Tag: family

Letter to Helen

To my great-grandma Helen ~ Mother of my grandma. Matriarch of the family. Lady of mystique.

Dear Helen ~ You don’t know me, but I’ve heard stories about you all my life. I’m your daughter Sheri’s oldest granddaughter. I wish I could have met you; you’re the missing person I’m often wondering about. The older I get, the more I think about you and your impact on our family, and how at age 36, I’m a year older than you were when you were gone way too soon from this life. I often wonder how different our lives would have been had you been here with us. I think your story in particular is why I feel emotions so deeply. Why I have always thought about life and death so seriously. Why I want to live life to the fullest amount of joy and passion possible. We aren’t guaranteed a long life on this earth: we only have this present moment…

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The Plight of the Musically Inclined

I love to play the piano.  I play the piano at our house with frequency.  But sometimes…people at my house just don’t want me to play.  I walk into the living room and sit down.  I play two notes but then get shot down, which really puts a damper on my spirits.  Sometimes, I…ever so slowly…so as not to cause a commotion…walk into the living room yet don’t even make it to the piano bench before I hear someone from the kitchen say the phrase in an annoyed tone, “No!  Not right now, Mal!”  So.  I get frustrated that I must refrain from playing.  And it makes me want to just run in there and hit the keys in anger. Playing the piano is an outlet for my soul.   Continue reading “The Plight of the Musically Inclined”

Over-Stuffed and Over-Priced

Walking down the streets of Marilla, New York with my family and our friends the Pollocks, I approached the General Store with much anticipation.  I knew I would find something to buy.  But I didn’t know what it would be.  After about 37 minutes of shopping, I finally found what I was looking for.  I had never seen anything like it.  It was…it was a giant…a GIANT…stuffed…PENGUIN!  This was no cartoon-looking penguin: it was the most real-looking fake penguin I had ever seen.  Only having six dollars in cash on me, my spending capability was significantly limited.  Continue reading “Over-Stuffed and Over-Priced”