Refuge from the Storm

Refuge from the Storm

On the way home from the new vet, hours to go, I drive into a storm. It’s like a curtain I glide through into a world of chaos. Rain pounds, hail bounces, cars, bumper to bumper, blink their emergency flashers. In my head swirls the vet’s cautioned voice, “May be...
Be Where You Are

Be Where You Are

I’m on the court, a ball flying toward me. It bounces, and I swing my paddle, making contact. The ball arcs over the net and lands near the baseline, and I rush forward. Bam, bam, bam, it zooms back and forth…until it bounces out of my reach, and I lose the point. An...
We Can Face Tough Challenges

We Can Face Tough Challenges

  Recently, I killed a squirrel—intentionally. I was walking our dog, Lester, along a country road near our house, when suddenly he scared up the little cutie. He tore after it, racing through a thicket of trees, and then back toward me, where the squirrel ducked...
Dancing Trees

Dancing Trees

In this forest of dancing trees, haunting sounds slip among waving branches. Cries and groans chill the air as though someone is screaming from pain. I crane my head this way and that trying to find the injured rabbit, lost fawn or maybe a trapped raccoon. Soon I see...

Dog Dreams

On the bike trail when I fall on rocks and cry over a hurt arm, The rottweiler appears, growling, fangs bared. I jump on my bike and pedal away. On the hiking trail, the husky lunges at our dog strains against his leash snarls and barks. I run, pulling our dog along...