Purple seems a state of grace. Cloaked in it, the world around you bleeds with creativity and honor. A smile isn’t just a smile, it’s a perspective. I see myself as someone I am. A struggle becomes a path, an enemy, a friend. Then I see red. Nothing in between. Just red. My goal has alwaysContinue reading “Then I See Red”
Tag Archives: family
Pain and Laughter Unite Us
Pain and laughter often go together. Almost simultaneously after a terrible argument, people laugh. If they don’t, they either continue with more pain or separate from each other, sometimes for good. I had a friend who, when confronted with difficult situations, laughed hysterically. I always hated it because she did it too much. She neverContinue reading “Pain and Laughter Unite Us”
International Day of the Girl
Today my daughter spoke to a group of middle schoolers about bullying. She had originally created an anti-bullying campaign for the elementary students at her school. When the principal of the middle school saw the posters and asked her to speak to the middle schoolers, this ten-year-old girl spoke passionately about standing up for yourself andContinue reading “International Day of the Girl”
Venezuela’s Avatars Remind Us to Vote
Sometimes our heroes live under the ground, having never even been written about. Sometimes our heroes live so far from us, we don’t even know who they are. Sometimes these heroes are just walking along the streets that no one else will walk. Sometimes our heroes need us to be heroes, speaking up, supporting them.Continue reading “Venezuela’s Avatars Remind Us to Vote”
The Little Christian Who Thinks He’s Jewish
With Yom Kippur coming up this Wednesday, my son reminds me that this teacher planning day is a Jewish holiday. He says, “Memember?” tugging on my shirt, looking up at me. Yes, I thought, I do. I remember it all. How could I ever forget? When he was turning four years old, I searched forContinue reading “The Little Christian Who Thinks He’s Jewish”
Europe Without Email? Just a Dream
The stacks of paperwork stared at me, but it didn’t matter because I was going to Europe for my honeymoon. Bleak cubicles boxed me in, but my emails reminded me Europe was waiting. With both of us working fulltime at jobs that required 12-hour days, my fiancé and I could never have planned a honeymoonContinue reading “Europe Without Email? Just a Dream”
Refrigerator Art Changed My Life
by Lisa Chesser One-eyed aliens, giant butterflies, flying dragons, mermaids, superheroes, self-portraits and other masterpieces mask our aged refrigerator. Without that in my life, even my morning coffee wouldn’t make me happy. All parents believe their child is the next Picasso or Frida Kahlo, but we also recognize the need to connect with our child.Continue reading “Refrigerator Art Changed My Life”
A Few Sounds Later
Her notes struck the incessant thoughts from my brain. Each punch on the keys left me thinking only of the beauty the world had to offer, the drops of rain hitting the pool, the light touch of a butterfly. I know when I’ve lost our fights because my daughter looks away from me, sits, andContinue reading “A Few Sounds Later”
Hurricane Isaac Meet Hurricane Grandma
My Great Grandma stood, hands on hips, staring out the sliding-glass door as the rain pelted the concrete. “What we need is a hurricane,” she said, her gray, cropped, curly hair making her look wise and crazy, which is exactly what I thought when I first heard her words. But that wasn’t even the crazyContinue reading “Hurricane Isaac Meet Hurricane Grandma”
Back to School, Back to Bullies
Back to school bullies conjure up all sorts of images. I still remember my first beating, girl-style. I still cringe when near a school cafeteria–that loud clatter of trays, sharp voices stinging my ears, and the mean girls. The Art of Punching with Words You remember don’t you? She walks up to you in theContinue reading “Back to School, Back to Bullies”
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