I will probably never win another game of "Clue" again. I'm not a very logical thinker when it comes to board games. I'm not very good at developing strategies. I make random guesses, and "hope for the best." Which … Continue reading Get a Clue
Family
The House on Villa Street
I grew up in a house that wasn't on an actual street, that didn't used to be an actual house. My grandmother was my closest neighbor, and two families of aunts, uncles, and cousins lived down the hill on adjacent properties. I grew up hearing the trains … Continue reading The House on Villa Street
All Wrapped Up
I've learned a lot about being a parent in the almost 17 years I've been one. I've learned to fill a cup only half full for anyone under the age of six because they're most likely going to spill it. And not to let anyone of same … Continue reading All Wrapped Up
The Dollhouse that Boppa Built
My grandfather built a 3-story dollhouse out of balsa wood for me when I was about eight years old. It was one of the most cherished gifts I received as a child, and it was my favorite thing to play with for most of those years. I don't remember if it was a … Continue reading The Dollhouse that Boppa Built
If I Knew Then What I Know Now…
"If I knew then what I know now..." One of my Facebook friends posted that the other day. Before I commented, I took the time to read what other people had to say. Someone said that they'd make all the same decisions again, because you can't learn from your mistakes if you don't make them. … Continue reading If I Knew Then What I Know Now…
Mommy Brain, Extended Version
Urbandictionary.com defines "mommy brain" as "the phenomenon known to mothers where their brains become a useless pile of goo after being around their children too long." An article on WebMD in October of 2010 posits that motherhood may actually trigger brain growth. The article quotes Pilyoung Kim, PhD, a developmental psychologist and post-doctoral researcher at … Continue reading Mommy Brain, Extended Version
The Cars that Drive Us
My family always had interesting cars. Cars with good stories to them. Most of them fell into the "gently used" or "new to us" category. Except for my mom's 1965 red Ford Falcon, she bought that one new. It wasn't really bright red, it was kind of a dull tomato soup color. She said that … Continue reading The Cars that Drive Us
The House on Fairfax Avenue
There's a white house with black trim that sits at the end of Fairfax Avenue, a dead end street within walking distance of my old middle school. There's a small one-bedroom apartment attached to it, and the garage sits under that, visible only from the side of the house. This is my Aunt Lu and … Continue reading The House on Fairfax Avenue
Sew What?
There's a brown free-standing cabinet by the window in the room over the garage. At first it looks like an ordinary, yet old, dresser. But if you open the cabinet doors- it's a sewing machine in disguise. On the inside of one door are pegs to hold about 100 spools of thread, … Continue reading Sew What?
Play That Song
"Alexa," my oldest calls out, "Play 'September' by Earth, Wind, and Fire." (Alexa is not another child, but merely another tech gadget of ours, a wireless, voice-activated internet speaker, with whom I am on good terms.) I'd like to take credit for introducing this song to my kids, but it more likely came from some … Continue reading Play That Song
Gretchen L. Mulroy 