Long, long ago there was a Disney movie called “Mary Poppins” where as a youth I was introduced to my fascination with words because the movie shared with us how many words are nonsensical. Does anyone remember “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”? It didn’t mean anything yet we loved the way it was sung and how it rolled off [...]

“Haven’t heard from you” read the letter and I felt bad. I had used my ability, time and voice to lift a friend up for a long while but then I hit my own bad spot and suddenly my tools found themselves idle. No one was responsible for these tools sitting unused except me. At [...]

I have a play room in my mind. I call it the “bounce house” since that’s where most of those useless but funny thoughts get tossed around until they either come to fruition with an article, something I can joke with my husband about or else they simply make their way about the room to [...]

It was my turn in line to be seated for this wild ride. This rollercoaster was said to be the smoothest around. All I had to do was strap in and hold tight no matter the high points, loops or dips. The sharp turns were famous for keeping me from growing weary of experiences. I [...]

The gravel pathway had large cracks of water erosion all along where the pine trees give their shade. As I made my way along this area I was careful not to get too close to these edges for fear of dumping a shoe into the water. I stayed on the safer areas where the gravel [...]

Sitting still in the middle of a storm is new for me. I liken my moment in time to trying to find the eye of a tornado. Once I push through the rushing funnel of winds trying to carry me away, I start to hear again. My feet steady themselves upon the ground beneath me [...]

The clouds thickened overhead and covered distant mountains so my vision was limited to the valley floors. Even then I couldn’t clearly make out all the suburbs. It had been a long time since I had been up this way and I remembered the family of deer I had seen here last spring. Looking around [...]

I had been on my feet only moments before and even now I was still standing in my physical body, but inwardly the unexpected punch of words had knocked me down. I had no words to speak back, and they weren’t ready to be received in this moment had I offered any. The blow was [...]

We had to hit the store late this evening and as I hung out in the background, our cashier started to spill everything she knew about the woman and child who had just left her line. I couldn’t help but watch her intently while she talked so knowledgably about this person who was clearly not [...]

My job deals with other people’s money and a whole lot of customer service. For all my good intentions I can be pushed too far by the relentless in nature. Some days I feel like a stone being polished by the grit and sandiness of others and it’s all I can do to stand fast. [...]