Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

recent posts

about

Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Category: Friendship

  • Connections

      Here I am sitting on another Friday facing a jam-packed weekend and I haven't even mentioned the last one yet! How did Friday sneak up on me like this? Has it really been a week since I helped surprise Lexie for her 50th birthday? (She's the one in the blue birthday sash.) I didn't…

  • Loose Ends, Apologies and Clarifications

    I owe my kids an apology. I implied in XOXO Nina Barbara that they were slackers in the Mother's Day department. I didn't intend to, but nonetheless, reading back over it now, I understand why my sweet Tommy slipped a pressed flower into the card he sent me with a note explaining "I couldn't let…

  • I Will Not Think About Food Today

    I will not think about food today. I will not think about the crunchy, dry-roasted peanuts I always have mid-morning … or the healthy salmon salad and triscuits I'd probably have for lunch … the Sweet 'n Salty Almond granola bar … the sweet Clementine oranges … the almonds  … the banana … the slice…

  • Today’s the Day

    Yesterday I was stressing out, overwhelmed by how quickly May was filling up – its busy-ness is rivaling the Spring Green and wildflowers that are taking over Long Hollow. After months spent snuggling (and snoozing) on the couch, watching movies with Tom, suddenly I'm faced with a full dance card.  I'm socially out of shape. The…

  • Author. Who, Me?

    She treats me like a celebrity, this woman. No…scratch that. She makes me feel like a celebrity. Every year, for the past nine or ten years, she has invited me into her classroom to talk to her juniors, her AP English Language students, about writing. If for some reason our schedules don't mesh, she has…

  • How about a chocolate fountain?

    Music by Steppenwolf and Jimi Hendrix, stories about a romance kindled by a wet T-shirt contest, interspersed with traditional Catholic readings and blessings … the funeral this afternoon wasn't typical, by any means. But that's only right, isn't it? We're all individuals with distinct personalities. I think it's only fitting that our funerals should reflect…

  • The Heart of the Matter

    I've been spinning through emotions the past few days. Sunday evening I was still floating in air over having Shake Russell fill my house with his beautiful music when I got a call that a dear friend's ex-husband had died, killed in a motorcycle accident that afternoon.  My heart aches for her – even though…

  • Shake-in’ it up … Deep in the Hollow with Shake Russell

    It was one of those moments you can't forget … one of those "I remember the first time …" events that are seared into your memory so deeply that if you close your eyes, you're back there again, just like that: … It's 1978-ish. I'm sitting in my friend Bruce's truck, watching him pop in…

  • Anticipation

    The frenzy has passed …the planning, the emails, cleaning, shopping, cooking. Now I'm just waiting, trying to comprehend that it's actually here … an event I've been looking forward to for months. Now I'm just sitting here, waiting, watching the clock.  Tonight some of my favorite songs will be sung right here in my own…

  • Praying for the long road ahead

    A friend emailed me yesterday, wishing me a happy belated birthday, and explaining that she was late because one day in late March "I was going to work when a 22 old girl ran a red light and hit me.  She never even looked so no brakes were applied so I got the whole slam.  I am…