My Experience: A true story about the pain (and joy, but mostly pain) of breastfeeding — Disclaimer: This isn’t X-rated, but I did try to be frank “I want mam-milk.” “Excuse me?” “Eehhh-hhhuh! I want mam-milk!” “What do you say?” “Pease.” “Please, may I have some mom-milk.” “Pease, I have mam-milk.” “Fine.” I was going to hold off on writing this story until my one-and-only child, a son, had been completely weaned from the breast, as a…

A holiday poem about trying to please people — I think I may politely inquire the object of your soul’s desire And please, if you could let it be worthy of your industry An item that makes you stop & smile consider life’s beauty for awhile Something to be placed with pride upon a shelf, not stowed to hide …

Part 5 — A sacrifice is a concept as much as an act — They found her hobbling down the stone steps of the main entrance, struggling to carry her big heavy canvas bag full of magic tricks and rabid hell hound pups, which security later told me was actually full of canned tuna, toiletry items, and denture glue. What about the box of…

Part 4 — “Was it blood? It was, wasn’t it? It was the blood of that poor girl.” — “What’d’y’mean it was me?” “Look, I was hallucinating; I have no idea what it means, it probably doesn’t mean anything — but I saw it clear as day, and it was you. I mean, she didn’t look like you, but I know it was you.” “So then what happened; is…

Part 3 — It wasn’t like a dream; it was realer than that — Part 1 Part 2 “Something is wrong with my friend. I think he’s hallucinating…? He’s seeing flies and… other things. I mean, he’s not usually like this. Will you help me get him to the hospital?” The tall blonde boy raises an extravagant eyebrow at Dugan as the sandwich receives…

Part 2 — Maybe it didn’t see me here? standing in the darkness — In case you missed it, read Part 1 My roommate has already turned in by the time I get home. When you’re trying to be quiet, every sound you make is a crash or bang. I have to admit I’m bummed that Sarah isn’t around — the need of her…

Your eyes is all black They is not pretty They is all black and white They black and white You need medicine I put the medicine in your eyes I help you That’s when I said I love you and you said, I don’t know So I close them so you would Not have to see the black And I hope that helps.

A child who dared to dream after sunrise was a ballet dancer flitting around a ballroom in a perfect petal-pink tutu, gliding with arms spiralizing slender tiny feet atop the ball, not the tippie as is customary, except in her imagination where the ties of matching slippers lace up skinny kindergarten calves and plain brown hair was arranged…

“Mediocrities everywhere… I absolve you…” Antonio Salieri, Amadeus When I was a kid, sometimes my dad, a master carpenter, would bring me along to his jobsite and set me up with a menial task. Don’t say ‘Aw’ or anything; these were not father/daughter bonding affairs. Most of the day I…