Thirty-two years ago today, when I became a mother at 7:32 PM, on Wednesday, August 13, 1986, I had no idea of the difficult road ahead. No parent-to-be knows for sure what to expect in their new role, of course, but there's a continuum of "typical" and there's off-the-child-development-charts "unpredictable." If you've followed my story, you… Continue reading Thirty-two years ago…
Reframing my reflection.
Telling the story about my son's brain tumor is the easy part of writing my memoir. I first wrote most of the dramatic scenes over fifteen years ago, within a few years of his diagnosis at age 11. Had I not written them, I would still remember. The trauma created new neural pathways in my… Continue reading Reframing my reflection.
The happy ending.
My memoir, when it's done, will be a tough read, until the very end. There's a lot of pain in it, and I imagine some readers will wonder if they can make it through. When I was living the pain, I sometimes wondered if I would make it through, too. Note to future readers: The… Continue reading The happy ending.
It’s a big day and a big step!
Today, I'm happy to announce my first essay to appear in a Literary Publication--Mothers Always Write! "When a horrible diagnosis is a relief." I submitted the essay in March, then it was accepted perhaps in May, (I've lost track of that exciting email), then I received notice on Monday that it would appear today. I've been… Continue reading It’s a big day and a big step!
Happy Positivity Day!
Today is Friday the 13th, a day some people truly dread. For others, these unlucky Fridays provide a whimsical excuse for all that goes wrong. April was the most recent time a Friday fell on the thirteenth. When I shared some thoughts about it, I received a comment by this writer suggesting that every Friday the… Continue reading Happy Positivity Day!
Finding hope in the chaos of life.
My memoir, which I've not finished writing, has been given an unwanted sequel. Not by Matt, my 31-year-old son who was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 11. By a close family member, who just received that same diagnosis. I can't give more details yet, out of respect for this person's privacy, but… Continue reading Finding hope in the chaos of life.
Gardener, writer, writer, gardener, not always in the same order.
I was a gardener long before I became a writer, and it's still one of my passions. It's why you haven't heard much from me lately--when the nice weather beckons me to the garden, I go. Last year, I wrote about the deer that wreaked havoc on all my hard work (in the garden, not… Continue reading Gardener, writer, writer, gardener, not always in the same order.
I believed he could fly.
It’s appropriate that it’s the end of Brain Tumor Awareness Month, as I came to the end of my current memoir manuscript revisions yesterday, and sent them off to my freelance editor. It’s a good time to take a break from that project and round out my life with some gardening, building my social media… Continue reading I believed he could fly.
Brain Tumor Awareness Month, Day 19
Since I failed reconsidered and revised my goal to post daily this month, I was challenged to figure out how to name this post. It didn't seem right to call it "Day 12" or "Day 13" in sequence after "Day 11," which posted May 12 (because I missed May 1). And it was too odd to… Continue reading Brain Tumor Awareness Month, Day 19
Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Day X.
Yesterday, I was so busy enjoying Mothers Day, I forgot to write a daily post, which ruined my perfect record so far this month. Now I don't know what to call this day, so I've dubbed it "Day X." The truth is, I didn't enjoy all of Mother's Day. I enjoyed when my son… Continue reading Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Day X.
