Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Category: Marriage, Family, Dogs, and Cat
The Loveliness of a Man’s Things
A beautifully-dressed man will have just a few things. He’ll have a good watch. Maybe if he is like my husband, he’ll have two watches. One will be the gold watch that belonged to his grandfather who died fifty years ago. He must know… Continue Reading “The Loveliness of a Man’s Things”
Okay?
The orphanage director took her hand and looked straight into her very blue eyes. “We think you should take him, not her. He needs you more. That’s what truly matters. Don’t you agree?” She was incredulous, silently hysterical. She’d come all this way for… Continue Reading “Okay?”
Wrestlemania
What are the chances that the high school wrestling coach would be a Latino guy who was adopted and raised by Anglo parents? “I pretty much figured he was adopted when his name didn’t match his face,” Coach Tony said when he introduced himself… Continue Reading “Wrestlemania”
Glimmer
When our kids were little, we would come home from work, change into bathing suits, grab two longneck Millers, a slew of juice boxes, and a bag of chips and head down to Lake Michigan for ‘cocktail hour.’ We made sure to go after… Continue Reading “Glimmer”
Ten Stops
Today was a record for us – my husband and me and our little sidekick, our 7-year old granddaughter. We got in the car at noon, came home at seven and in between, made ten stops. We counted them over and over just to… Continue Reading “Ten Stops”
Shelved
“When you want something, Mom, just ring the bell.” “Wouldn’t it be easier if I just called for you? Ringing a bell seems a little Downton Abbey to me.” “I don’t like being yelled at, remember, Mom? Remember when you used to read that… Continue Reading “Shelved”
It’s What You Do
Even when you are tired, when you are enjoying your evening, when you’re thinking it might not really be an emergency but it might be, you go. When you want to be home in bed reading and imagining their safe, young, untroubled lives, you… Continue Reading “It’s What You Do”
Ducks
A few weeks ago, this mama duck was swimming solo. Her life on Little Lake Harbor on Lake Superior was sweet, uncomplicated. She paddled, ate, sat in the sun, floated with her friends, watched boats come and go and took care of herself. Then… Continue Reading “Ducks”
Switch
This is written in response to a Trifecta writing challenge – 33 words on any topic. The orphanage director took her hand and looked straight into her very blue eyes. “We think you should take him, not her. He needs you more. That’s what… Continue Reading “Switch”
Where Is Your Luck?
I’m a person who likes the same places. I envy people who are curious and travel to strange places and I aspire to be like them. But left alone, I would go where I always go. And it would be here. On the Lake… Continue Reading “Where Is Your Luck?”
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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