When Michael Jackson Died

I still remember exactly where I was when I found out, sitting in my rocking chair with the TV on mute, trying to make sense of something that made absolutely no sense. In a coma. No chance of coming out of it. Dead. Brain dead. Officially dead. Those words scrolled across the bottom of the screen, interspersed with “The King of Pop,” “Series of dates,” “Los Angeles,” and “coroner’s office.” And I sat there as mute as the television set, with tears brimming in my eyes that just wouldn’t come. Not then. It was too fresh, too unreal to be real.

Michael Jackson was dead. And the world would never be the same again. MY world would never be the same. Continue reading “When Michael Jackson Died”

Down With It: Modifying Life For My Daughter

There are so many things you prepare for as an expectant parent. In fact, these days you can sign up for something called a baby registry that you yourself design and that people spend money on to make these necessities (and wants) a reality for you and yours. There are diaper genies, Dr. Brown’s bottles, nursery mobiles, and everything else under the sun to make a baby welcome in this world, or to make your life as a parent that much easier. But nobody, and no registry, prepares you for having a child with Down syndrome.

I talked about my daughter Madeline in Breaking it Down: My Special Daughter, and how shocked we were as parents even when we initially suspected shortly after her birth that she had Down syndrome. She has continued to surprise us as she has grown from a little ball of joy into a big girl at 4 1/2 years old now. Some days I honestly don’t know where the time went, and on others I wonder why it hasn’t gone fast enough. Continue reading “Down With It: Modifying Life For My Daughter”

Book Review of Detours

The following is a review of my debut novel, Detours… I’ve recently finished reading Detours by Sam McManus.  I will begin this review by saying that I was somewhat wary to step out of the comfort zone of my usual reading genre.  I will say next that I’m so very glad I took that step. … Continue reading Book Review of Detours

Jack & Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after So up Jack got and off did trot To meet his girlfriend Janet Who was too hip to make the trip In her stockings made of fishnet Jill got real … Continue reading Jack & Jill

The Learning Curve

Somebody once said that he learns something new every day. Then someone else said that there’s nothing new under the sun. So, which is it? I honestly think it’s both. We are constantly learning, even us old dogs, and even those new tricks. But what we’re learning are things that have been known by others … Continue reading The Learning Curve