Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Tag: marriage
Waiting in the Waiting Room
In the waiting roommy husband sets down his Thermosopens his blue backpackfull of New York Times magazines He pours coffee in the Thermos cupPulls down his mask to sipSelects the first of a dozenBegins at page one, settles in for the wait I see… Continue Reading “Waiting in the Waiting Room”
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”
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”
Valentine’s Day 2019
Love isn’t a mystery. Loyalty, resiliency, and kindness are mysteries. And humor. Humor is definitely a mystery. And a gift. I have been in love with many people who weren’t funny. They were thrilling at first but ultimately gave me a headache. If two… Continue Reading “Valentine’s Day 2019”
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”
The First Baby
Our marriage was already failing when this picture was taken. We went on a road trip to northern Michigan, stopping at the special spots marked on the map, unpacking ourselves from the car and from our long uncomfortableness. Every mile was futile. Some couples can… Continue Reading “The First Baby”
Two a Day #14: Not Go
“The real reason for marriage. The borrowing and lending of courage.” I said those words in a blog post I wrote last summer about a conversation I had with my husband on the back porch. Of all the things I’m grateful for, a husband… Continue Reading “Two a Day #14: Not Go”
Two a Day #3: Two Days Married
It was a little bumpy at the beginning, well, intermittently for a while, but eventually ours became a terrific marriage. There is something to the adage “give it time.” We have – it’ll be 32 years on February 28th. This is a story about… Continue Reading “Two a Day #3: Two Days Married”
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”
Be Bright and Beautful
There were long patches of my life when there were no photos. When I was a single mom was one of those times. I had my daughter’s school pictures but there weren’t a lot of other pictures. A few. Her father had been the… Continue Reading “Be Bright and Beautful”
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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