Seeing White Butterflies

We’ve all suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic with isolating ourselves from our loved ones, staying away from work, and literally hiding in our homes. It often feels as if a raging hurricane is overhead and we’re praying for the sun to one day come out. Like everyone, I’ve had moments of sadness and feeling lost. As an artist, I felt that this should have been a time where the creative juices flowed because I’ve been uninterrupted for hours, but instead I’ve sat listless and […]

The Sacrifice You Ask Of Me

As I sat on the phone with each of my four adult children, I became pissy with what felt like over-blown concerns about my safety. I’m not an invalid, I’m perfectly healthy with no compromised immune system, and I’m not “that” old. Then, they reminded me of my true age (67), and the targeted group for this coronavirus to wipe me out. My scheduled trip to Austin, Texas, to be present for the birth of my second grandchild was now, in their opinion out […]

Just Ask

Cars these days are magical machines. You can watch a screen on the dashboard instead of twisting around when backing up. You don’t need a key to start the ignition—just have the fob somewhere in the vehicle and you’re good to go. Some cars can even mostly drive themselves. But these amazing advances can be disastrous, especially when you put an active one-and-half-year-old grandson in the car.

Over the holidays, on a lovely day in Austin, Texas, I decided to take Bo on adventure to […]

The Art of Being Me

Waking up that bitterly cold Sunday morning after Thanksgiving, I crawled out of my warm bed to turn on the heat, only to be faced with what looked like an explosion of massive proportions.

Everywhere in my tiny apartment were remnants from a wild weekend with my four children, their significant others, and a baby on the move. Looking at the mess, first I sighed, then broke into uncontrollable tears.

Now, one might think this geyser came from the fact that this once OCD-clean woman knew […]

I’m Watching You

“Oh, no you don’t,” I cried as I raced down the hall to grab my grandson Bo as he toddled into the bathroom, boat in hand. “I’m watching you.” Too late. As I turn the corner, Bo takes a dripping hand and boat from the toilet bowl, eyes shining brightly as he looks up at me. Giggling, he runs off for the next adventure of mischief. Some children should never be left out of sight.

As my friends became grandparents, I’d constantly hear, “Jackie, it’s […]

Past, Present, or Future?

With cries bellowing from the nursery, I rushed in to save the day. I was sure my grandson needed me. After all, I’m his Grammie, the baby whisperer. Sitting in bed, with snot running down his face, he continued wailing even after I picked him up. I finally realized it wasn’t me he wanted, but his favorite stuffed animal, Lovey, that had fallen out of his crib.

Cuddling him close, I gave Lovey back, but just as I did, he dropped it to the floor […]