Nannie
Three Months Without Nannie
…and I’m still not okay, but I pretend real good. It’s been three whole months since my Nannie left this earth, and I still catch myself reaching for the phone to call her. Sometimes it’s about nothing—just to hear her voice and let her talk circles around me about what she just heard (spoiler alert: […]
Mother’s Day: The One Day We Might Get to Pee Alone
Let’s talk about Mother’s Day—the holiday where the bar is set wildly low and yet somehow still manages to trip us. For one magical Sunday each year, moms everywhere wake up hoping for breakfast in bed, a moment of peace, and maybe a thoughtful card. What we usually get is a lukewarm Eggo waffle, a half-spilled cup […]
Navigating Identity Shifts: From Educator to Creator
Let’s get right to it:Before everything changed, I worked in education.I was the go-to girl: enrichment leader, classroom whisperer, chaos coordinator, snack-slicing, spirit-week-surviving queen.I gave my heart to that work—because that’s who I am. I show up fully. I love deeply. I care hard. But when Nannie passed, everything in me broke. And I didn’t go […]
The Last Month of Lavender
Lena was only twelve when the world stopped spinning right. It began on a humid August afternoon, the kind that pressed down on everything like a heavy, wet quilt. Her grandmother, whom everyone in the family called Nana Jo, had been making lavender lemonade in the kitchen while humming an old folk song. That was […]
Easter at Nannie’s: Bittersweet Traditions and Banana Croquettes
We spent Easter lunch with my mom at Nannie’s house this year. It was… hard. There’s just something about walking into a home so full of memories, knowing one of the biggest hearts in the room is no longer there. Still, somehow, it ended up being a sweet day—one that made me cry, laugh, and […]
Good Friday? More Like “Oops, It’s Easter Weekend” Friday
Y’all. I just looked at the calendar and had a full-on come to Jesus moment—because it’s Good Friday and guess what’s just two days away? Easter Sunday. You know, the one with the resurrection, the pastel dresses, and the strategically hidden plastic eggs filled with sugar and chaos? Yeah. That one. And what have I done to prepare? Absolutely. Nothing. No […]
A Night of Memories, Friendship, and Baby Therapy
Tonight was one of those special evenings that reminded me of the beauty of lifelong friendships. My family and I met up with Ms. Teenie, Nannie’s best friend, at our favorite restaurant for dinner. Along with her was her son, Man—someone I spent so much time with as a child. Nannie and Ms. Teenie worked […]
Between Extremes: Grieving and Coping with Pain
I go from one extreme to the other. Either I sleep for nearly four days straight, or I’m up all night, caught in an endless loop of exhaustion and restlessness. The pain in my hands and fingers doesn’t help, but I know deep down that it’s not just physical. It’s grief. It’s the weight of […]
In Every Laugh, Every Hug, Every Day
Poems For Nannie During the long nights I spent with Nannie while she was in hospice care, I found myself turning to writing. The weight of the situation, the bittersweet reality of knowing her time was nearing its end, filled my thoughts and emotions. In those moments of silence and reflection, I felt compelled to […]
