Other Writing

At ten years old, I knew I would die from a lightning strike. It was then that my mother told me the story of what happened when I was two. According to her tale, I was in the living room, standing on the couch at the time. I didn’t ask her why I was doing such a thing. It was always forbidden to stand on the couch in our house, but on this occasion, I was either doing it behind her back, or the rule only came into effect after the incident I’m about to share with you.

While I was indulging in...

With the warm sun on her back, she set out with confidence and strength, and yes, with excitement. Because she loved excitement. And adventure. She loved to laugh and enjoy life.

She stood at the bottom of the mountain, her hands on her hips, and for a brief moment, doubts crept into her mind. This was something she hadn’t done before. She was young and healthy, but could she do it alone? Did she really need to do it alone? She turned and looked back toward where she’d come from. She was...

It was love at first sight, as would be expected for first-time grandparents, or any grandparents, for that matter. The couple, in their early fifties at the time, were thrilled about the idea of having a grandchild, and the event was much anticipated and eventually celebrated.

The grandfather, a quiet, hard-working man, couldn’t get enough of the baby girl. She was the apple of his eye, and, as she grew, they developed a special bond.

Proximity and time were advantages for them. Both homes...