Esther, John Ben, and Misha have been gone for a few weeks. I keep waiting for the big feelings to hit, but even when I moved my furniture around for the baklava party and found a tell-tale chicken nugget and toy car, no tears welled up in my eyes. I smiled at the evidence ofContinue reading “Back to School in Ohio”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Vancouver Church
I have history with the Eastern Orthodox parish in my hometown of Vancouver, Washington. When Mom was looking into Orthodoxy, the closest parish was in Milwaukee, Oregon. The Vancouver parish was founded well after Mom moved to California to live with us. Still, even after Mom left, there were reasons for me to return. ThatContinue reading “The Vancouver Church”
Sentimental Journey
The purpose of our July trip up to the Pacific Northwest was for Xenia and Justin to see my friends and family and the places where I grew up. We also brought Xenia’s friend Tara from Fort Worth, Texas. We spent a few days in my hometown of Vancouver, Washington, at the home of myContinue reading “Sentimental Journey”
Missing Child
Don’t worry…all ends well in this story. Jonah was depressed the week before camp on account of breaking up with his summer girlfriend. I tried to get him to go shopping with me or go out to a movie to no avail. Finally on Friday he put his arms around me and said, “I’m goingContinue reading “Missing Child”
Pacific Northwest Part 3
Thursday we drove down to Seaside, Oregon. The kids and I stopped off at a little park along the Columbia River before crossing the bridge to Astoria. Living in New Mexico and crossing the Rio Grande almost every day gives my children a sad understanding of the meaning of the word river. The Rio GrandeContinue reading “Pacific Northwest Part 3”
We Have a Toddler
After flying into Seattle on Saturday and spending a few days along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, on Tuesday, we drove to Moclips, Washington, where we stayed at a “resort” on the beach. (Turns out that every place to stay along the Pacific Ocean in that area was called a “resort.”) Our place boastedContinue reading “We Have a Toddler”
Pacific Northwest Trip Part I
There were eight of us on this trip. Sophia stayed home with Coryn because she has art classes all summer. I used the trip to Oregon that Mike, Sophia, and I took together by ourselves last summer to feel like it was fair. That, and Sophia went up to Canada to see a show she’sContinue reading “Pacific Northwest Trip Part I”
Bad Numbers Good Changes
I stopped crying three days after the appointment. Of course, it was intermittent crying. I didn’t cry at work in front of my students, but tears fell down my cheeks on the thirty-minute drive home. I didn’t talk to anyone on the trip to my bedroom, where I changed into old flowy athletic shorts thatContinue reading “Bad Numbers Good Changes”
Third ER Visit
The kids were eager for me to start writing about our weekend, but I felt like it wasn’t over and wanted to wait. I was also waiting to find out if Xenia’s eye was going to heal and how that part of the story would end. Mike told Xenia that he hoped she wouldn’t putContinue reading “Third ER Visit”
Second ER Visit
I look for things to come in threes. If a random event happens, it doesn’t bother me, but if two happen, I find myself looking for the third. Stories seem to be complete when there are three events, and experience has shown me that the third topic paragraph in my five-paragraph life essays comes whenContinue reading “Second ER Visit”
Syra's Scribbles 