Here it is, in a nutshell. The holiday in review. It's way too easy to discuss what goes wrong, falls short of expectations, turns out an utter disaster. The bigger challenge is to mull over what goes exactly right. Here are few moments, not in any particular order. No. 1: Getting out the decorations. This … Continue reading Holiday Highlights
Author: christy
In Praise of Pumpkin
This is not my favorite time of year. Largely, my humbug attitude comes from a decade of working retail. That'll take it out of you. I also happen to find the sight of small colored lights in the night hopelessly depressing. Sure, they warm my heart and make me feel a pang for the human … Continue reading In Praise of Pumpkin
Let Me Show You the House of Prayer
My dad’s twenty-fifth high school reunion was held in Vincennes, Indiana, at a Holiday Inn. For the first time, my sister, brother and I were left in the room unsupervised. I recall wandering to the lobby to see a bunch of intoxicated old people calling my dad “Ronny,” recounting how he once drove around the … Continue reading Let Me Show You the House of Prayer
Beasts of the Suburban Mild: Part two
Summer pickups and drop-offs have a slightly different flavor to them. In a town like ours, diversity, where it exists at all, is economic. The “diverse,” are pretty much priced right out of summer camp, so it’s us beasts who dominate the pickup zones and parking lots. Often we don’t know each other outside of … Continue reading Beasts of the Suburban Mild: Part two
Beasts of the Suburban Mild: Part One
A muscular flank, a well-tanned arm, the swing of a bag over the shoulder, a shiny leather satchel, or maybe a canvas tote with lots of pockets from which are pulled healthy snack food, game boys, ipads and iphones. The toddler hoisted on the hip, skirt adjustment, sunglass smear. Big, aviator shades. Tall leather boots. … Continue reading Beasts of the Suburban Mild: Part One
This Neck of the Woods
I had forgotten. I had forgotten how you can’t see anything here. Even in the hills, which in the west promise vistas and sweeping feelings of honesty and cleanliness, in the Appalachians are all about shroud. Misty mornings, damp evenings, light filtered through whatever it is that hangs in the air, moisture, pollen, insects, scent. … Continue reading This Neck of the Woods
Do Not Deep Strv
Let me start with what I am not saying: that a writer's kids learning to write is a bigger deal than her neighbors' kids. Or that a writer's kids are any more adept at it, have an affinity for it, or any more right to language than the nurse's kids. It's not a contest; this … Continue reading Do Not Deep Strv
Listen to this
When my kids were in preschool, their teachers had them take listening walks. They’d hold hands with a partner and head out into the neighborhood, not speaking. This was a field trip I always volunteered for. I loved watching them wander over the world with their eyes, yanking on their partner, or being yanked, giggling … Continue reading Listen to this
Short Order
Here is the short list of kitchen failures at our house: fried zucchini medallions baby back ribs in BBQ sauce enchiladas with mild sauce and shredded chicken ditto with shredded, as in a Cuisinart shredded, beef and pork lasagna with and without meat meatballs meatloaf mashed potatoes mashed sweet potatoes potatoes of any kind cooked … Continue reading Short Order
The Dark Bird
My writing background tells me that when dealing in highly charged symbols like fire, owls, houses, kudzu (if you're southern), lakes, storm and the like, one must tread lightly. These symbols mean something. You're supposed to know what. It isn't that the house must always be the soul of the family, but it commonly is. … Continue reading The Dark Bird