cultivating the beautiful ordinary by sharing our tales and our tables
Two boys banter back and forth at the breakfast bar, laughing. I lift my eyes from making lunches for a moment to realize how much they are enjoying one another. My oldest looks up at me with a genuine smile, “Mom, I’m so glad he’s here.” Slightly confused, I ask who he is referencing. “My…
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Shards of glass rage against my vocal folds as I slowly swallow to lessen the pain. Lymph nodes appear to be working overtime as swelling and tenderness make me want to wrap a warm compress around my neck. I awoke days ago to a raw, scratchy feeling in the back of my throat. Sickness has…
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Months after our wedding, I received an anonymous envelope with a newspaper clipping from the Miss Manners column titled, “Thank-you notes way, way overdue.” While reading the words on the page, my eyes skipped to the underlined portion which read, “They would like to know that you received what they sent you, and that they…
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My son stood in the kitchen, yelling at me, “I just want to eat DAIRY!” His rage was unannounced, and I quickly attempted to figure out what he meant. As I asked clarifying questions, he only seemed to become more agitated until he finally broke down and started crying. While quietly comforting him, I understood…
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There is a pocket resting deep within my chest wall, adjacent to my heart. I’m certain it has always been a part of me. Years ago, I became more aware of its presence in my body as the weight became more than I could bear. It seems as if there is a fistula connecting my…
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The radio filled the silent spaces in our minds and in our van late Friday afternoon. It was the end of a long and trying week and a behavioral health center was the last place my son wanted to be visiting.
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He swiftly exited from the building and his eyes darted around until he locked in on mine. Quickly turning, he ran to his teacher and pointed to me. She smiled and waved and released him into my care.
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I fell in love in the nineties when passing hand-written notes and wearing charm bracelets made life worth living. Anticipation filled my body as I walked the halls between class, hoping my boyfriend would have a note to hand me. There was always something about the written words that could quiet insecurity in me while…
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As we approach the holiday season, I love the invitation that Thanksgiving brings to be present and remember. Remember this year. Remember the stories that made you more of who you are. Remember the people who shaped you and the ones who you’ve shaped. Remember the places where you found belonging and acceptance along with…
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October is here and Halloween is fast approaching. Talk about costumes is filling every corner of my world. Last year, both boys picked out ninja costumes on a whim while we were gallivanting through Costco.
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