Author Archives: Wizard Woodsy

“Hold on—I see someone I need to hug.” Me. I was the person she needed to hug. Hugs are her specialty; every time we see each other—and we seem to cross paths at freakishly opportune times—we hug long and full of love. We hold that hug in the middle of an aisle or parking lotContinue reading “On Hugs”

A year and a half before Cooper died, I saw some flannel I thought would be perfect in a rag quilt for my uncle and aunt, L & J. They have a small building in the woods that family dubbed “the lodge.” The perfect fabric was woodsy and boasted the phrase “Welcome to the Lodge.”Continue reading “On Big Steps, Baby Steps, and Backward Steps”

Starting a new school year is always an emotional casserole. Am I excited to meet new students and reconnect with returning students? Yes. Do I love staying up late and sleeping in? Also yes. I mostly-jokingly whine about getting up early (and early is relative); I know it’ll only take a few days to adjust.Continue reading “On Casseroles and Back to School”

My craft room is a disaster. I’ve been working on the room all week, adding shelves to the closet and organizing my collection of craft supplies. No big deal, right? It’s probably taking me days longer than it should because I’m a flibbertigibbet, because I’ve probably been running around too much, and because the ridiculousContinue reading “On Closets and Countdowns”

It was two trips in one. The Compassionate Friends national conference and a Cooper trip. Of course, without Cooper’s death, I wouldn’t even know about the conference and I certainly wouldn’t be driving through mountains with a jar of ashes. I’d choose Alive Cooper every time, but I didn’t get to choose. Instead, I’m livingContinue reading “On Peaceful Valleys and Mayhem Gulches”

This one gets a little graphic, I guess. Not bad, I don’t think, but my graphic-o-meter is busted. I’m feeling a bit Kermit-the-Frog-ish right now. I’m not green, but I’m me, and being green and being me are in the same “It’s not easy” category. It’s been a long time—months and months—since I’ve had aContinue reading “On Presentations & Pilgrimages”

I submitted this article to The Compassionate Friends quarterly online publication. It will be in the Summer 2023 edition. My Compassionate Friends They call themselves the Tuesday Tinkerbells, my mom’s Tuesday afternoon card group. The women are all at least semi-retired and consider their weekly game therapy. They are wise and not wrong. In theContinue reading “My Compassionate Friends”

I spend dozens of evening hours each year prowling the backroads, chasing the sunset. You know the one—the vibrant, glowing, purple and pink and orange sunset of postcards and prints. The. Sunset. This afternoon, I noticed the tree pictured above and thought it would be interesting with The Sunset in the background. The contrast wouldContinue reading “On a Monochrome Sunset”

Easter was a Good Day. Period. No qualifiers, just a Good Day. *I’m taking grammatical liberties and capitalizing “Good Day” because it felt like a holiday. I know the rules; I’m breaking them.* Honestly, it took me by surprise. I got to the end of the day, and didn’t feel thoroughly clobbered by the day.Continue reading “On Good Days”

I’ve written many times about the bloodroot that grows in my yard. My late-March Facebook memories are almost daily reminders of my love for the tenacious wildflower. Why do I love bloodroot? So many reasons. How could I not love something so delicate and fragile, enduring and strong? Wind or rain can strip the stemContinue reading “On Gardening Grace”