Banking on Tomorrow

  This has been a tough year for the family:  various falls and illnesses, acute worry over the political situation, financial concerns, the disintegration of my daughter's family, and the loss of my son.  So when Alexa chattily asked the hackneyed question " What are you thankful for, Carol? " I was at a loss for words.   And the first thing that popped into my mind?  my home.  I am living in a lovely apartment that is comfortable, secure, close to my daughter, and I am surrounded by friendly folks.  I don't worry about where my car is parked or if the elevator is going to work today or if the fire alarm is going to go off or if I am going to have water.  I have control over my heat and A/C and can set the temperature to whatever I like.  It was a tough transition after so many years in one place, and I still miss my view from the balcony, but over the year, this has become home.   Triscuit agrees.   Wherever you are...

  A cherry tree is sliced by the seasons of 2019. The photos were taken Jan. 13, March 31, Aug. 31 and Nov. 9. (Kevin Ambrose)

I'm still processing the difference between a blog post and an essay.  I tell stories here on my blog, and those narratives do indeed have a beginning, a middle, and an end, but I'm not sure they are essays per se.... The prompt I chose for today:   Describe a moment when everything changed. I had a dysfunctional family - no news flash for those who knew me, and even less informative as you realize that no one has what I have described as a "Norman Rockwell" family - it just doesn't exist except in some hazy golden era of nostalgia My father took off for parts unknown when I was in 8th grade, leaving my mother a pile of bills and a daughter who looked / sounded  much like him as far as appearances went at least.   To say my mother was bitter is an understatement.  To say she took it out on me is also an understatement.  She neither liked nor approved of me, and that was pretty tough because in her family, love was conditional - you met expectation...

  Write a series of questions intended for someone or something that cannot respond. I have questions, Tommy, so many questions.... When I went into the office last week, I heard the long, plaintive whistle of a train as I got out of the car.  I froze, transfixed, tears stinging my eyes.  Did you hear that train whistle, 'o son 'o mine?  Did you see the train slowing and then see your door?   I was told you heard me sing to you that last time, that as I sang your lullaby, a tear ran down your cheek even though the doctor had said you were in a light coma.  Did you hear me tell you that I was sorry I wasn't there, but that you weren't to wait for me if you heard the train and saw your door? We were talking about kids being picky eaters in the Discord family chat you created, and your sister said they actually were eating salads now.  Raven answered:  " ... but do they like chocolate milkshakes? "   You always said you were never goin...

Yes I skipped a day, opting instead to stick with the #SilentSunday protocol.  Yesterday's picture was actually from an online friend of long standing, who I was able to meet and spend a weekend with a few years back.  I did do the reading assignment though Today?  There are several prompts that spoke to me, but I ended up fixing on this one: Write about a favorite piece of clothing that you no longer own. Frank had a tradition for his Christmas presents - every year he bought me outfits to wear.  Sometimes I really liked them, sometimes I didn't care for them. There was one particular dress - I don't have a picture of it because I didn't like it at all.  It was a shift, with a jewel neckline, made of polyester, and it had wide vertical strips that varied from light to dark grey with one burgundy strip.  In the front there were two sheer pieces that fastened at the should and the hem and crisscrossed in the middle.  I didn't like the material.  I ...

  Timber Point Trail, Biddeford, Maine November 8th, 2025