragement” and too much disappointment, when despite so many good intentions, the inevitable “two steps back” kicked in. So, lately, I decided to take a gentler approach, one that doesn’t involve such earth-shattering
One Down, More to Go Read More »
As Women’s History Month wraps up, I think it’s as important to recognize the women who aren’t necessarily activists, artists, dancers, musicians, and scholars, but contribute nevertheless toward making a difference in our lives. These are the women who probably won’t be well-known, or among those who have made a mark globally. Instead, they step
Jeanette, Working Class Warrior Read More »
