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Note: this essay describes a pair of earrings that I purchased long before I knew that earrings would be the source of good memories! Shaped almost like a gingko leaf, these bright pink metal earrings are some of the oldest I own. I purchased them at a women’s retreat held at Montgomery Bell State ParkContinue reading “Pink Earrings”

I thought he was Santa Claus. I really did. I’m not sure exactly why I thought that. He didn’t wear a red suit, but an old pair of baggy black pants, a white shirt, and a dark green sweater. He didn’t have a beard, but he did have a little bit of white hair. PerhapsContinue reading “Uncle Ira”

Our colleague Ruth, who had always taken upon herself the task of shepherding English majors through the English countryside, uncovering every possible literary connection, had departed for another college. Our chair Judy decided that this was the perfect opportunity for our department to investigate the possibilities of educational travel by doing a “dry run” ofContinue reading “First “Collectible” Earrings”

Note: Not being versed in theology or the intricacies of the church calendar year, I can only write what I know or imagine about this day, January 1, that is called “Holy Name” day. So, for today, a musing of mine. Holy Name Day—the scripture from Matthew 1: 18-25 records that Joseph named the childContinue reading “Holy Name Day”

It was a dark and stormy night—doesn’t every writer, at some point in time, want to use that line? But, in this case, it was true: it was a dark and stormy night. We were splashing through puddles of water as we raced down the sidewalks, stopping every once in a while, to assess whereContinue reading “Asheville Earring”

“Okay. Hop in the car. We’re going to the mall,” I cried about three weeks before Christmas. “Yay!” was the universal cry from all three boys, ages 8, 5, and 3. The mall, to them, meant a visit to the machines that spit out little toys and gum balls. “We’re not really going into theContinue reading “A Real Tree, Just for Us”