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?
Heroic Instincts In the novel I just edited (yet again), my main character encounters life-threatening danger. It's a fight or flight situation, an opportunity for heroic valor and lightning-fast reflexes. If this was fantasy, action, or sci-fi, she would kick ass and take names. But it's historical women's fiction, and there's a third option, one … Continue reading Heroic Instincts
Prayer for Judgement I got pulled over last week for running a stop sign in my neighborhood, where a police officer had been sitting all week, waiting for someone to run that stop sign. Since I knew he was there, I didn't run the stop sign. Also, I don't run stop signs. He said I … Continue reading Prayer for Judgement
It's Nothing Main Street Rag Literary Magazine published my poem “It’s Nothing” this month in their Winter 2023 issue, bless their dear hearts. I hate to tell them, but “It’s Nothing” isn't literature. It's a poem about my old truck. I loved that truck, with a visceral and romantic love. What other reason could there … Continue reading It’s Nothing
Where you been, Old Blue? It was 2am on a rural highway near Greenville, NC. Farmland stretched for miles. I was in my twenties, driving a friend home from the clubs, when I saw a dog walking by the side of the road. He was just trotting along like he owned the place, a pointer … Continue reading Where you been, Old Blue?
The Dog That Almost Killed Me Keith Whitley’s song "Tell Lorrie I Love Her" was my college roommate Lorrie’s favorite, for obvious reasons. It's been almost two decades since I saw Lorrie (that’s how old I am), but that song will always make me think of her, even though we did not part on the … Continue reading The Dog That Almost Killed Me
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner It was supposed to be a reward, a reward I'd been working toward all year. The three kids who read the most books would receive a grand prize: a mystery celebration. We were guaranteed to love it. Sure, there were coupons for personal pan pizzas along the way, but … Continue reading Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
Is Your Refrigerator Running? Before Christmas break, I volunteered at the primary school, so teachers could attend their holiday luncheon. My kids' classes were already covered. "Put me anywhere you need me," I said. They needed me in the EC (Exceptional Children) class, so that's where I went. Before the teacher left, he wrote his … Continue reading Is Your Refrigerator Running?
Oh, Christmas Tree I wish I had a picture of those trees: either the coathanger one or that scraggly juniper, but this was before cell phones, and camera film was too pricey for use on a tree, be it real or otherwise. So, my memory will have to suffice. I was twelve, my brother ten, … Continue reading Oh, Christmas Tree
Jessi Waugh Writer 