My swimming instructor was a drill sergeant. Literally. Every week myself and nine other elementary kids were dropped off, abandoned by our mothers to Sergeant YES SIR. The lessons were on an army base with a man built like a
Nicknames
I opened the front door and mother’s face lit up like a spray of fireworks. She pointed to my two-year-old brother toddling away from the front window. “I told Todd you’d be home from school any minute.” He bee-lined toward
Alaska mud flats
Late afternoon we headed to the frozen mud flats. Heavy low clouds closed in around us. We pulled a sled and two kids jumped in and out of it, circling us with snowballs and laughter. Grandpa’s the favorite target because
Wheelchair joy
She shuffled her feet so the wheelchair inched across the room. “May I join you?” The chipper voice didn’t match the frail body, twisted by arthritis. “You seem like a nice family.” She edged into our group huddled around the
Embracing the rain
Gray clouds dripped and windshield wipers squeaked while we peered at the sky. Would it clear? It didn’t look promising. Neither did the red and green radar splotches on the phone weather ap. Sure, we’ve hiked in rain, but only