Category Archives: Writing
Wait, who did you say you are?
You know one of the first principles of self-protection: People tell you who they are. That seems so obvious. Yeah. We know. They tell us who they are. And? And, since they’re telling you who they are, why are you describing them as someone else?… Read more
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Tagged boundaries, brownie ingredients, character, control, father, grace, grief, heart, heartbreak, injury, joy, lesbian, love, memory, mindfulness, power, relationships, safe, self, story, women, Writing
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Abortion Kool-Aid
The first time I had a boy in my room with the door closed, I got a lecture and a pair of abortion feet. You know that little pair of feet anti-choicers use to intimidate women? I was working on a school project with a… Read more
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Tagged baby, boundaries, brokenness, christ, control, father, god, heart, heartbreak, injury, mary, mindfulness, mother, planned parenthood, power, safe, self, shame, story, women, Writing
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Stories
I hear a brief shout at 5, but he keeps sleeping, so I don’t disturb him, then at 6, he sprints into our room. “Mommy! I had a terrible nightmare.” He’s crying. Slight and pale in his crab pajama pants.
“What did you dream?”
“You… Read more
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Tagged art, brokenness, character, grief, heart, heartbreak, injury, kid, love, mary, memory, mindfulness, mother, otter, relationships, safe, savor, self, simple, w.s. merwin, women, Writing
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Craniosacral
She has her hands on the side of my head. I think of the chart she showed me before we began. The wave shape inside my skull, and the way the fluid moves through my spine. I am about to ask what a stillpoint is… Read more
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Tagged art, beth ditto, boundaries, brain, character, control, joy, lesbian, love, mama cass, memory, mindfulness, power, relationships, savor, self, simple, sing, story, tsunami, women, Writing
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How long?
She’s telling us that her friends haven’t had sex in a while. “How long’s a while?” we ask.
“Four years.”
“Four —” my brain cramps.
“Years. Yeah.”
“Why?” I ask, and mean, would anyone stay. Why would anyone stay? “I mean, are they upset about… Read more
Wait
She has been my girl for 13 years. That’s what I’m thinking, sitting on the floor, petting a tremendous amount of hair from her coat, and sobbing into my coffee. Her hind legs have stopped working and she can’t stand. Can’t walk. She’s fish-like, and… Read more
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Tagged brokenness, character, dogs, grief, heartbreak, injury, kali, latte, love, mindfulness, mobile vet, mother, relationships, story, train, women, Writing
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So, about race
I’m 8, and my grandmother is telling me a story. We’re in Arkansas.
“A mixed race couple moved into my sister’s neighborhood and my sister’s having a hard time.”
“Why?” I ask.
She stammers. “Well, honey, it’s just the way she was raised.”
“You were… Read more
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Tagged arkansas, black, boundaries, brokenness, character, control, god, grace, heartbreak, injury, kid, lesbian, memory, mindfulness, navy, power, relationships, safe, self, shame, simple, soul, story, women, Writing
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Shame
Listening to Violent Femmes this weekend, I found myself thinking about ministers’ children and shame. You can’t listen to Violent Femmes and not think about shame — about humiliation. About sex and need. Or early Tori Amos for that matter. We’re raised by people who… Read more
Take the Shortbus
The Netflix rental sat atop the television for months. Blocking the way of remotes and novels. Glaring at us with its red and white face. Why haven’t you watched this movie? Mostly it was the title of the film. Shortbus. Are you fucking kidding? Mary… Read more
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Tagged adventure, art, artist, boundaries, brokenness, character, control, field guide, grace, heart, heartbreak, hubbub, injury, love, mary, memory, mindfulness, power, relationships, safe, savor, self, shame, shortbus, simple, story, women, Writing
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Not-a-boyfriend
“I wish you were a boy,” she says, and kisses me again.
I could describe the scene for you. Describe the girl, but the truth is, this line repeated for years. The first time a girl said it, and then kissed me, I was eight.… Read more
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Tagged boundaries, character, control, heart, heartbreak, injury, love, memory, power, praise jesus, relationships, safe, self, shame, story, women, Writing
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