I met Angela as I was walking down the street in the Greenwood section of Tulsa. She is a proud store owner of the Black Wall Street Corner Store and More. Her shop is an eclectic mix of all sorts of products, including souvenirs, clothing, snacks, books, and art. It’s the kind of store that’s…
life
The hands of my ancestors
I’ve spent the winter in the very dry southwest US and have gone through a LOT of hand lotion. Sometimes I look down at my hands when they’re particularly dry and am startled to see the image of my mother’s and grandmothers’ hands there instead of my own. There are the age spots and blood…
The 52 Strangers Project: Week 3
I get to know a little about one stranger each week for all of 2024 One tricky thing about camping is that when you pull into a campground after a long day of driving, you never know who your neighbors are going to be. Usually they’re good — people that you might wave hello to…
The saddest word is goodbye
We had to say goodbye to this sweet soul not too long ago. I knew something was wrong when she stopped eating her food, and that something was REALLY wrong when she stopped eating treats. After a bunch of vet visits, she was diagnosed with end-stage liver failure. She continued to get weaker and the…
The 52 Strangers Project: Week 2
I get to know a little about one stranger each week for all of 2024 I’ve never met anyone who had a job that required them to play with model trains, but that all changed today when I met Pam. One of the first things you might notice about Pam is that she’s wearing a…
The 52 Strangers Project: Week 1
I get to know a little about one stranger each week for all of 2024 Sometimes you meet a person with a great story, a story that stops you in your tracks. Breanna Jackson has a story like that. Breanna told me her story about family, a great love, and finding a way to remember…
One year on the road
“Deep breath, here we go.” That was what I thought a year ago today. The day we finally finished packing up and cleaning out our house. The day I said goodbye to my home and hello to life in a travel trailer with my husband, daughter, our dog, and two cats. I remember being so…
Memories of the great mulberry project
I remember the first time my dad noticed the mulberry tree in my back yard. It was a few summers ago, and he excitedly picked up a few of the many, many mulberries scattered across the lawn. “Look at this! Mulberries!” he said, as he popped them in his mouth. “Um, are you sure, dad?” I asked….
The fruits of our labor
“The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth. One is nearer God’s heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth.” –Dorothy Frances Gurney The backyard garden is really my husband’s project, not mine. He disappears out the back door periodically to tend to all the wonderful things sprouting…
A story of Mother’s Day, dementia and ukuleles
This Mother’s Day was the first time I wasn’t able to speak to my mom or wish her a happy Mother’s Day. It was sad for me, and difficult to deal with, and all the other things you’d expect it to be. But it wasn’t anything at all for my mom, since I’m pretty sure…