Earlier this year I had to have an infected tooth pulled. This created a hole in my mouth that became a constant source of fascination to my wandering tongue. I discovered that, in times of stress or anger, instead of biting my tongue, I could simply slip it into that crevice. The hole became familiar,… Continue reading Filling the Holes
Category: Uncategorized
Broken
All summer I have been captivated by the swarms of butterflies dancing amongst my zinnias and celosias. Their fragile wings and luscious colors are enchanting parts of summer magic that I forget until the season comes around again. Recently, I noticed that one of the butterflies’ wings was broken. She (he?) was still able to… Continue reading Broken
The Bench
It was just a bench. And not an attractive one. Recently, in the name of progress, a long-standing strip shopping center, Belle Meade Plaza, was torn down here in Nashville. A new commercial development is to be built in that prime spot. Gone is the grocery store in my parents’ neighborhood; wiped away by the… Continue reading The Bench
Tropical Grafting
In early June, my husband and I spent two weeks in Italy. I was astonished at the antique worlds I found myself in. We visited Herculaneum and Pompeii, Rome’s Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum and Forum. We walked through Pompeii, marveling in the shops and houses and streets that once housed a citizenry. We saw… Continue reading Tropical Grafting
Bringing the Light
The chancel in my church sanctuary is extremely vertical— soaring to a cathedral pitch more than 40 feet in the air. Over the altar hangs a cross, ostensibly suspended, but actually held in place by wire. Above that cross are 15 recessed eyeball lights that brighten the crest. Below them, two lights shine directly on… Continue reading Bringing the Light
The Summons
What a week to be an American. How many of us have crumbled under fear of the unknown and gut-wrenching grief at the loss of lives in the Potomac and Philadelphia. And what a week to work in an academic medical center, as funding freezes and impending cut-backs bring the wheels of research to a… Continue reading The Summons
Straight Edges
For Christmas, our daughter gave my husband and me a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. With the freezing temperatures outside and late afternoon darkness descending upon us, a puzzle seemed the perfect winter activity. Several evenings, with glasses of wine and James Taylor providing ambience, we worked. While we’re working the puzzle, we seldom chat; sometimes… Continue reading Straight Edges
My Three Foot World
This Thanksgiving marks the five year anniversary of this blog. I started it at a time in my life when I was still grappling with grief and riding the rollercoaster of middle age: parents dying, children leaving home, empty rooms and time to think. Writing has always been therapeutic for me, and I have always… Continue reading My Three Foot World
Gifts from the Universe
Sometimes the universe makes me laugh. On an early morning recently, I was rushing out the door, my head swarming with the to-do list that awaited me at the office. Because work has been particularly stressful lately, my shoulders feel constantly bent from worry. I stepped into the sun and chastised myself that my flowers… Continue reading Gifts from the Universe
Three Notecards
Last week my daughter Emmy, a Life Enrichment Coordinator for a local senior living community, presented at the Tennessee Healthcare Conference. Her topic was creating meaningful programming for elderly adults. I attended the session partially as a proud mother but also as an unpaid volunteer. My job was to stand at the door and give… Continue reading Three Notecards
IN THE MIDDLE 