It’s Mann-Romey Day!

I recently sent a text message to our family group chat. I asked them if we had any holiday traditions that they look forward to or that makes them feel good. Instead of the sincere answers I was hoping for, they immediately started spamming the thread with things such as our annual front yard book burning or stealing the baby Jesuses from front yard nativity scenes.

Getting Stalked by a Turtle

Waiting for a hurricane really is like watching a murder-turtle choose which way it will go, then slowly make its way, then suddenly change its mind.

Part 4-Chugging Mylanta

We’d been following one of the church’s parishioners: Travis. When we arrived he quickly exited his car, approached us, and embarrassedly apologized for the state of the trailer. As we entered, I had to hold my breath because of the smell of mold. I just stared at the torn shower curtain just hanging.

My stomach was in knots at this point.

Hopefully 2022 won’t say: “Hey 2021, hold my beer.”

For the time being I can pretend that: There isn’t a ranging pandemic sweeping through our lives. We are not breaking records for new Covid cases. Betty White did not just die.

Part 3–My father, the narcissist.

This essay is very personal. Probably the most personal I have ever written. I did want to put a trigger warning that it deals with being raised by a narcissistic parent.

Duane and the Sky

He was older, he was cool, I enjoyed hanging out with him. At that point, he had already started his piloting lessons and he would show me his log books, his route maps, and talk about different types of planes. This was what he loved--this was his passion.

Part 2–A Little Ball of Ground Beef

This story starts with my sister praying for a dog at bedtime. I know my sister well enough to know that she really wasn’t praying for a dog, this was a coded message to my parents. Finally, my parents got the message: my sister wanted a dog.

Part 1-OJ and Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain My father likes to retell the following story to anyone who will listen: “We were making our final descent into Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, straining our necks to get our first glimpse of our new home. When suddenly, Curtis said ‘I don’t feel good’, and proceeded to throw … Continue reading Part 1-OJ and Christ the Redeemer →

WYSIWYG

"And I've got no illusions about you, guess what I never did When I say, "I'll take it" I mean as is" --Ani DeFranco

My Own Billy Elliot

He was so excited to tell Amanda’s students that his mom was dating Kermit. Never, have I been so proud to be referred to as a green frog.