Inspiration
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The Extraordinary Ordinary Day
On an ordinary day, an elderly neighbor ventures out alone hoping to be seenOn an ordinary day, sunlight streams through a windowOn an ordinary day, a teacher puts on a mask On an ordinary day, a heart beats 100,000 times On an ordinary day, cars sit at a stoplightOn an ordinary day, butterfly wings, flutter to flowersOn an ordinary day, a sip of hot coffee brings a smile On an ordinary day, a heart beats 100,000 times On an ordinary day, a nurse comforts a patientOn an ordinary day, an apple hangs from a branchOn an ordinary day, a dog curls up on a lap On an ordinary day, a…
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The Peaceruiner Meets His Match
My husband and I walked hand in hand around the block. Sweat dripped from his forehead; even at sunset, summer in Florida is brutal. A mourning dove cooed, rabbits hopped through the empty lots. The burrowing owls had made another nest across the street. My mind wandered to four months earlier. We were different then.
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The Good Girl
The Good Girl I pounded on the apartment door! My babysitter had locked me out and was alone with my baby brother. I kicked, screamed, tried to climb through the kitchen window, called him whatever names my eight-year-old self knew. I had been playing outside, wanted to come in, and he locked me out. Every moment I had felt powerless in those eight years of life, collected, and spewed out of me with a fierce passion to right a wrong. Babysitters weren’t supposed to lock children out of their homes.
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Out Of Control
One snowy day in Pennsylvania, my mother and I drove our dog, Zach, to the vet. I was a young teen and sat in the front seat with Zach on my lap. On our way down a hill, the car hit a patch of ice and began spinning and spinning. I screamed for the car to stop. The feeling of being completely out of control gripped me as tight as I frantically clutched the golden retriever. Suddenly the car jerked forward. It was over. Although we had fallen into a ditch, we were all okay.
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The Letter
My love, You are about to embark on a fantastic journey. I’ve been traveling for some time now. I can tell you life is an adventure! It’s my hope that you’ll love it as much as I do. Get ready. All adventures have hidden lessons that must be learned. Some will be challenging and may be repeated. It’s my hope that your journey will be grand, that you’ll be smiling most of the way. I’m sending you a list of ten things I’ve learned so far to help you. Happy travels! And be sure to look up. Sunrises and sunsets are magnificent!
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Feeling All The Feels At Christmas
“Mr. D!” My grandmother’s voice echoes through the house. The screen door off the kitchen slams shut. “Hey, Kris! Merry Christmas!” My grandpop holds a giant tin of homemade pizzelle cookies as he hugs us all hello. After filling ourselves with cookies, we sit down to a dinner of ravioli with homemade Dondero spaghetti sauce. When we finish the main course, I watch my grandpop drizzle oil and vinegar over a bowl full of salad greens. He insists on filling everyone’s plate, then he sits down, with his glass of homemade red wine and the leftover salad in the giant wooden bowl — Christmas at the Donderos.
