Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Category: Marriage, Family, Dogs, and Cat
Anniversary Eve
When you are a blogger and it’s the eve of your 38th wedding anniversary, you start writing but are quickly convinced that every thing you might say about love or marriage or anniversaries you’ve said before – last year or the year before or… Continue Reading “Anniversary Eve”
Pizza Man’s Phone Manners
My husband is ordering a pizza and bread sticks from Dominos. He is doing this because for weeks we’ve watched commercials for Dominos pizza and bread sticks with dipping sauces liked melted mozzarella cheese and hot apple pie that look divine and so we… Continue Reading “Pizza Man’s Phone Manners”
Page-Turner
We could’ve been a one child family, but we weren’t in control. That sounds harsh but it’s meant to be reflective. I went through a phase in college, marooned in the middle of Michigan in Mt. Pleasant, when I was obsessed with the notion… Continue Reading “Page-Turner”
Hospital Nights
I have slept in many hospital rooms, pulled out the faux leather cushions of the stiff couch to make a pretend bed, the hospital people being okay with patients’ parents staying the night but not wanting to make it too comfortable lest they move… Continue Reading “Hospital Nights”
The Difference Between Then and Now is This
My heart goes out to families where some of the members are vaccinated and others aren’t. The vaccinated folks wonder why the unvaccinated relatives don’t care enough to protect themselves against a deadly disease. More fundamentally, and here we are talking about deeply hurt… Continue Reading “The Difference Between Then and Now is This”
How a Sub Sandwich Told Me I’d Gone Around the Bend
This was the moment I knew I’d lost my mind. It was late spring of 2020. The entire state of Wisconsin was under a mask mandate – in stores, restaurants, public places – and there was plenty of advice about wearing masks outside because,… Continue Reading “How a Sub Sandwich Told Me I’d Gone Around the Bend”
Jan’s Clippers
Before the pandemic, my husband got his hair cut at a place that charged $5. He gave the guy a $5 tip, making the total price of a haircut $10, way less than other barbers charged and not even a quarter of what I… Continue Reading “Jan’s Clippers”
Vehement
In Wisconsin, we have a state legislator who is urging health care workers not to get vaccinated. Tomorrow, I’ll go with my pregnant daughter to what is probably the best hospital clinic in the state and I’ll have no idea if the people we… Continue Reading “Vehement”
My First Three Days as an Au Pair
After a three-day apprenticeship, my twin infant grandsons were left in my care. I would say ‘our care’ but my husband was asleep on the couch for the duration so it seems unnecessarily inclusive and gratuitous to allow much credit to flow his way.… Continue Reading “My First Three Days as an Au Pair”
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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