I woke up in Asheville on my birthday. A few months ago after we stayed here, Other Half asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, and I said, “Go back to the Grove Park.” I didn’t even want a present. I just wanted to sit on this beautiful rock porch (not nearlyContinue reading “How the Monkeys Saved My Birthday”
Tag Archives: family
Hiding in Other People’s Stories
Here’s something I’ve recently discovered about myself: When I am sad or overwhelmed or afraid or any other emotion that would cause me to gravitate towards comfort, I watch my favorite old movies or shows. I’ve never really done this before that I’m aware of, but lately my entire family is forced to tolerate thisContinue reading “Hiding in Other People’s Stories”
What It’s Like to Wait for a Transplant
My dad needs a liver transplant. He has been on the transplant list for a long time now, what actually feels like forever, but is actually just since July 2019-ish. My family and I have gone through the excitement, the hope, the fear. And then a lot of other things happened that seemed not fairContinue reading “What It’s Like to Wait for a Transplant”
Things I hope my kids are learning from me
Yesterday was a special day to my parents. It was the anniversary of their first date. Maybe this is not an official holiday, but every year on that day, my dad would send my mom yellow roses, or they would have a special dinner or just spend some time together. This was the very firstContinue reading “Things I hope my kids are learning from me”
What is your favorite memory?
Yesterday Benjamin Button asked me a question. “Mom,” he says, “What is your favorite memory?” I was, for once, at a loss for words. It was a big question. What would I pick? The day I got married? The birth of each child? The first time I ever tasted coffee? I was stumped. He doesn’tContinue reading “What is your favorite memory?”
Life, Death, and Cherry Lemon Sun Drop
The last ten days has been very strange. It’s a waiting game. It was about then that my dad sent a text message to Helen Keller, John Wayne, Uncle Jesse, and Mamaw that said he is number one on the transplant list for his blood type. You would think we would be happy to hearContinue reading “Life, Death, and Cherry Lemon Sun Drop”
Put on your man face
The other day I was having a moment— you know, when you just need to sit by yourself, take some deep breaths and organize your thoughts so that tight feeling in your chest will go away? And Mary Ann comes to check on me because she’s a little mommy, and she rubs my back andContinue reading “Put on your man face”
Running, Standing Still
Until recently, maybe within the past year, I never realized that I was a runner. Not the kind of Runner who is fit and wears running shoes and keeps a water bottle and ear buds with them all the time. No, I’m not athletic. I’m an emotional runner. When painful things happen to me, IContinue reading “Running, Standing Still”
Making Memories
Once upon a time, many years ago in the magical land of South Carolina, there must have lived an ambitious director of tourism or chamber of commerce member who decided to put together one of the most-beloved lies of all time. He convinced everyone of this: “Taking your children to the beach is the perfectContinue reading “Making Memories”
Impulse buying and Steve Guttenberg
I love shopping. Any kind of shopping. But impulse buying is probably my favorite. You know, those days when you go to the store and you don’t really need anything but you find something perfect that you weren’t expecting? That’s the feeling I get when I go in the hospital gift shop. There are soContinue reading “Impulse buying and Steve Guttenberg”
