Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Tag: marriage
When She Had Endless New Years
She had dozens of New Years before she knew the end was near. Eighty six of them. The young woman in this picture, with one hand in her pocket and the other on the arm of her husband, is my grandmother. She’s not looking… Continue Reading “When She Had Endless New Years”
Rats
This is a piece I wrote a long time ago. Just reread it because I was desperate for something to bring to my writing group tomorrow. It was written before I quit swearing so much. Anyway, here it is. Rats. ________________ This is a… Continue Reading “Rats”
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”
Goodbye to #15
My husband used his favorite flashlight to look in my mouth. I warned him that where the dentist extracted my upper left molar this afternoon might look bloody. And so, before clicking on his flashlight, he said, “What if I throw up?” He is… Continue Reading “Goodbye to #15”
A Week of Shorts: In the TSA Line
He was a tall guy, older, hefty, wearing khaki pants and a baseball cap. She was small and so thin and spare that it looked like someone had dressed a Halloween skeleton in jeans and a plaid shirt for fun, cinching a leather belt… Continue Reading “A Week of Shorts: In the TSA Line”
Who Dies First?
My husband and I agreed that if the other one died, we’ll get up the next morning and take the dogs to the dog park. “The dogs will still need to run, right?” And the survivor, whichever one of us it was, will still… Continue Reading “Who Dies First?”
A Meditation on Aging and Marriage
We drink coffee and read the Sunday paper in bed. Before I get to the obits, I go downstairs for the churros that we bought yesterday at El Rey Mexican Market. I think what could be better than eating a churro and celebrating not… Continue Reading “A Meditation on Aging and Marriage”
Straight and Narrow
If there was a busted-up parking lot next to an abandoned industrial building no one had entered for twenty-five years and there was no other car in the parking lot but there was a sign that said, “Employee Parking Only,” I wouldn’t park there.… Continue Reading “Straight and Narrow”
My Mother’s Face
After my father died, I found this photo in his bedroom. It was leaning against the mirror of the vanity where my mother had sat painting her nails in a room dark except for the small lamp, her red nails gleaming in the dim… Continue Reading “My Mother’s Face”
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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