Category: after
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Burn Baby Burn
Movie ticketsProm picturesLove lettersArt WorkGiftsCards Piece by pieceInto the aluminum pan I use every December to make Chex Mixthat I set on the grill for safety My lighter is hard at work It’s harder to burn all this paper than you might thinkNot emotionallyBut actually It burns quickly but then smolders I keep flicking the…
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Clock Out
“Why are you writing that? I wasn’t using humor or sarcasm.” I don’t know, Gary. Sometimes my sarcasmleaks outaccidentally oops. Would you understand if I explained it to you, slowly? Your weekRemember you confirmed your “start time is 10:20” on Monday?I guess to make sure you clocked in for your shiftof parenting Maybe I should…
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Our Grocery Discount Card
I was 16 I bet, when we shared that bowl of microwave popcorn, sitting on your bed. Remember how we thought it was so cool that we always went for the same piece of popcorn. Such connection. You took the microwave popcorn bowl when you left. I mean I let you take it – handed…
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Our Score
I cried a littlewhen I put away the scrabble board the other day and found tucked in a paper with our score. You won, you always did. Do you ever miss playing scrabble?I mean, with me? And speaking of questionsDo you still like licorice jelly bellysand what about the popcorn kind?Do you miss our movie…
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The Past
I’ve been doing some reading, and I know. I know I’m not supposed to put my energy in the past. I need my energy for now and tomorrow and tomorrow’s tomorrow… But. I still have stuff to say. Like how a facebook memory of you annoyed on vacation makes me miss you. Like how I…
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Until she’s 18: A prophesy
Once I stood in our kitchenheld our baby daughterdid our dishesfuming You didn’t helpweren’t a partnerweren’t a parentfrustrating I thought to myselfvery clearlystick it out until she’s 18 beforedivorcing You decided to leavewhen she was 18I guess we make our future while prophesying
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Asshole
There was a time where I was planning to write a book based on our love story. I wonder if I had gone through all the old letters then if I would have picked up on this now obvious fact. You were an asshole to begin with! I mean, I’m gonna try to forgive myself…
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What would I say to you?
If I had a magic phone, I’d call you —The you from beforeRemember him?He was kindand safeand good I’d say Hey. You’d say Hi Peach I’d tell you the end of our storyYouwouldbestunned I’d cry telling youall the things you didall the things you saidYou would cry too What?You would asknot understanding half of the…
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You missed it
You missed the best snow day ever. Your children were full of smiles, relaxing and building legos. Your youngest son made everyone hot cocoa. Your daughter and her boyfriend went outside to shovel. Your middle son made us vegan chicken noodle soup for dinner, and chocolate chip peppermint cookies. A snowman was built – the…
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Bracelets on my mind
As a kid, I made embroidery floss friendship bracelets, collected jelly bracelets, and bought sailor knot bracelets at the beach. Friendship bracelets wore down slowly, jelly bracelets grew exponentially, and sailor knot bracelets had to be cut off at the end of the summer. Marriage is like a bracelet. Hear me out. A couple years…
Slices of Betrayal 