I visited my father’s grave today, one year after his passing. I’ve never been one to go to the cemetery to see lost loved ones. For me, it’s merely a final resting place, and there’s little of the person left there. If I wanted to have a conversation with my … Continue reading →

With the roller coaster of 2024 and its ups, downs, twists, and turns, I’m not sure how good of an idea it is to make predictions for another year. But here I am. A new year, and it’s pretty much tradition at this point that I outline a set of … Continue reading →

Whenever someone asks how my year has been, I typically use the term “roller coaster” to refer to all the ups and downs. But it is such an underwhelming description of how 2024 went for me. Early in the year, my family found out that my father had cancer. Everything … Continue reading →

November would’ve made 21 years. Smeagol was with me for over half my life, and pretty much my full adult life to this point. He was with me as I fell in and out of love who knows how many times over the years. He was with me as I … Continue reading →

I’d be lying if I said today was a great birthday. It may be one I won’t soon forget but for all the wrong reasons. It’ll likely go down as the worst one of my now-40 years after losing my father just a couple of weeks ago. His is the … Continue reading →

A new year is here. And it’s time for new adventures and new experiences. But, first, I need to lay out my plans. As always, my goals are never entirely set in stone. Circumstances and events—basically, just life itself—will always change how the year unfolds. Because I cannot see into … Continue reading →

As has become my ritual, I’m spending December 31 reflecting on everything that happened throughout the year. Then, I’ll spend the night hunkered down with the kitties, safe from the pops and bangs at midnight. 2023 has most definitely been a challenging year. So challenging that I failed to write … Continue reading →

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,How I wonder what you are!Up above the world so high,Like a diamond in the sky… Those were the lyrics that my grandfather—Papa, as we call him—were teaching my then two-year-old niece. It was early 2020 or so. A tiny kitten, who had no name at the … Continue reading →

Thirty-nine is the new twenty-nine, right? Right? …? That was the age that Grandma Tadlock always gave whenever I’d ask how old she was—she was forever 29. I suppose I could just stay the same age no matter how many years I’ve racked up. So, I’m entering the final year … Continue reading →

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been sending my thoughts out here into the void that is the world wide web for a full two decades. But, here I am. Today officially marks the 20th anniversary of this blog. When I wrote those first words, “Welcome to My Site,” all … Continue reading →