It had been a tiring week of sitting in a hospital room. Watching our oldest daughter go through unending medical tests had left me feeling frustrated and helpless. There seemed to be no answers and no help; just long days and longer nights. I came early and left late making the long drive from Dallas to Grand Prairie. As I walked across Medical City parking lot I noticed lightning in the distance. Before I reached 635 lightning bolts were…..
I was standing outside my classroom door greeting students the first day of class. Michael stood at a distance waiting till all the students were in the room. When they were all finally inside he stated matter of fact, “I’m Michael. You know I’m special ed, don’t you?” Before I could answer, he restated. “Special ed; you know that don’t you?” He seemed puzzled. “No Michael I didn’t know that,” I replied. Now he seemed more perplexed. “You don’t?”…..
Back in the early 80’s, two seasoned song writers were struggling to write; taking a break, they walked across the street to the local diner to have lunch. The waitress seemed out of sorts and almost sad as she attempted to take their order. They were already tired and just needed a reprieve, yet they were met with indifference and a bad attitude. Looking around the room, they began to comment on others who seemed to be sad, complacent and…..
It was the last day of the semester right before Christmas break. We had just finished our final activity and students were munching on cookies and cold drinks. As always, we ended our semester with a party; after all high school students enjoy parties, too. This had been an exceptional group of young people. Just days before, I told a group of teachers that if I had hand picked the students in that class I couldn’t have created the wonderful…..
The windshield wipers swished frantically in the blinding rain as we headed for Austin. Phil had a conference and I was going to enjoy a relaxing weekend. Getting a later start and being slowed down by the rain put us reaching the outskirts of Austin just as the darkness was closing in. Tired and hungry I began canvassing for the restaurant where we wanted to eat. I took the side road where I remembered it being and nothing was recognizable……
A few days ago we received a call from Phil’s closest friend. He and Charlie have been close for years. Between going to the river bottom (city people may not know what that means), or just long talks, lots of laughter over a glass of sweet tea, they have a special bond. But that day Charlie had to deliver some news he did not want to deliver. Another friend, who was part of my childhood, had left his belongings, his…..
I had gone shopping for one of the granddaughter’s birthday. I parked on the parking lot, got out and began my walk in the hot July sun toward the store. I caught a glimpse of an older van parked a few feet away and a lady sitting in the driver’s seat with the door open. The oddity was a sun viser blocking the open door. Being on a mission I didn’t even give it a second thought. The store wasn’t…..
DETOURS & DREAMS….a box of crayons My first teaching job was as a music teacher at a primary school in our hometown. It had been a long day with many energetic kindergarteners and first graders. I was packing it in to go home when GayLynn, my own first grader, walked in. Usually she bounced through the door to my room still filled with plenty of energy to go around, but not that day. Arms crossed and the look of…..
When I began writing Detours & Dreams in the ’90’s I had no idea why or that it would eventually be a book; I was simply journaling. Every time I picked up the yellow pad and pen, I would end up crying more than writing. The pages would be wet and the ink smudged and I would feel drained. But I muddled through, as my heart faced the truth of what I had lived. Truth; our truth is all too…..
