Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Category: Writing
Mario
I fell in love with a little boy in Nicaragua 18 years ago. Tonight he’s recovering from surgery in a hospital in North Carolina. There’s a story here. I met him when I went to Managua to bring back our newly adopted 6-year old… Continue Reading “Mario”
I Cracked
I cracked and cut her bangs. “I can’t stand this,” I said and went to fetch the scissors from the City Hall cup on my desk that John Kalwitz gave me when he was president of the Common Council. I have said cup for… Continue Reading “I Cracked”
Susan G. Komen and My Toe
When a Facebook friend posted the news about Komen cutting its support for Planned Parenthood, I had a quick and visceral reaction. Can’t possibly be true. There’s got to be a lot more to the story. I quickly posted a comment. Only semi-indignant. I… Continue Reading “Susan G. Komen and My Toe”
Start Where You Are, Use What You Have: Involving Dads in their Kids’ Lives
This is week 2 of my little campaign to figure out ways to make my son have fun with his daughter. Last week it was sledding. Today, skating. Don’t bother me with “you shouldn’t have to do that.” I shouldn’t. But I do. And I am. So… Continue Reading “Start Where You Are, Use What You Have: Involving Dads in their Kids’ Lives”
Do What You Remember: Involving Dads in Their Kids’ Lives
So yesterday it was a terrific sunny winter day in Wisconsin. Because she had never been sledding anywhere but our front yard, we decided to take our 5-year old granddaughter, Alita, to a big kids’ hill. Her dad, our son, was strong-armed into coming along. It… Continue Reading “Do What You Remember: Involving Dads in Their Kids’ Lives”
A Shadow of My Former Self: How Grandmothers are Different
I’m such a better parent since I stopped raising kids. Seriously. You know how I know this? Here’s my story. It’s Saturday morning. There is a lot to do to get ready for our annual Three Kings celebration – a gathering of families who’ve… Continue Reading “A Shadow of My Former Self: How Grandmothers are Different”
My Ad for Adoption
Several years ago, I counselled a young couple who had been trying unsuccessfully to have children. “Why don’t you just adopt and be happy instead of struggling with this?” Why wrestle everyday with failure (if we want to call infertility failure which I don’t… Continue Reading “My Ad for Adoption”
Christmas Story: Whittle
Yes. I once gave a 9-year old girl a Swiss Army Knife for Christmas. It looked like this one. This wasn’t completely crazy because she was a girl who climbed trees high enough to watch me through the window of our second floor flat. She… Continue Reading “Christmas Story: Whittle”
Everything’s An Accident But This
A lot of life is an exercise in the improbable. You marry someone because of that look. You buy a house because the seller is desperate. You get a dog because it seems like a good idea at the time. You adopt a child… Continue Reading “Everything’s An Accident But This”
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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