The steam rose from my second cup of coffee as I sat at the table composing the day’s “to do” list. The day was far too new for the sun to have risen. Nevertheless, the skies were bright with the anger of the approaching storm and the house echoed with the resounding claps of thunder. The door from my youngest daughter’s room swung open and out strode my sleepy eyed princess into the kitchen. Fourteen going on 30, still a child but not. The thunder, her nemesis from childhood, had rocked her… Continue

My oldest daughter graduated from high school this weekend. I’m so very proud of her. My Mom sat next to me during the ceremony. At one point, Mom reminded me that she and my Dad were married a little more than 6 months after their high school graduation. I swallowed hard, realizing my first born, the little girl who snuggled in my arms as I read her fairy tails before bed, was now all grown up.



The ceremony was filled with pomp and circumstance. Most of the speeches were no more to… Continue

Week 2 since I shaved. Life goes on. What was once considered change is now the accepted norm. Yet, the thought still lingers…how much longer will this continue? The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once penned "If we have our own why of life, we can bear almost any how." The ‘how’ is self evident…my ‘why’ is my two teenage children.



Good times or bad, I need be a positive role model for my children. I dare not wax impatient for fear of the unintentional lesson provided.… Continue

Day 7 with the new hairless do. The response has been better than expected. Most have been complimentary; some have shown surprise; only the village idiot went someplace he shouldn’t…something about how I should tell folks my hair loss was due to chemo. I could hear the sighs and mutterings of those who were within earshot of the ignorant suggestion. Discretion being the better part of valor, I simply shook my head then walked away.



Yesterday was a tough day, marking the first time… Continue

I took the step last night and shaved my head. The barber was great. She bushed my hair down as far as the clippers would go, then gave me some tips on shaving the rest. Her compliments on my new look, whether real or a ploy for a good tip, bolster my self esteem. I was appreciative of the compliments regardless of her intention. Head held high, I left the shop, then stopped to pick up some new blades for the razor. What a great feeling to be confident once again.



The shave was… Continue

A calendar hangs on the fridge for the family’s activities. A new pencil was hung at its’ side earlier this year in anticipation of the inevitable frenzy of the approaching summer. A selection of colored pens were gathered and placed into a nearby drawer. Out of quick reach, the pens are intended for events such as birthdays, holidays, graduations and the like whose important dates are set in stone.



The pencil is used for everything else as the only constant in life these days is… Continue