Instead of serving coffee and biscotti, my aunt invited us to a picnic lunch at the park. We sat in the grass under the shade of a huge pine tree, eating fries and burgers from Dairy Queen. She had read yesterday’s post, and called to invite us for a summer bright spot. On the way to her house, I thought of how I’d tell her of the wolves that had been recently showing up at my door. I’d give her the details. I’d get her take on things. I’d vent (a little) and spew. I’d feel better. It’d be a counseling session in the sun at the park. Continue reading →
Lack of Empathy
28
Jul 10
Coming Full Circle
“Dad, if you changed some things so that we would be more comfortable around you, we would want to see you more.” Will, with eyes blinking incessantly, and hands shoved into the pockets of his grass-stained kahkis, summoned the courage to stand up to his dad. Later, Will told me he felt like he wanted to throw up when he was talking to Mark. Continue reading →
5
Jul 10
When The Other Shoe Doesn’t Drop
Apparently, the Narcissist’s other shoe is not made of concrete. Apparently, the other shoe will not even be dropped. Mark received The Email from mom. And, as previously written, she dared say things I have never had the guts to say. She delivered a 2 x 4 to his forehead with more force than I thought her slender arms could produce. She blew off the end of the smoking gun, re-holstered, and stood with arms crossed, head high, waiting for a response. Continue reading →
28
Jun 10
The Narcissist’s Other Shoe
This is the calm before the storm. Or is it? After Mark’s last email to Will, we have not heard much from him. It has been quite pleasant around here. Although, there is a part of me that wonders what’s coming next. Continue reading →
22
Jun 10
When The Path Is Overgrown
I am the stream. I am the stream. I am the stream. Yeah, whatever. There seem to be a few more rapids in the stream today. I won’t bore you with details. Same crap, different day. I do believe in the stream. I am the stream. Today I needed a little help getting around a humongous boulder right in the middle of my path. Continue reading →
17
Jun 10
When Fear is the Bus Driver
“Whoa! That was a fun ride!” she says, facetiously. I’m sure it won’t be the last time Fear drives this bus. But, for now, I’m back behind the wheel. I’ve got to look into getting some seat belts installed on this thing. The view from the back seat was interesting, but a little blurry because Fear was driving so fast. That’s probably why I was up the night before last, vomiting. Fear does that to me. It’s a lot like car sickness. Continue reading →
15
Jun 10
Fear on the Frontlines
I am scared. My stomach hurts.
Mark talked to my mom before his counseling session today. He admitted that yesterday’s visit did not go well. He said he thinks he can’t reach Will. I’m stunned that he can see this. Continue reading →
12
Jun 10
So That’s What A Dad Does
I just took this photo in our back yard. It reminds me of all the fun that was had around our house this week. Those drops of water are getting ready to slide down the tulip leaf. You can almost hear the drops saying, “WEEEE-EEE!” Just as I started this post, I took another look at that leaf and thought, “Geez, that looks just like the tongue that belongs to a kid who’s been sucking on a green popsicle.” And that, too, is appropriate for this week. While it wasn’t warm enough for popsicles, there was a whole lot of tongue wagging going on. They NEVER ran out of stuff to talk about. Continue reading →
9
Jun 10
The Narcissist’s Instincts
I woke to the sound of our cat crunching on her breakfast. We buy her the good stuff. I’m sure that’s why she’s so nice to us. Then I heard her claws click across the hardwoods as she made her way down the hall and across my bedroom. I heard that pause right before she jumped on my bed. She snuggled in for a morning nap after filling her belly. My bed sets beside a sliding glass door that looks out on the Poplar in the back yard. Just as the cat closed her eyes, I saw a Robin land on the shed roof next to the Poplar. The Robin was probably a teenager. It didn’t have the downy fluff of a new bird, and it didn’t have the red breast of a young adult. It had the speckles of an adolescent Robin that’s just learning to fly. Continue reading →
5
Jun 10
Sitting On The Sidelines
Sometimes I have wished that I could take the messy parts of life, put them in a cardboard box, seal the box with packing tape and put it on a high shelf in the garage. It isn’t realistic to send the box out with the trash. Oh, if we could just get a reprieve from thinking about that stuff. I’d label the box with a thick, black Sharpie - “Do Not Open Until Mentally Prepared to Deal”. The box would collect dust. I’d move it occasionally. I’d take it down and think I was ready to open it. I’d take a box cutter and slit the tape and just the opening of the top would let a vapor into the garage. The vapor would cloud everything, and I’d grab the tape and hurriedly seal the box back up. I’d put the box back on the shelf, wait for the vapor to dissipate and tell myself that in another couple weeks, I’d better be able to handle the contents of the box. Continue reading →
