Our 46th wedding anniversary was last weekend. Number forty-six doesn’t merit much recognition, though I gave my husband a couple of Hallmark cards. We ate Thanksgiving leftovers, so I didn’t have to cook. It snowed the night before, but the weather warmed enough that no shoveling was necessary. Still, we […]
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Happy Thanksgiving from President Ulysses S. Grant, 1872
My current work-in-progress begins in 1872, and I recently researched what was said about Thanksgiving that year. Here is the Thanksgiving Day proclamation by President Ulysses S. Grant that year: October 11, 1872 By the President of the United States of America A ProclamationWhereas the revolution of another year has […]
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Requiem for a Life, Through Artifacts
My husband sold his boat earlier this year, and I discovered that three boxes of my ancient belongings had survived in the storage unit where he kept his boat. When we vacated the storage unit, these boxes returned to our house. About fifteen years ago, my husband deposited these boxes, […]
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My 50th High School Reunion (I Missed It)
My 50th high school reunion was last weekend. I wasn’t able to attend, but I followed the planning all year on my class’s Facebook page. The only high school reunion I have attended was my 25th, in 1998. I could attend that one because my parents still lived in my […]
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On Babies, Problems, Anxious People, and Answers
Babies and dogs are good listeners. Even when they aren’t paying attention, it is really easy to talk to them, to tell them your problems. They don’t care about anything other than their own needs, but at least they don’t offer advice. When I spent time with my granddaughter in […]
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Variations of Normal Through the Generations
My daughter tells me her parent/baby group shows her nine variations of normal. What her baby—my granddaughter—does is one variation. But measuring one baby against another is a pointless exercise. She is right. The baby books from past generations in my family show more variations of normal. Comparing these variations […]
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Forgetfulness and Flexibility
I went out of town last week with great plans for what I would accomplish. I would care for and play with my granddaughter, of course, but babies take naps, and surely I would have some down time. And then I got to the security line at the airport in […]
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A Lovely Vase Used for an Unorthodox Purpose
We live on a golf course, across from the women’s tee for the 11th hole. Older gentlemen also use this tee, so I call it the “old folks’ tee.” I don’t know what the formal name is for the tee closest to the hole. There are two tees that precede […]
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Thursday’s Child Has Far to Go
There’s an old nursery rhyme that attributes character traits (or fortunes—the interpretation varies) to children born on each day of the week: Monday’s child is fair of face,Tuesday’s child is full of grace,Wednesday’s child is full of woe,Thursday’s child has far to go,Friday’s child is loving and giving,Saturday’s child works […]
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“Where’s That Baby?” Redux
Soon I will get to meet my new granddaughter. I have anticipated this moment for months. I can’t wait to get her into my arms. And yet, I also remember how it felt to have my own new baby—it seemed everyone wanted the baby, and no one wanted me anymore. […]
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