Category Archives: Family

Them/Us

Posted on February 3, 2020 by sputterpub

Non-binary, my daughter said to me, reporting on her first-born’s recent speech. They want the neuter plural pronoun – he or she will hurt their feelings. Now I reach for comprehension while I try to frame my sentences so noun … Continue reading →

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Super Powers

Posted on January 31, 2020 by sputterpub

(To at Least 5 of my 6 Descendants) You’re passionate. I see and honor it. You feel things deeply and coherently. Your fast reactions are appropriate, but not your forcefulness. Apparently we’re fortunate; we’re anything but numb. Though vehemence may … Continue reading →

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Alibi

Posted on January 29, 2020 by sputterpub

My boyfriend had bad allergies that barred him from enjoying outdoor times, he said. My husband’s hem’rhoids made the biking hard and painful, so he stayed at home instead. My children’s dad was too depressed of course, to take them … Continue reading →

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Granding

Posted on January 20, 2020 by sputterpub

I loved a rubber doll when I was five so fervently that I would bite her head. I always knew the toy was not alive – my passion didn’t harm her, but it bred in me awareness that emotions could … Continue reading →

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Recording

Posted on January 8, 2020 by sputterpub

A dowager is not a matriarch, no matter what you call yourself these days. Subordinate to spouse, we heard your bark but never feared you’d bite us, or amaze us with authority, or guide us right. We always knew, from … Continue reading →

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Sam’s Bad Dream

Posted on January 6, 2020 by sputterpub

I wondered once why infants have bad dreams who haven’t lived enough to learn to fear, and what comprises puppy nightmare themes, and how a kitten monster could appear. And I don’t have an answer, but I know it’s true … Continue reading →

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Revisits

Posted on January 3, 2020 by sputterpub

As I review assorted escapades of youth, of 12, 16, and 21, I clearly see they feature tones and shades of sexual predation. What was done was never charged: too mild then and, too, I thought myself mature and strong … Continue reading →

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Before

Posted on January 1, 2020 by sputterpub

The feelings I remember from my youth were anger and impatience with my lot of noodgy mom, protective dad – in truth, if I’d sufficient freedom, I forgot (and that’s not likely – I recorded notes in poems and diaries … Continue reading →

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Love Among Young Cousins

Posted on December 18, 2019 by sputterpub

The gentleman was young and shy and sweet. The lady was his junior by four years. His attitude was courtly, hers replete with burning quests for answers. It appears that theirs were kindred minds, but unmatched themes in fact. Their … Continue reading →

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A Great Age

Posted on December 4, 2019 by sputterpub

The vet described my dog’s old age as “great” when she surpassed her breed’s expected span. He used the adjective to designate immensity instead of good or grand. Likewise your age is great at 94, although you seem to hate … Continue reading →

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