Midnight on a hot July night. My husband and I, sound asleep, woke up in a flash as 50 pounds of panicked Labrador jumped on my chest. Our dog, Sparky, had straddled me, of course! Mom! The one who feeds him, walks him and saves him from scary things. “Sparky! What […]
Andy has new sneakers. He holds one leg up so the kids seated at their desks can see the NIKE lettering better. It is Show and Tell time in my first-grade class. I believed Show and Tell was a worthwhile activity for a couple reasons. 1. It gave the children a chance to practice public
Droppings! Telltale evidence leaves no doubt. I have a mouse in the garage. I refuse to say “mice” as the thought of more than one of the furry creatures inhabiting secret corners, freaks me out. I coexist fine with spiders and snakes. Only a mouse can make me stand on a chair and scream. Fear
What Would Thoreau Do? Read More »
The First Generation 1910: K.D. and Lulu Reverend Kimbal Dolphus Stroud, pastor, teacher, Langston University graduate, appreciated living in Oklahoma territory. His wife, Lulu, was a member of the Creek Indian tribe and minorities had opportunities not often found elsewhere. But when Oklahoma became a state in 1907, segregation moved in. This was not the
I’ve seen that neon-orange, horseshoe-shaped light on my dashboard before. My Honda FIT is smart—it knows when any tire falls below the recommended pressure. The passenger side rear tire had leaked air a few days ago. My tire gauge confirms it. Filled to 37 pounds at the time, it’s back to 31. Better take it
Make Mine with Studs Read More »
A few years ago, it was my privilege to attend a four-day writing retreat led by author Pam Houston at the Medano-Zapata Ranch that borders the Great Sand Dunes National Park in southwest Colorado. Pam, currently an English professor at the University of California-Davis, gained recognition with her first book Cowboys Are my Weakness, and
ABC. . . A Writing Assignment Read More »