Forever Changed II
Several years after the accident, after the clunky orthopedic shoes, after the different variations of protecting my ankle from harm, and after years of wearing slacks, I wanted to go out in a pair of shoes that could be worn with a skirt. I found these slip-on black shoes. Not a dressy shoe, but somewhat […]
Forever Changed
After almost ten years of being a single mom to two children, with several attempts to ‘fix me up’ with a man, a friend gave my phone number to a potential suiter without telling me. We went on several dates, which led to more time together, which led to a birthday dinner at a really […]
Still Me
I just left the gym after playing ball with a friend. On my way home, I hit the store to pick up some groceries. I was getting ready to leave when the security guard at the door stopped me to see the receipt. He insisted I stole something, and even though I was cooperating, he […]
Torn Apart & Disrupted Play
Russia invaded Ukraine about the time the baby shoes made it out of the kiln and I started to clean up the edges and polish them. I couldn’t help but think of all the children, not only in Ukraine, but Syria and other countries who have been subjected to disruption and removal of a normal […]
Memories from Long Ago
The shoes belonged to my mother. She sent them to me to wear with a dress for a wedding I was attending. I never ended up wearing, these shoes but kept them in the original box, with my mother’s name hand-written on the outside. -Yaffa These shoes presented a lot of challenge to me while […]
Sliced
Super Bowl Sunday 2019 brought new beginnings to our household. My Mom had a stroke in December 2018 and had been staying at our house so we could care for her. We took her home the Saturday before Super Bowl Sunday. We were in the process of remodeling our main floor before she came to […]
Mother’s Love
Two pairs of shoes representing my twins, Tasiana & Corina. To me, they symbolize the journey we have traveled together and the preciousness of them – for they are always mine to love and protect as their mother, even as they turn 26 years old. And what a journey so far – when they were […]
Miles Beyond
In 2004, my older sister Sharon passed away after a 9 year battle with breast cancer. I received the news while at work, and was devastated. My student worker, and friend, Sarah, was with me at the time. She knew all about Sharon even though they had never met. Sarah knew of Sharon’s strength, her […]
My Ruby Slippers
I can’t remember when I saw “The Wizard Of OZ” for the first time, but I also can’t remember a time when I did not define my way of life by its teachings. As a child, my family gathered for the annual showing on TV of the “Wizard of OZ”. I always knew that this […]
Leaving an Impression
aka Baltimore 2019 In February 2019, I was an exhibitor at the American Craft Council Baltimore show. I had my trusty sidekick, Jim, and thanks to very concerned cousins, an old phone as a decoy (in case we got robbed) and money safely tucked under my coat. Jim was wearing the Creighton Bluejays ball cap […]