I went to a place I haven’t been to in 35 years. The Philadelphia Flower Show. With my mom, the person who took me there in 1990. I haven’t really been into flowers and plants at any point in my life, as evidenced by the pitiable mélange of plant life on my front windowsill (their … Continue reading Where I’ve Been – The Flower Show
Author: Tara
New to the Cast of Characters
Niecelet – Family We Choose, who I first met when she was a friend of Veruca’s. Her mom became a friend of mine through softball (when our girls played together) and we have remained friends ever since. It was during Niecelet’s junior year that I volunteered to drive her when her mom was recovering from … Continue reading New to the Cast of Characters
Dear Mom & Aunt Dianna, Again
Good morning, ladies. It’s a little after 7 a.m. here, everything is frost-colored. My phone says “It’s 25 and sunny.” They say it like it’s a positive thing and the only thing I’m positive about is that I’m not in Jamaica. Except I just looked at your weather and it’s looking like rain. Ha ha … Continue reading Dear Mom & Aunt Dianna, Again
Dear Mom & Aunt Dianna
While the two of you are resting your laurels on the sandy beaches of Jamaica, sending me unsolicited feet-in-the-foreground pics of the blue-green ocean and perfectly white fluffy clouds suspended in an azure sky, I am freezing my ass off in 15-degree Maryland with two dogs who are testing my ability to [National] Love-Your-Pet-Day. MY … Continue reading Dear Mom & Aunt Dianna
Holiday Letter 2024
I’m a little late on this angle, but I would like to share my entry for the Annual Holiday Letter. I have another entry that I was going to post as A Year in Review but I stumbled on these “10 Simple Steps” for creating this traditional “message.” The article itself hails from 2011 so … Continue reading Holiday Letter 2024
Life is Too Short to Have a Bad Cart
The end of 2024 is nigh and another year is impatiently rapping at our doors. I just went back and re-read last year’s entry, which just so happened to be ON the 30th just like this one and this is entirely accidental. A year ago today I was anticipating a newly renovated bathroom – which … Continue reading Life is Too Short to Have a Bad Cart
The Nuclear Option
Twelve days ago I decided to go dark. By the time I got here, I was already over it, six ways to Sunday. The stress, the anger, the division, the constant fear-bombing. I woke up early on November 5th, eager to cast my vote once and for all, to seal the coffin of my anxiety. … Continue reading The Nuclear Option
TAIDIA – Destination: OCMD and Melfa, Virginia
(road trip days 9 and 10) Well, this is it. The final days of what probably sounds like the endless road trip. It was a great ride. Many memories. A lot of sleep and rest. A lot of good food and expensive alcohol. Moments that seemed to “just happen,” like magic, my mom said. I … Continue reading TAIDIA – Destination: OCMD and Melfa, Virginia
TIADIA – Destination Banner Elk, North Carolina
(Road trip day 7) I have a tendency toward detail and verbiage and so if you want to jump to section two: The Real Reason We’re Here, I won’t be offended. What the hell is in Banner Elk, North Carolina? We left Nashville after another fortifying hotel breakfast and decided to hunt for [Yazoo] Gerst … Continue reading TIADIA – Destination Banner Elk, North Carolina
What We Did in Nashville, Part 2
Nashville Day 4 Our last day in Nashville we skipped breakfast, got a late start, and walked to the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium. Purchased $36 tickets at the ticket window, entered the main lobby, and climbed the grand staircase. The daytime tours are self-guided after you watch a short film about … Continue reading What We Did in Nashville, Part 2
The Tara Chronicles 