The emails came at all hours. And then there were the constant texts and phone calls, and why hadn’t he checked his Facebook? It was too much. So one day…
I stumbled, eventually falling forward. They were quickly approaching behind me, but I could not push myself up. My slow, final breaths blew into the blades of green grass tickling…
He’d stolen the fruit. The lemon tree in his backyard, with its few bruised blossoms, could hardly make him the money his family needed. He knew the oranges would go…
Grandpa taught me so many lessons. But the one I remember most is that a grapefruit a day would keep the doctor away. Now Grandpa’s gone. And all I have…
Going to work, exercising, cleaning the house, running errands, making meals, and leaving time for family and friends. It leaves no DVR time. Yes, I think I’ll have to quit…
He’d always lived on the farm. Others spent their teenage years talking of getting out, but he’d always wanted to stay. He loved the hard work and wide open spaces…
We’d just finished swimming. It’d been searing hot. Thunderclouds boiled up in the distance, but there it was, a spotlight behind the clouds. A proclamation about to be announced. I…
First Half. First 10-K. First marathon. A strained Achilles. Getting passed by a grandma. New PR. Best race ever. Miserable run. The one I ran by myself. Separately they all…
This little girl had dreams. Necklaces, bracelets, and fancy sunglasses made her feel special and grown-up. She fantasized about the glamour of being an adult and of dressing up for…
It pounds and throbs, a cement block caving in on my eyes. I fall asleep and when I wake up, it’s still there. There’s nothing to chase it away except…
It’s insufferable, this pain. They’re gone. He’s left. It can’t be fixed. There’s no way out. I’ve taken the punches and endured the elements. It can all be gone. If…
First, the early morning walk. Then the construction workers next door had me on guard all day. Later that fly buzzed around, then they kept throwing my ball down the…
His tiny hands clung to the white iron gate. His eyes followed the bright red ball as it bounced from foot to foot, laughter echoing in the crisp spring air.…
She hadn’t expected the snow. It was October and still too early. But that morning she woke up to powdery white flakes floating through the air. She ran outside. The…
They’d waited all year for this beach vacation. Hawaii. She’d dreamed of sunny skies above and soft sand under her feet. And those fruity drinks with umbrellas. He was upset…
15 wall balls. 10 step-ups with 20-pound dumbbells. 15 kettle bell swings. Every minute on the minute for 24 minutes. Short of breath, jelly arms, a raging river of sweat.…
Some days bring gray skies. Others unleash angry words that pierce the air. Still, life has always felt like a thousand yellow daisies—magical in its bits of brightness. But today…
It’s more of a clang than a swish, but every shot takes me one step closer. Most days I’m Michael Jordan…old school. Other days I’m Kobe or LeBron. But always…
