My grandma lived in Florida for almost three decades, where she became a very discerning shell collector. When we visited the beach with her on our vacations, it was always on the Gulf Coast, at any number of locations along the short stretch between Clearwater and Fort Myers, including the seashell haven of Sanibel Island. …
I have always been obsessed with weather. I can remember a tornado warning one day after school. I was probably in 1st or 2nd grade, and the sky was greenish-gray while my friend’s mom picked her up from our house. And I remember another tornado warning when my mom ushered my brother and me to …
I've learned by now that agents have very particular likes and dislikes. After all, they’re just readers, and everyone has their own preferences. I recently read an agent wish list that specified she wanted no stories where a woman gave up her career for love or family. I also read a novel a few weeks …
I wanted to be a parent for as long as I can remember, and I fully recognize that I am one of the fortunate ones who was able to realize this dream. Being a parent is one of the most tiring, thankless, neverending jobs. Actually, I like to think of it more as a “practice” …
Continue reading Saturday Six #29: The Surprises of Parenting
Before developers purchased the fields, I went strawberry picking with my parents and brother every summer. It was always one of our first family outings once my mom finished the school year as an elementary secretary, together filling flats of locally grown berries. I’m sure crouching and bending in the hot sun wasn’t always the …
Today is the one-year anniversary of my last day of work before “pandemic furlough.” Because the funding for my salary relies heavily on tourism, and because tourism shut down last spring, our entire department was placed on furlough. Initially, we were supposed to be off for two months, but as the pandemic stretched on, the …
Dear Dad, I’m sorry. Every time you pulled out your 3-disc set of rock hits from the 1970s, I rolled my eyes. Aside from the fun melody of “Crocodile Rock,” I did not understand your obsession with this music. It was old. It was boring. I wanted The Lion King soundtrack instead. Not my dad's …
Today, my youngest turns four. As I always do on each of the kids' birthdays, I’m reflecting on the circumstances of his birth: when and how it started (pathetic, infrequent contractions the day after his due date); how long it took (4 hours of active labor); those final moments before we met him (in the …
WARNING: Hopeless Optimism Ahead. During a conversation with my husband last night, he introduced me to the idea of “planning for margins.” He’s reading a book about time management and being busy, and he said it forced him to examine how he prepares to leave the house. He calculates the latest possible minute he can …
I’ve noticed a lot of optimism about moving into 2021, and I have to admit, I’m not really sold on it yet. I think 2021 is going to look a lot like 2020, at least for the first six months pandemic-wise. But a “good” year or a “bad” year doesn’t have to be governed by …
Andrea Green, Author 