I steeled myself enough to peek over the edge of the covers. Audrey was staring back at me. Continue reading →
Seeing My Path
15
May 12
My Conversation With Audrey Hepburn
10
May 12
Comfortable as an Old Pair of Jeans
She walks in the door after a day of meetings, appointments, disappointments and challenges. Before she pours a glass of red, she puts on her favorite pair of jeans – the ones with the threadbare knees. The cotton has softened with many washings, and now the fabric covering her thighs resembles suede more than denim. Continue reading →
4
May 12
On Enjoying the Ride
Imagine how sweet this journey would be if we quit second-guessing every one of our decisions. What if we reveled in the things that went well for longer than we stewed over the things that went wrong. Continue reading →
13
Apr 12
Time Out
The rainy grey skies gave her permission to sink into the couch. Continue reading →
10
Apr 12
When Enough Is Enough
She could remember when seeing his name in her Inbox made her heart race with excitement. Now seeing his name in her Inbox made her palms sweat. She let the cursor hover over his name. She didn’t want to click to open his email.
She’d have to decide what to write back.
Did she even want to write back?
Being nice was her thing. She’d been supportive. She’d been there. She’d listened and responded.
Was there anything positive coming out of this relationship? If this was positive, why did it feel bad?
Were there healthier places to invest this energy?
Was she opening and answering emails because she was afraid there wouldn’t be another to come along.
She closed her laptop and stared out the window at the park.
__________
Her daughter came up and said, “Mom… are you interruptible? Can I ask you something?”
She looked into her daughter’s blue eyes and found the answer she’d been looking for:
Would she – one day – want her kids to
pin their hopes on this kind of relationship?
She opened her laptop and deleted his email before opening it.
16
Mar 12
That’s Not My Journey
We may walk hand in hand for a time, or we may know each other only briefly.
We’ll share many of the same turns and detours.
We’ll marvel at the beauty found in the connection we share.
I may pull your rolling red Samsonite for a stretch, and you might offer to carry my fraying black backpack.
I will empathize and address your concerns with compassion. I will hand you tissues when you cry and pour the wine while you laugh so hard you can’t hold your glass.
I will listen while you detail the reasons for your choices. We’ll both smile and nod when we realize we’ve made similar mistakes.
We’ll learn lessons from each other that we wouldn’t be able to learn from another.
I’ll be the first to pat you on the back. Though I instinctively brush off your kind words, I’ll try to remember to be gracious.
Neither of us may know where we are going, but I will not follow you.
That’s not my journey.
9
Mar 12
Things That Can Be Fixed
Jenny fixes a too gaudy Barbie dress by altering it. She cuts off the flouncy sleeves and shortens the train. She might use tape or thread or buttons, but she knows she can fix it. She’ll even fix Barbie’s hair with snips here and there. Continue reading →
6
Mar 12
Listening To My Body*
I walked out of the doctor’s office and ran across the street to the drug store where everyone knew me by name. I was out of Pepcid. I had a box in the bathroom, two in the kitchen cupboard, one in the office desk, and one under the car seat, but the box in my purse was empty. Continue reading →
29
Feb 12
Asking vs. Imposing
I could have backpacked in Europe for three weeks after I graduated from college.
I didn’t.
My brother did.
My brother backpacked and made memories. He ended one phase of his life with a grand adventure.
He asked mom if he could borrow the money to make the trip. She said, “Of course you can!”
I didn’t.
Oh, I could have… but I thought asking would be an imposition.
Now I know that asking isn’t an imposition when you ask those who care about you.
__________
I wrote a post for the Stratejoy Essay Contest.
I’m asking for your vote.
If you have the time and the inclination, Jen, Will and I would greatly appreciate your vote.
Love,
Jesse
21
Feb 12
On Determination and the Power in Words
Sitting on the cold pew, with the stiff lace collar scratching the tender skin of her neck, she glanced sideways to see them reading those black books. She assumed there must be power in the words since they gathered together every Sunday to read from the same book. Continue reading →
