The Path Not Taken

Observing my mother and father interact during the preparations for Sunday dinner make me thankful for the choices that have been made.

Sadly My "Wonderful Diction" Is Not Enough To Fix This Situation

It is very painful to have someone tell you that your parents should be very proud of you when you know very well that is not the case.

It Hurts Me To Say, But Sometimes The Truth Must Come Out

Parents can be real fuckers sometimes.

It's The Easter Beagle!

This is the first year I haven't slept over on Easter Eve at my parents' house and I'm not entirely certain how that makes me feel.

Priceless Moments

My favorite moment this Christmas Eve was dancing to Christmas music with my father while Dan and my mother danced together in the kitchen.

So Much Is At Stake

After reading my cousin's blog I am reminded that every generation strives to be better than the previous; reoccurring exclamations declaring that we will not act this way, we will make better decisions, and should we forget why we are making an effort, to look to our parents and their generation for reminders of what we have to face should we fail.

I Wish That Their Lives Were Different

Sometimes I get so angry about things that I cannot change that I almost work myself into a panic attack from the sheer helplessness of it all.

If A Equals B And B Equals C Then A Must Equal Kumquat Jam

I've never dealt well with being yelled at and, knowing that, one must wonder just what she thinks will be accomplished by screaming at me and then, in the same breath, telling me that I never come over any more.

The Sky Is A-Ready To Burst

Every time I think that I've gotten everything under (my) control and I am ready to take the much-needed snip to my financial connection to my parents (and thusly neutralizing their pressuring chip) something happens that would make it dreadfully difficult if not outright impossible to do so.

She'll Be Better, If You'll Be Kind

What if I really am the terrible daughter she tells me I am?

A Phone Call I Never Anticipated Making

What is the proper reaction upon finding out that someone whom, up until four years ago, you saw several times a week but were never terribly close to has died?

Fathers And Sons

I envy the ease of their relationship and genuine pleasure that they gain from one another's company.

Forever Gone Is The Idealized Mother Of My Childhood

The more I work on this post, wording and rewording the same thoughts over and over again, the more I come to realize that it all boils down to this: after my experience in Virginia, I will never look at my mother the same way again.

License Numbers And Their Affect On The Known World

How would my life change if my parents were never really married?

Being True To Yourself Shouldn't Be This Painful To Others

The look in my father's eyes when he saw my tattoo was worse than when he learned that I had intended to move out without his permission, the oddness of which does not escape my grasp.

I Need To Work On That

Upon imagining my mother's funeral and being asked to speak, my reaction is always the same, "I don't really have anything to say".

I Couldn't Tell You How It Really Was

When I phoned to check her condition after the surgery, I could not be certain if she was really pleased to hear from me, or if it was simply the drugs speaking.

Bitchin' Birthday

I must admit that seeing my mother get angry over "Stitch And Bitch" and not being able to punish me was a particularly delightful joy.

I Wish That Things Were Different

Whenever I listen to songs about relationships between fathers and daughters or between mothers and daughters I always get amazingly sad - moved to tears.

What Is One To Do?

I have, in one of my away messages, a quote in which the phrase, "God damn it" happens to occur and for some reason my mother (and now, thanks to her overwhelming concern, my father) have decided to send a message to me stating that, "it is offensive and that (I) should change it" every time they see the away message.