Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Category: Marriage, Family, Dogs, and Cat
The History of Neighbors
After our dog nipped their daughter, the rabbi’s wife invited us to Sukkot dinner. Even though it was close to twenty years ago, I remember that we had spent a long hour talking in our driveway – me and my husband and the rabbi… Continue Reading “The History of Neighbors”
The Gift of Safe Landing
In my nightmare, I said, “you can hit me as much as you want,” like I was daring someone to hit me, like I was able to withstand what they might do, though I don’t remember where I was or who was threatening to… Continue Reading “The Gift of Safe Landing”
The Melancholy of Sunday Night
It starts around 5:00. Before that, the day has hope. At 5:00, hope evaporates into little clouds of resignation that then gather and form a storm cloud of dread. It’s as if someone has given me a pill timed to dampen my mood and… Continue Reading “The Melancholy of Sunday Night”
The Penny on the Pavement
Tradition. That’s what my husband said when I asked him for one word to describe me. Earlier in our walk, I asked him what one word would describe him and he said “sleepy.” I asked him more about the reason for choosing tradition as… Continue Reading “The Penny on the Pavement”
They’re Fine, All Good
“How are your kids?” This is always the check-in question with folks I’ve known a long time or, more specifically, folks who knew my kids when they were young. “Oh, they’re fine. All good,” I always answer and then, if the mood strikes me,… Continue Reading “They’re Fine, All Good”
Wild Rice in the Hot Tub
Yesterday, in the hot tub at the local pool, my husband explained that I needed to make dinner because I hadn’t kept my promise to cook the wild rice the night before. He said this by soundlessly exaggerating his speech so I could lip… Continue Reading “Wild Rice in the Hot Tub”
Unbreak Your Heart
I was estranged from my parents for a very long time. It began with a single comment made by my mother in a testy phone conversation about my sister. “You think you’re so smart.” So, I understand estrangement and how little it takes to… Continue Reading “Unbreak Your Heart”
Old Beautiful Debts
I was fired once and evicted once. I was fired by a billboard company that took payments in cash from customers. This alone should have signaled something very strange. I made the mistake of joking about counting all the cash and that was that.… Continue Reading “Old Beautiful Debts”
Sisterhood
I’m not sure I would recognize my sister if she walked into this room and sat on my lap. It’s been that long. Twenty-two years. The last time I saw her was when my mother died. She came across country for the funeral, arriving… Continue Reading “Sisterhood”
Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
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