When we first realized she had lost her hearing, we were afraid that it would affect her quality of life. But rather than cower from the challenge, she owned it. ______ It is dark, and all of her world is asleep. She knows there are rules, and also that she is breaking them. It is all part of the thrill. She is stealth, and no one will ever suspect a thing.Valentine is 15 years old, according to the calendar, 105 when you factor for the canine. She was a gift to my wife on Valentine's Day that many years ago. She had been sitting alone, a small puppy in a big cage, and fit warmly in the … [Read more...]
Christmas Card Brings Melancholy with Merry
We received our first Christmas card in November. The cover was a photo of the family, all snow and smiles, with a piece of pretty paper tucked neatly inside listing all of the impressive accomplishments that each family member had impressively achieved, followed by their equally inspiring hopes for the future. Everything was positive and cheerful, the treetop glistened, the children listened, and it was just like the one I used to know (according to the chorus).
I had to check the postmark to make sure it had been sent in 2016.Christmas isn’t what it used … [Read more...]This Father Opting Out of the Midlife Crisis
Welcome to my midlife crisis. According to a random dictionary app, middle-age starts at 45, which I turned months ago, and lasts until you run out of excuses. To really belabor the point, I was only able to read said definition because I use the largest iPhone font currently known to science. I’m not even trying to hide it (not that I could — it’s freaking huge). I am, apparently, in crisis mode.I always thought there would be more sports cars.Wikipedia states that a midlife crisis lasts two to 10 years, and can be triggered by changes in an individual’s sense of normalcy, be it loss … [Read more...]