My Journey of Lost Memories

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I stood hanging on to my shopping cart, mind blank. A fog had descended. I stared at the guy in front of me, picking through vegetables. I remember him, because on the back of his navy blue shirt were the letters, “EMS.” I would meet him a little later. “Can I help you find something?”…… Continue reading My Journey of Lost Memories

My Mom’s Criminal Past

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Earlier this year my 96-year-old mother passed away. Mom assigned me to tell this story at her funeral services. When I was a girl she and Dad had bought a small farm in Indiana, where on weekends he enjoyed playing farmer and she enjoyed out-fishing her husband. The kids fooled around mostly—we swam and fished…… Continue reading My Mom’s Criminal Past

A Second Chance

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I rescued the quivering ball of fur from the jaws of my cat. Its tiny head stuck out of one side of Coco’s mouth, a grey tail trailed from the other side. I wasn’t even sure he had anything, but as I followed him on our evening walk, he had crouched and flicked his tail.…… Continue reading A Second Chance

Grandmother

Posted in India, spiritual travelLeave a comment

I don’t know why I pulled away. I had tried to get the old woman’s photo the day before, and the day before that. Right then was the perfect opportunity. She was practically inviting me to snap her portrait. “Vanga!” creaked her voice. But I acted as though I didn’t understand her welcome. Everyone watching…… Continue reading Grandmother

Transition

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“Mama died today at 5:49 pm.” I stared at the email message, feeling assaulted, punched in the gut. There was nothing gentle about those words, even though they also said my mother had not been in pain. I guess I was in pain—gazing at my IPad, lying alone on a bed in an apartment in…… Continue reading Transition