Magnolia blooms permeate the view from my writer’s perch.  The soft pink blossoms, illuminated by street lamps, beckon me to stop and appreciate their brilliance, my gaze soothed by a warm breeze, my heartbeat keeping time with the butterfly wind chimes.  God answered my prayers for a sign with the gift of summer days to … Continue reading When the Sun Comes Out

Some signs are clear: they dictate our right of way in traffic, mark the appropriate bathroom, or denote the sale prices for a rack of clothing.  We rely on signs to navigate effectively through the physical realm.  There is a temptation for some, a longing for others, for such signs to satisfy the navigational needs … Continue reading Show Me a Sign

You love or hate today, really, I imagine.  Single, dating, married, or divorced, Cupid’s arrow strikes humanity indiscriminately once a year, ushering in a day’s reign of sentimental gestures. Nine years ago today, my ex-husband proposed.  Four years ago today, I packed a bag; I didn’t know that I would end up leaving him for … Continue reading Status, Symbols, and Self

So it happened on Sunday.  I turned thirty-four.  Honestly?  I hated it.  Charming did his best to cheer me up, from making tea to combat my miserable cold to reservations for an elegant dinner in Old Town to a warm fire in the fireplace.  I should have been content.  Instead, I cried my way through … Continue reading It’s My Party, and I’ll Cry if I Want To