More Than Enough
A long time ago, a friend of mine remarked that you can see things more clearly in the late autumn and winter. She said that the contrast of empty, colorless landscapes makes anything vibrant stand out that much more. There’s a focus you gain when you find yourself in stark places. I like that. I […]
Does Happiness Have a Sound?
Lately, I’ve been amazed at how loud the autumn leaves are. They crunch underfoot, and those left in the trees chatter as the wind blows. And then there’s the haunting whisper of a leaf as it descends–barely audible–but still vibrating whether I perceive it or not. I stop everything and gaze at that leaf. It […]
A Glorious Death
Autumn Leaves I’m looking up into the autumn leaves, and I realize I’m watching a glorious death. These colors–this vibrant display of glory–come at the point of death (technically the disintegration of chlorophyll). This beautiful moment represents the end of life for these leaves. I don’t name it as tragic. I revel in this autumn […]
The Beauty Always There
Autumn alights on my kitchen table as neighborhood children unload this gift of leaves. We configure the apparatus: one leaf, a white sheet of paper, and a broken crayon stripped of its packaging. Leaf Rubbings on an Autumn Evening We smooth the crayon against the clean page. As if by magic, the unseen leaf appears. […]
A Great Quote from Sweetpea
Last night I took my oldest daughter to a Secret Keeper Girl event. The whole evening aims to inspire young girls to live differently in a culture obsessed with beauty. A Secret Keeper Girl, I’m told, is kind, modest, and loves God. Besides seeing a slide show of Disney Stars without make-up and untouched photos […]
My Fight with a Ballerina
Early this morning, as the rain drizzles down, I drive across town to a ballet studio. I’ve never in my life been anywhere near a ballet studio–at least not one like this. I walk in, moody as the sky. Classical music, nearly muted, emits from a hallway. I follow it until I’m facing a wall […]
Why Do I Like Watching Things Burn?
I shouldn’t like to watch things burn so much. Think about it: I’m taking pleasure in the disintegration of something, the dissolution of some object into nothing but gray ash that floats up into the atmosphere or settles hopelessly beneath my feet. Last night I sat by a beautiful campfire in my neighbor’s backyard. The […]
You Never Know When a Limousine Will Show Up
You’ll never guess where I am. Just a minute ago, I arrived here by limousine to a full day makeover. But it’s not for me; I’m just accompanying the winner of an extreme makeover contest in our town. A few months ago, I wrote a little essay about a local mom who inspires me. The […]
Admiring the Raw
I’ve been practicing a new flair attitude. I want to admire people. Admiring somebody seems gushy and cheesy; we think about valentines or romantic movies. But the real meaning of admire is to esteem, respect, and have a high opinion of someone. I want to be the kind of woman who thinks highly of all […]