Knock-Out Hero I was at my niece's birthday party last week (her mom took the picture above), when a former student asked me, "Have you ever saved someone from drowning?" The young lady had just finished describing a rescue she'd witnessed. She'd felt helpless, unsure of her swimming abilities and unable to help a friend … Continue reading Knock-Out Hero
Nature: An Unrequited Love As Valentines approaches, I'd like to declare my undying and unrequited love for nature. Nature, of course, doesn't care about me. Red in tooth and claw and all. But, like other quasi-relationships I've known, a lack of reciprocity doesn't phase me. This love for nature has now led me into the … Continue reading Nature: An Unrequited Love
And the Cat Came Back On to the second pet-post to celebrate the publication of my essay "Pet Pack" in Next Chapter LitMag and a definite-maybe from Chicken Soup from the Soul: What I Learned from my Dog, for my essay "Rebel Heart." Fingers crossed, ya'll. Now let's talk cats. But first, a full disclosure: … Continue reading And the Cat Came Back
Lizardo In honor of Next Chapter Literary Magazine publishing my essay "Pet Pack" in their upcoming issue, I'd like to kick off a series of pet posts. Let's start with my lizard, Lizardo. My brother won Lizardo in a dart game at the Seafood Festival when I was in high school. Lizardo was one of … Continue reading Lizardo
Ten Years with My Gingineer My husband and I are celebrating our ten-year wedding anniversary this week. How is that possible? I mean, our eight-year-old son is good evidence of our longstanding relationship, but it seems like just yesterday that I met the man of my dreams. Was it in a bar, you ask? At … Continue reading Ten Years with My Gingineer
MAD About Comics The other day, my mother handed me a Hartman suitcase she'd found in her attic. Even without opening it, I knew exactly what lay within that smooth leather treasure box. My comics once lived at my father's house, in the top two drawers of my dresser. When I left for college, those … Continue reading MAD About Comics
Hot Writer Summer It's been a month since I last posted. You deserve better, readers. But let me tell you what you've missed: It's summer. In coastal NC. It's hot. The kids are home and every thought is interrupted by someone yelling, "Mom, this remote control won't work!" or "Stop touching me!" (that was me). … Continue reading Hot Writer Summer
Meeting My Role Model As the school year wraps up, I'd like to reflect on my first year of substitute teaching. It's been interesting. I've mostly taught at the primary school, since my kids are there. Despite eleven years as a high school teacher, I was not ready for "the littles," especially Kindergartners. My first … Continue reading Meeting My Role Model
The End of the World I'm currently reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette, a book recommended by my friend Shazam. It's an engaging read - interesting format and great build-up. The **** is about to hit the fan, and I'm enjoying my front-seat view to the chaos. What Bernadette doesn't realize is that it's unwise, dangerous, … Continue reading The End of the World
Who Stole My Meat? I'm halfway through writing a post about comic books, and it's an important topic, to be sure, and I promise I'll get to it soon, but right now, I have something more urgent to share: One time, someone stole all our meat. I'd forgotten about it - let bygones be bygones, … Continue reading Who Stole My Meat?
Jessi Waugh Writer 