Caution: It’s Five Minute Friday, and you’ve entered a no-edit zone. ********************** The air breathes cool through the open window, wafts past the clean cotton Yankee votive that releases just a hint of fragrance. The shrub sways in time with the bell rope, and a hummingbird buzzes at the feeder, hovers in place, sips […]
five minute friday: listen
I’m coming upstairs this morning from the laundry room when I hear a wee voice. “These are my pets.” I didn’t hear them come in. But Abby’s in the kitchen with Lillee. She’s wearing a Hello Kitty shorts outfit with a purple shrug, sweet new shoes (“they’re flip-flops!”) and some orange sunglasses. “Nama!” Arms wide […]
when you fall, do you die?
I’d done it before. Climbed up and sat on that metal bar. I’d grasp either side with my hands and then throw myself forward. The idea was to end up swaying upside down by my knees, wind ruffling hair and fingers ruffling air. The kid didn’t believe I could do this trick. I’d show him. […]
when a kestrel invades my view
I’m standing on tiptoe at the kitchen counter. Steamy tendrils rise from my blue mug, the one with the yellow interior and yellow chicken on the side. I cup my hands around the warmth, sip hot Nantucket Blend. I’m listening to the news about a collapsed bridge in Washington state, and I sigh and […]
sing a new song
Snow fell on Sunday. In May. On Mother’s Day. It frosted the tulips white. “My mother would not be happy today,” my sister posted on Facebook. “She wouldn’t even be amused.” And I doubt if even we could have made her crack a smile by bursting into song and dance, perhaps with a spring […]
comfort in the uncomfortable
Comfort, the word, always takes me back to that uncomfortable place. A hospital bed surrounded by a forest of faces and the smell of alcohol and acetone. They’re removing the polish from toenails and fingernails, making yet another stab in my forearm, trying to pour life back into my body. While life pours into my […]
five minute friday: brave
Brave is not just bold and blue nails with flowers on the thumbs. Or climbing a cargo net when you’re old enough for a social security net. It’s not just leaping tethered off a platform. Brave slips through circumstances as slick as melted butter. It treads the waters of trials and doesn’t drown. It forgets […]
Some Six-Word Memoirs
Lisa-Jo’s prompt for the day is “here.” I read it early this morning and had “here I am” running through my head until I sat down here. Then Laura reminded me I hadn’t written my six-word memoir yet. So here are five minutes (plus a minute) worth of six-word memoirs. 1. Here I am. […]
after may never come
She wrapped a towel around my neck and velcro’d the black cape around my shoulders. “Do you know what you want today?” I shrug. “Nope.” I never do. I just want her to fix me. And zap the gray. “Good. Because I’ve got something new. I’ve been dying to try this color on you.” […]
five minute friday: shattered
She threw the plate down on the carpet. Or maybe she dropped it. Either way, it shattered everywhere, even into the next two rooms. We stood in a sea of shards. With bare feet. She tried to run away, but I scooped her up in my arms. And then I woke up. This is […]
