The champion

She pitched. Standing in the center of the cul-de-sac, Mom threw straight, steady pitches, encouraging us to swing with a gentle, “Hey batta-batta, swing batta-batta.” When it was her turn to bat, she smacked line drives and fly balls into the outfield, which was the handsome neighbor’s front yard.

Some Things You Never Forget

The first time you swam you leaped into the pool,trusted the strength of your arms and legs,let the swell of water carry you forward,triumphant in your magenta swimsuit. The call that made you sinkto your knees in dread,“Cancer,” the doctor said,and your world stopped turning for an instant. Your first big heartbreak —dumped before seniorContinue reading “Some Things You Never Forget”

Fear and courage

My son declares“I’m not scared of anything” Almost 7 and still a wonder boy whose life began with a lack of breath,who, since he found his voicerarely stops talking, who’s made of sugar, steel and laughter “That’s nice, honey,” I tell him, folding his words and slipping them into my back pocketlike a note IContinue reading “Fear and courage”

Especially when

Especially whenthe sunrise catches in the bushes, slidingacross the sidewalk, gildingevery zinnia and robin in its path another day’s on the cusp of unfurling,and I am bursting with possibility and hope, Especially whentwo fair-haired boys melttheir bodies against mine, sleep dusting their eye creases, last night’s dreams curling in the air like the steam risingContinue reading “Especially when”

Keep Me Awake: Prayer as a Mother

“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.I do know how to pay attention, how to fall downinto the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,how to be idle and blessed” — Mary Oliver, from “The Summer Day” I stand in an open field, watching for signs of rain. An hour ago, I hollered toContinue reading “Keep Me Awake: Prayer as a Mother”