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Fat-free Thanksgiving
“I’ve decided we’re doing a fat-free Thanksgiving dinner this year,” my 45-year-old tennis coach mom confidently announced as she opened the beeping microwave and extracted one of the steaming hot baked potatoes we were eating as the main course for dinner. “Ewwwww,” moaned my 13-year-old younger sister Erin, “gross,” she said slurping on her lemonade Continue reading
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Toothless in Rwanda
Thick soupy rainforest fog surrounds me as I step outside my cozy room at the rustic aging tourist lodge overlooking the Virunga mountains of Rwanda. The dawn is wet and chilly. Eight volcanoes separate us from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the unstable earth an apt reference for the smoldering conflict ever Continue reading
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Sober Graduation
Drenched in sweat I round the back corner of the track, jogging at a nice clip for someone not accustomed to running more than 20 minutes consecutively. Escondido, California is scorching hot in late May; it’s a dry heat, an arid 90 degrees. The sun beats down on my pale freckled skin which is now Continue reading
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The Miracle Invitational
Cousin Cloud and I sit huddled, comrades in arms, on the soft grey family room carpet of our woodsy Minnesota summer lake cabin. The talent portion of the annual Merickel Invitational Family Tennis Tournament is underway. Cloudy, nearly a teenager, giggles and points at Grandma who can be glimpsed from behind the glass double doors Continue reading
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OPPS/OOPS
Next week is my golden birthday. I turn 6. My parents promised they will be home from vacation to celebrate together. Until then we’re stuck at Aunt P and Uncle S’s new house on 8th street in Fargo near Lindenwood Park which has a playground. We are homesick because they have no food or toys Continue reading
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Garage Sale
We awake well before dawn, the excitement of the day upon us. 11-year-old Cousin Cloud, seven-year-old sister Erin and nine-year-old me are in charge today’s garage sale. Yesterday, we posted signs within the half mile radius of our ordinary 21st avenue Fargo, North Dakota block which lies within walking distance of major landmarks such as Continue reading
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PRIDE: Discovering Captain Morgan
Donning aviator sunglasses and a mustache, Uncle Casey waits for us near the swaying palm trees outside Orlando’s baggage claim in his Red Mazda Miata convertible. We run, greeting him excitedly. “Uncle Casey, this is my best friend Emily, you two are going to love each other,” I say as we squeeze into the tiny Continue reading
About Me
A satellite industry vice president by day and amateur astrologer by night, I enjoy writing creatively about my life.
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Mess by Molly 