Summer was more than just my favorite time of year; it was the name bestowed upon me by the girl I loved more than anything in the world. Her name was Jaqueline, better known as Jelly, and she loved me, too. When I made my entrance into the world with six other littermates, I realized from the beginning that the farm was the best place to grow up. We chased each other around, caught bugs, and rolled in the grass. It was a...

It’s funny how some memories stay with you during your lifetime—things you did as a kid or a young adult that still shape who you are today. The older I get, the more I look back and think I didn’t appreciate how much simpler life was or how few responsibilities I had. Lately, one memory has been on my mind, prompted by a search through my iTunes library while looking for uplifting music to listen to while I walked the be...

The fog rolls in, obscuring the horizon The muted colors blend into one hue Melancholy looms within my being Is it the lack of sun? Or is it missing you? The waves lap at my feet along the shoreline I wish that you were here to hold my hand My heart is heavy, denser than the air As time moves like a million grains of sand My thoughts, they flit like hummingbirds that hover The distance in between and time apart Have let t...

“Hey Lucy, where’s Mama?” Richard asked when he got home from work. “Don’t bug Mama,” the little girl told her father as he hung up his coat. “She gots a dandy lion, and it’s makin’ her crabby.” A dandy lion? He frowned. Then it hit him what she meant. Dandelions littered their front lawn, and his wife, Maggie, was probably irritated that he hadn’t put down the weed killer as he’d promised over a week ago. “Did you pick s...

We built a life upon this earth Filled with love and ceaseless mirth Each day brought never-ending laughter Sweet thoughts of happily ever after. We worked so hard and made our plan To travel far across this land But as the time did gather near Those dreams began to disappear Oh, so subtle at the start Were little things that hurt my heart My words unheard, perhaps ignored No matter how much I implored. We had forever, or...

The summer of 1975 provided hot, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings in Detroit. Having a pool in our backyard meant late-night swims so we could go to bed and let the box fan in the window blow air on our wet hair, helping to cool us off enough to sleep. That was my parents’ idea of air conditioning. I never minded the heat. As hot as it was, it was nothing compared to the humid, tropical weather I experienced on my many...

The giant blades of the turbines cut through the air almost silently despite their looming, ominous presence. Katarina stared out the window at them as she drove along Highway 402. This stretch of the road seemed to be littered with futuristic-looking windmills. Kat could swear they had doubled in number since the last time she’d driven on this road. Then again, it had been nearly four years since she’d last traveled acro...

There’s a kitten in the corner In my bathroom, by the shower He’s the cutest little fella Sitting near the big gorilla And the rabbits make my day As they turn and hop away Through the grasses and the trees Just as happy as they please And the church just down the street Looks like something that should tweet While the pepper, cut in half, Is enjoying a great laugh But my husband rolls his eyes Which is really no surprise...

What if I stopped being annoyed when people don’t follow the rules? What if I didn’t feel compelled to comment when a conversation didn’t include me? What if I just turned up the volume on the television or radio when the speed demon toddler starts to race back and forth over my head? What if I didn’t interrupt my husband while he was telling a story to correct the details? What if I didn’t feel resentment toward a few si...

The heat was staggering as she climbed the steps to the third level of the ferry that would take her to the island. Relief came as a cool breeze off the water once the vessel started moving. Freedom was across this lake; the closer she got, the sweeter it tasted. Allowing herself a full week of joy had its price. But he would touch and taste her until she was completely sated while taking what he needed. She made this tre...

As the morning alarm sounds and the automatic blinds open, I rise from the couch and stretch. I started in the bed, curled up next to the woman who feeds and cares for me, but she moves around at night. So, at some point, like most nights, I moved to the comfort of my own space. She smiles at me as she rises, bids me good morning, and offers me breakfast. Of course, it’s the same meal as the day before and the day before...

When I was a little girl, I lived in silent fear of losing my mother the way she lost hers. That fear became excessive when I reached the age of seven, the same age she was when her mother fell down the basement stairs and hit her head. I watched Mama like a hawk, terrified that she would meet the same fate. I offered to go to the basement to get whatever she needed to the point of making a pest of myself. Finally, she go...

I’ve been burned before My giving nature taken for granted My friendship chewed up and spit out My heart poked with holes So, I’ve treaded more lightly this time around Perhaps wiser than before? Cautious about how much to give Holding back some of myself Maybe more than I should You reached out and were kind But I felt vulnerable, still Till you gave me a new hope And a shield to protect myself From those who would hurt...

Sitting with the soft, white sand covering my toes, While the warm breeze tousles my fiery red hair Dozens of beachgoers mill all around me With their umbrellas and chairs and suntan oils. Still, it feels incredibly quiet As the seagulls fly around, The pelicans gracefully glide, And the dolphins swim and play. No sounds penetrate my mind For I am mesmerized by the vision of you Your dark hair with a smattering of gray Ou...

You look at me and flash a grin And suddenly, I’m taken in Your mouth speaks not, but eyes say much You’re longing for my gentle touch The sound of laughter fills the air But all you do is stand and stare You cannot think of words to say But still, you take my breath away Those eyes, like windows to your soul Tell thoughts you simply can’t control They seek response from my own eyes And tell of love you can’t disguise The...