Baby steps. It seems like yesterday my babies were taking theirs. There’s that luscious series of firsts that, honestly, before I became a mama I rolled my eyes at. That’s because before I became a mama, I didn’t get just how precious first steps are. That first smile, first giggle, first roll over, first crawl, [...]

My second grade teacher. I loved her. Second grade was the only year I spent in Catholic elementary school. I’m still not sure why; maybe it’s because it’s the year I made my First Communion. Maybe there was some weird thing with my mom that she sent me there. Don’t know. The rest of my [...]

Today I wrote an obituary about my Grandma.  It's the typical obit. Maiden name, names of those who survive and those already gone. The logistics of service times and burial information. The necessary bits of mourning, I guess. There was so much I left out. Like the fact that she is responsible for my insane [...]

  Life looks different at cruising altitude. Crammed into my window seat, listening to the business men across the aisle talk trash about brokering yet-unsigned deals and fighting more than I should with a stubborn bag of peanuts, I’m struck by how my perspective of a place can change so dramatically but—at its core—remain the [...]

It doesn’t matter how long it’s been. I still cry. I’m thinking of my cousin, Curtis, who died when we were in the fourth grade. I’ve talked about him before, and losing him to leukemia. It’s amazing to me that the tears can still flow so easily, even after thirty years. But they do. He [...]

  While the water boils, life toils. Dishes are washed, checkbooks are balanced and plans are discussed. While the water boils, life lulls. Glances are stolen, necks are hugged. Embraces linger. While the water boils, life ponders. Questions are asked, options discussed and dreams are dreamed. While the water boils, life moves. Children grow. Mothers [...]

The time is here. Tomorrow I’ll load my oldest in my car and drive him away. I’m leaving him in good hands, with good people, to embark on an amazing opportunity. He’s ready. I don’t think I am. I can’t help but think back to when I started college. I was two years older, sure, [...]

Nora Ephron passed away last month.  I’ve always been fascinated by her but am sad to admit that I never really learned much about who she was or what she was about. It’s easy to let the writers hide, I think; not that I think she was intentionally hiding, but when her stories and words [...]

*Sometimes life blesses us with unexpected "moms". In my case, it was my Aunt Mina. She was my great aunt, actually, and as my grandma's sister she helped raise my dad and his siblings while my grandma, a single mother to five, worked a handful of jobs to make ends meet. As the first born [...]

Tackling a Mama Kat writing prompt today; one that is heavy on my heart and so fresh, even after almost 42 years, that it brings tears and a funky outlook on life. It's no secret to anyone who knows me or who reads my blog that Mother's Day is tough for me. As  mom, it's [...]