Recognize your privilege and speak up.

Photo credit: Julio Cortez, AP This is the product of us denying rights, housing, schooling, a voice, and a life to minorities. If you were to ask me, “How has my life been shaped by my race,” I would tell you that being white has made my life easier. I’ve never had trouble finding toys...

Never let the fear of trying keep you from crying

I’ll be the first to talk myself out of dangerous activities. You likely won’t see me tightrope walking, hang-gliding, scuba diving, base jumping, or free climbing. Don’t get me wrong—I love skiing and will try a black or double black, but I will also happily cruise blues down the mountain. I will hike to gorgeous,...

My most sacred new beginning

“You hold my hand in the street. Walk me back to that apartment; years ago, we were just inside barefoot in the kitchen. Sacred new beginnings that became my religion.” – Taylor Swift On April 27th, 2020, Deaven and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary. All fairy tale love needs is a happy ending. Our...

A Day for My Momma

“My mom and I are close,” can be taken a lot of different ways. I’ll put it this way. Up until the age of 25, my mom and I talked every night on the phone. I would tell her how I was feeling and what was going on. As every Southern momma does, she would...

Squirrelly

“Be like the squirrel, girl. Be like the squirrel.” The White Stripes When I was 16, the White Stripes released the song “Little Acorns”. My best friend Christan turned it on the car. Squirrels, and all their quirks, had won me over years before. The song was a tribute to the rodents that captured my...

Taking it on the chin: the painful side of being a toddler

My mom called me on April 19th to tell me that Lauren and my nephew Harrison were on their way to the emergency clinic because they suspected Harrison had a fracture. The day before, Harrison and my brother-in-law Brian had been playing tag. As my mom put it, Brian was running off the large concrete...

Nightmare on Earth

I have always loved going to the movies. I would get nachos, a fountain Coke, and a box of chocolate-covered raisins. When my mom’s family got together for holidays, we would go to the movies with my grandparents, my mom’s brothers and sisters, and my cousins. My mom is one of four. I have 6...

An ode to driving: wrecking and repairing others and myself

After writing about my awkward adventures in cars, all I can say is thank you to my parents who gave me second, third, fourth, fifth . . . need I go on? . . . chances. It took me four or five years to apply the defensive part to my driving, but I did it!...

Rain, rain, come my way

Last week, I pulled open the curtains, groaned, turned to Deaven and said, “Ugh, you again. Another sunny day, baby,” as the rays from the window filled the room. Deaven was ecstatic; I accepted it. Most people would be thrilled. Yesterday, I checked the forecast, barged in the room where Deaven was working, shouted guess...

I’m still lovin’ it.

Ever heard of a fast-food restaurant chain known as McDonald’s? You may recognize the white, red, and yellow logo with its golden arches. Did it blow your mind that the golden arches represent French fries? Stop me if you’re familiar. McDonald’s: I loved it. McDonaldland, which started in the 1980s, was in full swing when...