As I put my skeletons back in the closet (literally) and threw the gnat-infested jack-o-lanterns in the garbage, I was seized by the desire to dig out my ceramic light up Christmas tree and plug it in. WHAT? Start decorating for the winter holidays before Thanksgiving? Have I been brainwashed by the evil retail industry?…
Military Life
Under a Tuscan Cloud
“Mom, the bucket!” my ten-year-old cried from the middle seat of our minivan. We were fifteen minutes into a nine-hour drive from our military base in Germany to Italy. “Last night’s chicken noodle soup,” she weakly observed after emptying the contents of her stomach into the pail. I carefully retrieved the sloshing container and held…
Hormone-Induced Writer’s Block
Apparently, hormones have taken control of my mind. I tried numerous times to concentrate and think of something interesting, poetic, or even mildly amusing to write about last week. Instead, I found myself frantically stuffing food in my face, falling asleep, or dreaming of making out with Leonardo DiCaprio (sick, I know, I could be…
Halloween for The Charlie Brown Generation
Go to the Halloween section of any department store today and what will you see? An unbelievable selection of realistic and reasonably priced costumes for kids and adults in all shapes and sizes. Anything from Attila the Hun to Dora the Explorer and everything in between. Today, there is no excuse for not having a…
What I believe about Hell and hand baskets