My dad was the eldest of 5, and the only one to move (slightly) away. The rest of his siblings all lived within roughly 15 miles of each other and I had loads of cousins. When I was growing up, these cousins would all have massive family birthday parties. One of my favourites was when … Continue reading Party #1000wordsofsummer
growing up
Perfume #1000wordsofsummer
My mom hated perfume. She said it gave her a headache. But really, I think it was the combination of ALL the perfumes mixing and swirling around the car following a shopping trip that was truly the culprit. You see, my grandma – she loved perfume. As a kid, I spent many Saturdays hunting for … Continue reading Perfume #1000wordsofsummer
Sister #1000wordsofsummer
I have only one sister. One sibling. She’s three years younger than I am, and I can still remember waiting on the cement steps outside my front door on that July afternoon, watching for my parents to pull into our driveway with my new sister, Melanie. I was only three, and I think its likely … Continue reading Sister #1000wordsofsummer
Snowflakes & Heartbreak
I was 15 or 16 and experiencing my first bitter taste of heartbreak. I honestly don’t remember many of the details, except that it was the first time a boy had shattered my heart. He wasn’t wrong, and I probably deserved it. I was confident that he adored me, and I’m certain I took him … Continue reading Snowflakes & Heartbreak
Salt Dip
Memories of my grandma Often include antiquing Treasure hunting Visiting garage sales, Flee markets, Antique shops, On a hunt For a special salt dip These small, glass dishes Pre-dating salt shakers in origin Became a focus Easy to carry and display (she had a special shelf) Cut glass Colourful (or not) We would hunt Maybe … Continue reading Salt Dip
20 Minutes: My First Job
My first job was at the pharmacy where my dad worked. My dad is a quiet, kind man who did whatever possible to care for his patients. He even took calls after-hours, driving the 15 minutes to meet a patient - if it was urgent. His pharmacy also accepted their own form of internal credit, … Continue reading 20 Minutes: My First Job
Mini-Slice: Kitchen Hockey
Inspired by my daily writing challenge around "a funny incident." My mom didn’t iron. And I have absolutely followed in her footsteps. As children, we went shopping. A lot. In fact, it was likely my mom’s biggest hobby – happily taking a mini road trip the 45-60 minutes to get to a mall and browsing … Continue reading Mini-Slice: Kitchen Hockey
Mini-Slice: Red Pleather
Inspired by my 20-minute writing exercise around "an embarrassment." After I finished my university years in Madison, Wisconsin, I relocated to the San Francisco Bay area to start my first job. It was a time of firsts. Of growing up and adventure – but also of loneliness and feeling untethered. Developing independence is a necessary … Continue reading Mini-Slice: Red Pleather
Mini-Slice: My 14-Year-Old Little Girl
My daughter, Emaline, is fourteen years and 5 months old today. She is a smart, healthy, 9th grader. Honestly, high school has been a breeze as compared with the transition to middle school. Augmented by the ongoing pandemic and the desperate desire to feel alive and push boundaries, she and her friends made some unwise … Continue reading Mini-Slice: My 14-Year-Old Little Girl
20 Minutes: A Favourite Teacher
When I entered my high school chemistry class, I was still a clumsy, awkward teen, seeking external validation wherever I could get it. Within the first 2 days of school, before the long Labour Day weekend, Mr. Milligan let us use the Bunsen burners to melt glass rods and bend them into a 90 degree … Continue reading 20 Minutes: A Favourite Teacher
The [Unofficial] Moth Blog 