Family – Seashell Nell

Requiem

Franklin, my guinea pig, died this weekend. It was a quick decline. Two weekends back he was in the vet to get his nails trimmed. I told them he was being picky about eating *only* his favorite foods, but we didn’t worry about it. One weekend ago, I picked him up to clean his cage,ContinueContinue reading “Requiem”

I HIT UP OMAHA

I have this thing where I just gotta SEE THE WORLD, you know?? So, a few weeks ago, I messaged my sister, now-living-in-Omaha, all, “Hey, do you ever take visitors?” and, wouldn’t you know it, sometimes SHE DOES, and a plane ticket later and I was on my flight to Omaha. Came, saw, conquered. FavoriteContinueContinue reading “I HIT UP OMAHA”

It was my cousin’s birthday

Yesterday. A birthday. This is for my cousin, Hanna, who turned older yesterday. I think that we actually turn older every day, while maintaining the memory of before. But, still, it is good to remember days-of-birth, so I texted some electronic flowers. We went camping this year, in the summer, hiked the best hikes, hadContinueContinue reading “It was my cousin’s birthday”

Celebrity Interview. With my sister.

Ceebs is back in town for the holidays, so I thought you’d probably love to hear a celeb interview with this queen. Enjoy. We’re all ready for this. Where do you most hope to visit? Mmmmm. The Holy Land. Me: What do you want to do there? See there? I think it’s pretty cool thatContinueContinue reading “Celebrity Interview. With my sister.”

We didn’t die: NYE 2017

As you probably know, my favorite New Year’s thing of. all. time. was going to Marytown, a Franciscan Friary just north of Chicago, for prayer and talks and all the celebration, but (alas) that ship has sailed so Ursela took some matters into her own tentacles. Back up a few months, me looking at NewContinueContinue reading “We didn’t die: NYE 2017”

Are there rice crispy treats in heaven?

Heaven, like God, is not bound by time. My sister once nearly cried herself to sleep trying to wrap her elementary-schooled mind around the eternal nature of God and the experience scarred me, so, I don’t often try to ponder the implications of God’s everlasting presence. Besides, of course, that heaven will last forever. IContinueContinue reading “Are there rice crispy treats in heaven?”

Celebrity Interview. With my mom.

Did you ever go to a hair salon or a grocery store line and things were taking a hot second longer than you expected so you turned to the glossy magazines interviewing humans you have sometimes never even heard of? Because I do that all the time. And I decided to use my platform toContinueContinue reading “Celebrity Interview. With my mom.”

Friend Poem No. 5

I have a friend Named Tim Whom I met Over a cubicle wall– Me telling him too many stories Me laughing too loud Me making people think HE was the trouble-maker Me “volunteering” him for more, frantic life. I would send him notes Through a crack In the wall. He would send the paper backContinueContinue reading “Friend Poem No. 5”

Friend poem No. 4

I have a friend Named Hanna. One of my oldest friendships, A cousin. On Friday she wore stripes And I said– “Like a raccoon” And she twisted her head like a raccoon, Pranced a dance to the table Her hands pulled Chest-ward Like paws. We went camping in August, Hanna and I. Five days ofContinueContinue reading “Friend poem No. 4”

Friend Poem No. 3

I have a friend Named Julia. She sometimes writes me letters– Snail mail– In cards she has designed herself, Her practiced hand switching from script to CAPS. She writes of saints, Flowers, Love, Friendship. She picks flowers, Sketches heaven, Buys dark chocolate. She cuts her hair short, Announces to her office that They will beContinueContinue reading “Friend Poem No. 3”