All Kinds of Mothers

Purple Flowers

Mother’s Day is such a funny little celebration. Overpriced flowers, candies, brunches, matching kid outfits — all in honor of the one who birthed us. It’s a commonality we children carry… like birth, like death, there are inevitable things we share in the connectedness of our existence. Each of us has a mother. Perhaps we […]

A Homecoming

Ever since we moved to Mississippi in July, I’ve been floundering through my days, trying to make my way. I’ve been detached, untethered, a kite bouncing around in the wind, the child at the other end distracted and uninterested. This weekend, that changed. It was the Cotton District Arts Festival and Super Bulldog Weekend in […]

The Gift of Letting Go

When I write fiction, I write about relationships. Siblings, spouses, children, parents, friends. Our lives are shaped and molded by our relationships. And sometimes they can be tricky. So, I write about them to help illuminate what’s important, what’s universal, what we all struggle with, what we all sink into and find comfort in — […]

Lessons from Starkville

Chris and the Kids in Starkville

I’ve been here for 72 hours and I’ve already learned a great deal. In light of my new-found knowledge, I thought I’d share a few Starkville tidbits with you — just in case you ever decide to venture down to our new neck of the woods. 1. You can’t buy wine in the grocery store, […]

Transition

Car Pulling Uhaul

When I was little, I used to get “The Feeling.” (No, not THAT feeling, Dirty Minds — that one came later.) I was probably around George’s age when I would occasionally look around and think, “I’m not supposed to be here.” It wasn’t just an out-of-sorts kind of feeling — it was an all-out I’m-living-an-altered-existence-and-these-aren’t-my-people […]

Adventures in Starkville

Mississippi State University Sign

All in all, it’s a lovely town. There are quaint bookstores, eclectic gift shops, the quintessential college-town burger and brew bar, and there’s enough maroon to choke a cat. And if you’re in need of a good Baptist church? There are a few to choose from. Today at lunch, we ate fried cheese that rivaled […]

Style: A Prevailing Mode of Expression

Once upon a time, about a thousand years ago, a dear friend awarded me a very special distinction. It’s called the “Stylish Blogger Award,” and I was honored and humbled to receive it. (I’d like to sidebar here that Wikipedia wants to ensure that “style” is “not to be confused with stylus.” I agree that’s […]

Voices and Vino

Katrina Reading "Table for Six" at a Podium

I must admit I was reluctant. The thought of standing up in front of a room half-filled with strangers and half-filled with friends while I read out loud from “Table for Six” was more than a little intimidating. It’s one thing to write your life story for everyone to consume — it’s another thing entirely […]

Leap of Faith

Katrina and Jenny

It’s official. Our house is on the market. In this tumultuous time of negative equity and rising interest rates, we’ve decided to forge ahead. It’s a buyer’s market, not a seller’s. But at this juncture, we are paying keen attention to the signs the universe is laying at our feet. And, after all, we’ve never […]