“But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally, she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before.” Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain As usual, I really should be asleep. But there’s a load of laundry still… Continue reading Lighting Out for the Territories
Month: December 2012
Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Dr. Rhonda Houston
They call me Houston at the hospital. Sometimes they add “ Dr.” or “Dr. Miss” before Houston, but either way, I’m still Houston. As in, “Houston, we have a problem.” I work at a behavior health facility. I said I would work the trenches for a semester about 15 years ago and I’ve never left… Continue reading Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Dr. Rhonda Houston
Love Actually
When I got home this evening I could not believe my eyes. My husband was sitting in front of the television watching, for about the thousandth time, the movie “Love Actually.” Let me digress for a minute….have I told you about the television? It is HUGE and takes up most of my family room. Three… Continue reading Love Actually
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
There is a scene in Les Miserables where Marius, recovering from his own wounds, sings a song about his friends who died on the barricades. In part, it goes “That I live and you are gone, there’s a grief that can’t be spoken, there’s a pain goes on and on”. My little dog Jack used… Continue reading Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
The Call of The Wild
In February of 2005, our old 26 year old Dutch warmblood mare Veronica keeled over dead in her pasture. Apparently she had been running freely, kicking up her heels, and just suddenly, like THAT, it was over. My 20 year old daughter was home at the time. She called me at work, quite… Continue reading The Call of The Wild
What I Want For My Birthday
What I want for my birthday: Health and happiness for my family and friends A way to cure, or better yet, prevent all cancer so that I can retire, PLEASE! And, of course, world peace. To all my other friends who share my late December Christmas-birthday, I hope you get TWO presents this year! Best… Continue reading What I Want For My Birthday
The Most Wonderful Dog in All the Land by Jackie Widen
Sunday, December 18, 2011 in Austin, TX was overcast and cold. It was the kind of day that encouraged hot cocoa, a warm robe, some channel flipping and being lazy. But it was also my birthday, so I knew it was my Day to Plan. I announced to my husband: Today is the day… Continue reading The Most Wonderful Dog in All the Land by Jackie Widen
Where Has All The Good News Gone?
Occasionally, something I write gets picked up on another of the “social media” outlets, and as with this blog, the responses I get are truly appreciated and provide me with insight into others’ points of view. After my essay about the tragedy of Newtown, CT last Friday night, one reader responded: “ I wonder why… Continue reading Where Has All The Good News Gone?
My Funny Valentine
I was watching Saturday Night Live tonight and Paul McCartney was singing. For several years I have had to suppress a cringe when he comes on stage and sings live—there is something a little bit unseemly about a 70 year old man who’s had a face lift or two singing “Hey Jude.” But there he… Continue reading My Funny Valentine
The Stars are Misaligned Tonight
As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport. King Lear, Act IV There are certain days that everyone will always remember. People of my generation uniformly remember where they were and what they were doing the day that John F. Kennedy was shot. My children’s generation will… Continue reading The Stars are Misaligned Tonight