Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Category: Marriage, Family, Dogs, and Cat
Are You His Mother?
My son had gotten to the dentist first. He was leaning back in a waiting room chair, wearing a white beater and black basketball shorts, black ankle socks and his prized black Adidas. He had on a white baseball cap, too big for his… Continue Reading “Are You His Mother?”
My Father Mended Me
I’ll leave it to other people to talk about how swell their dads were, how their dads taught them to fish and play ball and inspired them to be honest and hardworking. I have a different story to tell. It’s a story of how… Continue Reading “My Father Mended Me”
My Father’s Day Message to Young Dads
Here’s my Father”s Day message to Dads, especially young Dads. You matter. It doesn’t matter what your wife or your girlfriend says. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to do anything useful or even if you have a job. You matter. Don’t… Continue Reading “My Father’s Day Message to Young Dads”
Go Visit the Dead
It’s a left turn off the main drag, past the house with the high stone foundation, up and down a couple of green hills that get greener and shadier. At the dip in the road is the entrance to Riverside Cemetery, headstones spread out… Continue Reading “Go Visit the Dead”
Today is the Day We Wash All the Black Bras
I handed my little granddaughter one black bra and told her to put it down the laundry chute. Then called to her, “Hey, take this one, too.” She waited for me to toss it. “Today is the day we wash all the black bras.”… Continue Reading “Today is the Day We Wash All the Black Bras”
Giving Adopted Kids Back
“We heard you were going to send her back.” The school social worker looked at me over her glasses, raising an eyebrow in disapproval. Where had she heard that? Those words had never been spoken, at least not by me. Was she clairvoyant? Yes,… Continue Reading “Giving Adopted Kids Back”
Just Be Nice
On year, my then 20-year old son bought me a very fancy watch for Mother’s Day. In the box was a note scribbled in his tiny handwriting — Ma, can you lend me $20 for gas? I’m broke now. Just kidding, he said. Not… Continue Reading “Just Be Nice”
Don’t Sass Me
My mother slapped me once for being impudent. Let me say that another way. My mother slapped me once. In my entire life. And the reason for the slap was that I was impudent, a word she used frequently as in “Don’t be impudent,… Continue Reading “Don’t Sass Me”
Mom Torture
Mom torture n. 1 emotional pain experienced by a woman when her child is in distress 2 a strategy used to weaken a mother’s resolve in regard to her own beliefs and practices 3 a primary cause of sleepless nights See also Tough love… Continue Reading “Mom Torture”
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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