I am sad. It pours out of me in gasps and chokes, a geyser of emotion too strong to stopper up. Each year it lies in wait. Quiet, tame. Masked by boredom with the details, the mundanity of every day life. And then, as his tires crunch gravel outside the window, and the door closes solidly … Continue reading On Goodbyes
Alone. It's a weighty concept, one packed with loneliness and independence and freedom. It means handling problems that arise all by yourself. Bearing life's weight on your own back. But with that independence comes freedom from another person's opinions and needs. It means living your life exactly the way you want to live it, unrestrained … Continue reading The Merits of Being Alone
Spring is wrapping up here in Mississippi. Now when I step onto the deck each morning with Chara, the air is as warm and soft as a second skin. The brilliant spring blooms have faded, and the garden is well established. And with these changes come other big life changes. About three weeks ago … Continue reading On Change
Talking about money can be awkward. But I think it's important too, so I'm just going to dive right into it: Jordan and I are poor. He's a graduate student with a meager stipend, and I work for a non-profit. In the last few months, we've had a huge shift in how we think about … Continue reading On Money Matters
Yesterday, Jordan and I got into a fight. I'm sharing this because it's an important reality of our relationship. We aren't perfect. We are messy, we are human. But it's easy to come off as perfect when you write pieces about the beautiful little moments together. The fight started with me, before even I could have guessed … Continue reading On moodiness
Here in Mississippi, spring is on its way. The air is balmy and warm, birds flitter around our feeder, and Chara's fur gathers in tumbleweeds in the corners of our home. These changes, along with talk of New Year's resolutions, always turn my thoughts to the future. What's the outcome I see for myself? What … Continue reading On wanting what you have
It has been two months since Jordan and I got married. Given all that has happened, it feels like it's been two years. Jordan's sister stayed with us for a month (to be clear: this was the best ever), Donald Trump got elected to lead our country, our car broke down, and--right after our car … Continue reading On Near-Murder and Marriage
