I have said “goodbye” and “see you later” and hugged many people tight many times in the past eight months, with more that happened this month. I’ve been mentally preparing to goodbye to some favorite humans officially since last fall, all of us thinking we’d have a year left—I started thinking of lasts and presents and then it sped way up and then mid-March came and we cried and loved the husband-half of this family who is moving across the country. As this goes live, it will have been nine days since we hugged the wife-half and babies a little harder and longer, saying to them, “See you soon.”
Continue readingMrs. Writer
Finding Cozy

Tuesday, 10 days before the link is due //
Upon writing this, Ant and I took a walk today in 60-something-degree weather. We wore t-shirts (and not even a light jacket!) and opened our windows before we left. We watered our past Christmas trees—Bruce (doing okay) and Bart (if he doesn’t make it this spring, we may have to call it)—and then we headed to the park to take a walk.
Upon returning home from our walk, the windows remained open and I walked around the house barefoot for the rest of the afternoon.
When I first read through this month’s inspiration for the theme, I had images of Ant and I playing in the snow (during our Bermuda Triangle week*), the Christmas light glow, and wearing slippers and favorite pajama pants.
Continue readingConfidence Lately

Do you know what I bought this longboard?
Because I get these random, hair-brained ideas that I can learn new things.
Wait. Scratch that.
I love learning, and I can learn new things.
Continue readingMarking Time

Three years ago Saturday, I interviewed for the open job coach position at PRIDE Industries.
Three years ago after that interview, I drove to the hospital in Placerville, to surround my grandma with love and family as she passed into Heaven.
The last few months have been a whirlwind for us.
Continue readingThese are the days // Volume 1, Issue 2

Memories for the days of 3/14 to 3/20.
The ones that are italicized represent what was happening a year ago this week, interspersed with the things favorite people on social media were saying.
I tend to do this with a lot things–I remember what happened a year ago on seemingly random days. This week in 2021 was a good week, healthy mentally and emotionally, spiritually and physically. We’re able to see people and hang out and it feels normal. This time last year wasn’t like that and I don’t want to forget what last year looked like in comparison, what we went through to get to where we are today.
These are the days…
Continue readingThese are the Days: Volume 1, Issue 1

It’s dark and cloudy outside. NorCal’s expecting another storm tomorrow. I haven’t left the house all day (thanks new cycle) and the words are bubbling up, so let’s try this weekly reflection that Emily P. Freeman talks about and see how it goes for me. Memories from the week of Sunday, March 6th to yesterday, Saturday, March 13th.
These are the days of…
Continue readingWhat I Learned This Winter // December 2020 to February 2021

I have always been a recorder at heart. I keep planners and old calendars. I’ve journaled irregularly since forever. I went through a bullet journal phase. (I made my own versions in blank Moleskines. Multiples of them.) I love keeping a record of memories and events. I love being able to look back and see videos and pictures from where Ant and I were three years ago . . . five years ago . . . seven years ago. And I am finally committing to this season’s “What I Learned.” It originates from Emily, a blogger, author, and podcast host. She writes beautiful words and I’ve been a fan of her blog for awhile now. I just read her post on what she learned this past winter and was reminded once again that it doesn’t have to be extensive, in-depth, detailed, or an essay written about each thing.
*deep breath*
I’m just going to jump in and write this.
*exhale*
Here we go:
Continue readinghaiku day 1: through the window

I have two poems for you today to start off this round of the 30 Day Haiku Project.
three cats, writer wife
snuggle in blankets. gamer
husband plays the keyboard
This is literally what we’re doing this morning—er, afternoon—and it makes me so happy.
Continue readingSomething Powerful

Dear Vox Machina, Enola Holmes, Addie LaRue, and Coco,
You are the stories I’ve shared my last week and this weekend with. You have forever reinforced that stories are hard and heart-breaking, but beautiful and worth every minute spent with them.
Continue readingBack Where We Started, a poem

Back where I started my day
Except it’s 9 o’clock at night,
not 6 o’clock in the morning.
I’ve showered and am letting my hair dry before sleep.
Ant’s already in bed. It’s backwards.
I’m so far removed from the emotions of this morning
My head is clearer now than it was then
Continue reading