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Wiser Than Before Metaphors for life with Tourette’s…
Of Pie and Doing our Best

Of Pie and Doing our Best

December 29, 2021

“I was thinking of making some lemon tarts,” I say as I put down my book on the couch beside me. My sweet husband looks up from his laptop and smiles. “There’s a soccer game coming on in 15 minutes,” he says, “that’s probably a good time for you to make them.” He winks. There …

Of Writing

Of Writing

September 2, 2021

There was this moment when I looked at the guy (who was sitting in the chair of the guy who was usually there but retired) and sized him up. He looked okay. He had an open face, as my husband would say. He spun around and I introduced myself and he smiled a big goofy …

Of Seeing Past My Nose

Of Seeing Past My Nose

April 5, 2021

When I was about 8 years old, I discovered my nose. More specifically, I discovered that I could see my nose. I wasn’t looking in a mirror, I was standing on the second base line, or what would be the second base line if I had been playing baseball, but which in reality was a …

Of 2020

Of 2020

December 31, 2020

“It’s a long stretch of hallway,” I say, hands on hips. “Mhm.” “I wish I had style sense. I’m good at doing stuff, not planning stuff.” “Like painting the hallway? Like fixing the bifold doors on the laundry closet?” he asks, and smiles. “Yeah. I did a good job on those.” I smile back. “What …

Of Grandmothers and Pandemics

Of Grandmothers and Pandemics

May 29, 2020

The last letter I wrote to her was on pink paper. It was an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of pastel printer paper I had discovered discarded in the supply room. The pandemic was officially a month old and care homes were centres of outbreaks. Spring was ruffled with beautiful blossoms and Gram was constantly …

Of Houses and Homes

Of Houses and Homes

October 14, 2019

Families with trauma make interesting patterns.  Families with Tourette syndrome in every member speak of genetic trauma to me.  I hear of families where one child is diagnosed and parents and siblings struggle and embrace and champion the neurological differences in their outlier. But what of my family?  All of us are the outliers. To …

50 Reasons

50 Reasons

October 3, 2019

Dear Mom and Dad, On this, your 50th wedding anniversary, I am giving you 50 reasons why I love you. You gave me life. You taught me truth. You gave me something to believe in. You taught my big brother to take care of me. You gave me little sisters. You are proud of me. You …

Of Stuff Dropped

Of Stuff Dropped

April 19, 2019

“It’s a nice case.  Slim, pretty.” “Nope.” “Okay, how about this one?”  My husband turns the screen to show me a sophisticated phone case he wants to add to the online cart. “I will destroy it.  And the phone.” He shakes his head and picks up my new mobile phone.  “Wow.  I can’t believe how …

Lessons from Spiders 5: Of Uninvited Guests

Lessons from Spiders 5: Of Uninvited Guests

September 20, 2018

It’s called a Giant House Spider.  The problem is that I don’t have a giant house, so there was no room for both of us. He had to go. I had the strange feeling that I was being watched while I dressed for work.  The creeps. But the creeps are nothing new to me, especially …

Of Memories Cut from the Past

Of Memories Cut from the Past

June 15, 2018

I find myself in bed and it’s still light outside.  Granted, it is mid-June and the sun refuses to set at a decent hour.  But the hour is still in single digits and I realize I’m lonely tonight. The house is empty and large.  My darling husband is away at a conference and I always …

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