I’m not sure why, but every one of my kids has an aversion to clowns.  I admit, I have one too. My firstborn thought Santa was a clown.  He wasn’t the typical little guy who would feel comfortable running up to Santa with a hug while chattering on about all he wanted for Christmas.  He would say, Santa Clown as he clung to my leg like a vice. No way was he going near that guy. A clown at a birthday party or a restaurant with balloons tied into various shapes or animals was an aversion for ... VIEW POST

I felt my water break with a pop at twelve weeks.  My heart sank. Blood. Oh God, no, not this. I was determined not to go to the hospital. The blood flowed heavier and I was unsteady.  Finally thank God, I gave in to my husband and sister-in-law who convinced me to get medical help. They checked me in to the ER and I was getting weaker by the hour.  I began to pass out when I tried to get up and was wheeled in for an emergency D&C. I awoke bleary eyed and fragile. My Dr calmly told me that ... VIEW POST

My grandparent’s house was little and unpretentious. One bedroom on the main floor, behind the living room.  There was a bathroom next to it with the slightest of hallways separating it and the door to the basement from the living and dining room.  The kitchen was a small space next to the dining room, adjacent to the little hallway. There were two more bedrooms upstairs and my grandparents had raised four children in this cozy little house. It was always full of people, family or friends of ... VIEW POST

Today I was very gingerly trying to put a sheet on top of a business friend’s very expensive wine racks to protect them from debri during some minor construction.  It makes me nervous to go in his wine cellar, let alone mess with any of the precious bottles, but it had to be done. (oh, I know you can see this coming) One rack...fine.  Second rack…. Right side covered but as I attempted to put the sheet over the left corner the inevitable happened, my nightmare… a bottle fell off the back and ... VIEW POST

Isn’t it interesting how a laugh just bubbles up from inside you involuntarily? Babies laugh.  No one taught them.  (I love listening to a baby giggle.)We were born to giggle, laugh and shriek with delight.  As we grow up we learn to squelch some of our reactions.  We may not laugh as much and rarely shriek with delight. But when we do, it’s magic, it’s therapeutic.I once asked God to help me make people laugh.  I thought that would be the best thing ever. I’m no stand up comic, but when someone ... VIEW POST

It’s interesting that when I share my story with someone, they shake their heads and mutter some sort of expletive. I’m grateful for where I am. Our lives paint a picture. I love wandering through an art museum.  I enjoyed exposing my children to creativity and often had books of art open on a display stand in the house. We visited a museum whenever we could and incorporated them into our trips. Now that I either don’t have to take my kids with me or they’re grown up and telling me to ... VIEW POST