I am a guest in the home of friends who welcome me with so much love that I stay close to tears throughout my visit.

At night, I feel safe because several adults are preparing for bed nearby, a feeling I miss from my childhood. When I hear their footsteps one floor above, I become eight years old again, in bed, secure because my parents are managing the world around me.

Four sentry dogs…

I was one of those apparently narrow-minded wives and mothers (not, emphatically not, from any sort of overwhelming streak of maternity).   Was offered friendship – trips to the opera or the ballet, my choice – by the mother of my daughter’s at the time best friend, the boy she’d then agreed, age five or thereabouts, to marry.

Later, maybe…

Yet again we were discussing blogging, he with disdain because the only one he ever sees is populated largely by monocular illiterates.   

I said “without it my life this past two years would not have been worth living” (poetic licence certainly, but also a grain of truth).  

I…

All it took was kicking. Kicking my way out of the oppressing waters of a bad friendship that was filling my lungs. Now that I am relaxing on the beautiful cruise ship of life, I see how far behind they are left in the wake. I had not realized I was drowning until I untied myself from the anchor and was helped onto the ship. Up here the sky is blue, the air is warm, and the people are friendly. Here is where I am going to stay.

The first time I saw David in action I knew I was witnessing something special; it wasn’t long after that he won his first professional tournament. In the Early days we travelled and roomed together as his star began to rise mine never really got off the ground but I more than shared in his new found fame and wealth. As…

Nanci's cell phone broke the midnight silence vibrating and jigging to the sound of "Single Ladies" so she fumbled on the nightstand and hit the "hello" button.

"Hey," Lori said in a wide-awake voice. 

"Bad dream again?"

Lori nodded as if her cousin could see her nodding ten blocks away. "I know I shouldn't call every time I break a resolution and have bad Oprah dreams, but can I still call you when it's Dr. Phil?"

"You got it," Nanci said and meant it.

We tire of the wholesome appearances we make on the internet. The tally on Facebook of quiches baked, bottles of wine savored, sunsets appreciated. All opinions are positive, likes only, not even a pixel

laid down that we would be ashamed of if our great-grandmother Googled

and found it.

So can you blame me that in the late nights lately I’ve run with a new,…

I had been single again for about a year, divorced for almost three months when I happened to run into an old friend of mine, Ryan. We'd known each other since we were kids, grew up together in the same neighborhood, we'd even slept together before during a period of long separation from my first husband, and I had grown to trust him without the risk of falling in love. So it felt natural to bring him home to my little house after a long day of CNA training, eat take out, visit and get…

She had waited so long for this, spent countless hours over the years in a dream state, imagining how it would feel to have him inside her. He lifted her skirt, deftly pulled her panties down, grabbed her ass, entered, and gave three strong thrusts before he came.

There was no disappointment, only relief, for the ice had been broken, the forbidden boundary crossed, a moment of clarity when all things centered and aligned for her, and she hoped for him. They were not struck by…

............................................

This was not the time to offer platitudes. I hugged him, and rummaged in my backpack to get him a tissue. I also drew out a bottle of orange juice, which he gulped thirstily.

“Thank you,” he said, with unfathomable pain in his eyes. “Do you want to tell me about it?” “Lean your bike against the wall, and let’s sit down on the kerb, and I’ll tell you!” he said with a quiet authority I could not fathom. I put it down to…