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celebrating spencer
Saturday we held the service for my grandpa, and it was lovely. There were tears, of course, but there was also lots of laughter as people stood up and shared their memories of my grandpa—his optimism, his integrity, his sense of humor, and his extraordinary golf swing. I read the piece I wrote last week…
on being a writer
I haven’t had much time to sit down and really write these last weeks. Between my grandpa dying, a trip up north, a non-writing related freelance project, and limited childcare, I just haven’t had the time to spirit myself off to the coffee shop. And this bothers me. It makes me feel unmoored, as if…
trees for faith's lodge
Faith’s Lodge, where I hold my annual writing retreat for mothers, was devastated in a storm that hit Western Wisconsin on July 1st. The lodge provides a place where parents and families facing the serious illness or death of a child can retreat to reflect on the past, renew strength for the present, and build…
ready
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers over the last couple of weeks. I know all of you have experienced the deaths of loved ones, and I know many of these loved ones were too young to die. At 102, Spencer wasn’t too young. But as I sat by him in those…
1/19/1909 – 6/30/2011
My grandpa, Spencer Nelson, died early this morning. In the coming days and weeks, I’m sure I’ll write more about my last days with him, but for now, I’ll just post a few photos. Grandpa and Grandma were florists. Here he stands with a bouquet. He served in WWII as a Military Police officer on stateside…
some thoughts on dying
Warning: This is long and tangential. It’s the only way I can write it. On Thursday afternoon, my mom was helping my grandpa walk to the door, when Grandpa’s legs gave out and both he and my mom went down. He didn’t have a stroke; he just didn’t have any strength left in his legs,…
happy father's day!
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Wishing everyone a lovely day! D had to coach this morning, but we’ll greet him with homemade cards and the electric griddle he’s been coveting. We’ll have a little family time followed by some solo time for him to watch the US soccer game. Then dinner…
kudos and upcoming classes
I finally feel like I can breathe again since finishing my manuscript. I hadn’t realized how much energy that last push had taken. In the last two weeks I knew I needed to turn my attention back to the work I had ignored in May, but I just couldn’t do it. I kept sneaking back…
musings at 4 a.m.
Last night D. brought home Blizzards for the girls and for himself, and my “I’ll just have two bites of yours” turned into me eating half of his Oreo Blizzard. (Can you see why he doesn’t like to share with me?) I have a friend who insists that DQ is not a “deliberate dessert” (meaning…
it’s done!
I’m sorry to be so long in posting, friends. I’ve had my face in my computer almost constantly. I’ve been up since 3 a.m. this morning. I am exhausted. But I just e-mail the manuscript–Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mother–to my editor. (It hasn’t sunk in yet. I just feel numb.) Andrea suggested…
and the winner is….
Thank you all so much for your wonderful haiku! It has been such a relief to be able to step out of my book-induced stress haze and read your poetry! Thank you for your words! Now I’m turning it over to the talented and fabulous Caroline Grant, Editor-in-Chief of Literary Mama, co-editor of Mama PhD and the judge…
its time, again
(I posted this yesterday, but it vanished. I’ve no idea why.) Spring has been slow in coming to Minnesota this year, but finally, it’s here. The plants in the garden have begun to fill out, the grass is green, and even our spindly Maple in the front yard has sprouted leaves. All of this means…