I'm back from a trip to Arkansas, where the last of my husband's four brothers got married! He's the oldest in a large family of seven children, all of whom have strong personalities and deeply-held beliefs. One brother loves hunting; one sister is super-athletic; another sibling voted for Trump; yet another is a staunch Christian … Continue reading True Blue in Red States
Tag: family
(Personal) My Sister, One Year Later
One year ago today, my sister died. My mother, my two nephews and their father were gathered in the conference room down the hall from her room in the hospital when we got the news -- even though her heart was beating and she was breathing (with help), her brain hadn't registered any activity for … Continue reading (Personal) My Sister, One Year Later
(Personal) Goodbye, February
The last time I spoke to my mother on the phone, she sounded lonely. But in typical Mom fashion, mostly she complained about the people with her at the in-patient rehab center. The white woman who had roomed with her was a racist. The nurses checking in on her were stealing her clothes. She just … Continue reading (Personal) Goodbye, February
(Personal) Ashes In The Mouth
We all know how difficult family can be. Our siblings know all of the buttons that will drive us insane, no matter how carefully we try to cover them up. There's something about a comment from our mom and dad -- even though they might swear it's innocuous -- that feels like a judgement passed … Continue reading (Personal) Ashes In The Mouth
(Personal) The Best Thing About Tragedy
Pixar's Inside Out is an amazing film, and I'll get into exactly what I think about it later. But for now I want to talk about one perfect moment of many in the movie because I keep thinking about it recently. If you haven't seen the movie, don't worry -- I won't spoil too much … Continue reading (Personal) The Best Thing About Tragedy
(Personal) Eulogy For My Sister
When I was younger, I used to make plans with my sister to run away from home all the time. We always thought that the way our mother treated us was grossly unfair, and after a particularly hard day we would pack up a few days' worth of clothes, make a couple of sandwiches, and … Continue reading (Personal) Eulogy For My Sister
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 