My grandma was a quilter and a crafter. She spent hours crocheting blankets by lamplight on her living room couch (which she called a davenport). There was always a graduation, wedding, or baby gift in progress. In fact, the afghan she gave me when I graduated from high school over thirty years ago is often sprawled across my lap when I write. It brings me … Continue reading Stitch by Stitch
Several years ago my grandma asked me to write her obituary. Well, sort of. She actually mentioned this request to my mom, who was her primary caregiver. It wasn’t something I wanted to think about, but of course the answer was yes. I’d write it someday waaaaaaay in the future when the time came. In preparation, the three of us sat around the kitchen table … Continue reading Saying Goodbye
It’s often said that in Alaska, you choose your family. And it’s true. Many of us live thousands of miles from the families we were born into, so friends become a proxy for this pivotal role. This is my Alaskan family. We jokingly refer to ourselves as the McCoxlers, and we’ve been part of each other’s holidays, birthdays, and every days for decades. Our children … Continue reading Eat the Chocolates
Profoundly Ordinary 