When Mom died, I didn’t have a clue how to help Dad. In retrospect, what we faced was building a new relationship, and it was awkward for both of us. Mom was the glue that held everything together. When we were all together, Mom was the conversationalist. We could (and would) talk for hours. Dad...
You know the ones. The ones when it seems everything hurts, where your mind, for reasons you don’t fully understand, isn’t yet thrilled with the prospects of the day. Yet slowly it begins to change, to get better. Maybe it’s the Mockingbirds blasting their praise of the day. Or the mama Cardinal with its high...
What seems easy as you’re watching someone else struggle with it may not be easy for them at all. Take blowing bubbles. It’s really not as easy as it seems. It takes concentration and effort. There are lots of mechanics to get down. At least when you’re only three. Watching Madi learn to blow bubbles,...
I’d know it was February without the calendar. The month is one of tangled emotions. Too many anniversaries come together — Mom and Dad’s anniversary, the anniversary of Mom’s death, and her early March birthday. And of course, it’s all compounded with Dad’s passing and dealing with his estate this year. It’s perfectly normal, of course, and...
One of my favorite get-away places for an afternoon is the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. It’s about an hour away, and you’re pretty much guaranteed quiet, not seeing many people, and getting to see some wildlife. And, you’re sure to be followed around by swarms of mosquitos. The birds were pretty sparse Tuesday, but I got some...
