Category: Friendship

  • Today I'm driving to Houston. My cousin died a few days ago and I want to be there for his funeral tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. Ronnie was only 64. Not old, but not young, either. I guess "just enough time", as the Band Perry sings… but I can't imagine ever thinking I've had enough time. I'd…

  • Bonfire sparks drifted up to the sky where clouds parted like curtains and stars crowded the stage, accompanied by the singing creek beside us. No moon softened the darkness – the pitch wall of night rose just beyond the reach of the firelight.  There was a time not too long ago when I would have…

  • Winter remembered us here in Austin this weekend. Right after lunch today, I headed up the pathway to my car, loaded down with jewelry, catalogs and order forms for a Silpada party at my friend Darla's house. Raindrops speckled the stones, but only one or two drops hit my head before the rain turned to…

  •   This tiny naked baby, arms opened wide for a hug, sits on my kitchen window sill, a sweet reminder that just two weeks ago my kitchen was overflowing in love and friendship and hugs from women who have known me almost forever.       The baby came hidden in an authentic King Cake,…

  • I'm in a calm spot between a busy week and a busier weekend. We've been blessed with spring-like weather, lately, and I admit I'm ready for it to just stick around. Wildflowers haven't yet ventured our way, but we're being serenaded by birds and frogs and a running creek. Storm clouds and sunshine are taking…

  • Author Gayle Brandeis posed that question on SheWrites last month. “What electrifies you? What gets your heart pumping? What takes your breath away? What makes the hair on your arms stand up on end?” I answered… Dancing, which I do as often as possible, even to the extent that I missed talking to a lot…

  • It seemed like a good idea at the time, volunteering to host a weekend gathering of Deer Park Divas. My friends Patti and Rae started it, saying something about needing to come to Austin. We had so much fun the last time we gathered here to celebrate a friend's birthday and I've been wanting to…

  •     A friend's husband, my own former co-worker and friend, died earlier this week. Just in the past month or so another friend lost his mother, a classmate's husband succumbed to cancer, and I learned of the death of another friend (along with my good intentions to see her again here on earth.)  …

  • Right after work this evening, I drove straight to a stranger's house. Seven of us sat around a dining room table, munching on queso, chips and gluten-free brownies, discussing our 'babies' – the collection of words we've poured our hearts into for longer than we want to remember. Our babies range from picture book to…

  •     Early sunlight reached through the gauzy curtains, caressed her skin, whispered wake up, wake up. On cue, the sounds of surf tiptoed into the room, singing her more awake. Eyes barely open, she pulled on the running clothes lying on a nearby chair, grabbed her worn out Brooks and laced them on tight.…