Into the Wilderness: Story 22 I’ve been baking cookies. Nine different kinds, to be exact. Snickerdoodles, Linzer tarts, pumpkin bars, fruitcake cookies, chocolate mint crunch, kourabiedes (a Greek version of snowball cookies), molasses, magic bars (condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips), and Christmas Crack. I have only four people in my house and nine in myContinue reading “Baking”
Category Archives: Into the Wilderness
You’ll Be Okay
Into the Wilderness: Story 20 I held a cup of ice chips in my hand, spooning each glistening piece into my mouth to melt slowly. On the television, Tom the Turkey, the Macy’s Parade mascot, floated by. Chuck lounged in a stiff recliner next to my bed. It was Thanksgiving 2018, and I was waitingContinue reading “You’ll Be Okay”
The Pack
Into the Wilderness: Story 19 In front of me: Catina’s huge backpack from wilderness. It sprawled across my garage cement like a corpse. With pandemic lockdowns and limited socializing, I had cleaned and sorted almost every inch of my house. Now, I had turned to the garage, my husband hauling the pack from the storageContinue reading “The Pack”
The spiral
Into the Wilderness: Story 18 Catina went to La Europa Academy, a residential treatment center in Murray, Utah, that uses the arts as an integral part of healing. I never regretted my choice. With Catina’s talent for music and art, this was an ideal fit. Not only did she receive almost nine hours of therapyContinue reading “The spiral”
No Drama
Into the Wilderness: Story 17 Catina flung the car door open and collapsed onto the seat. School had just finished and the late afternoon light slashed through the windows and across her face. She wrapped her arms around her and scrunched down, lifting her feet onto the dashboard. She was clearly unhappy. I waited. InContinue reading “No Drama”
August
Into the Wilderness: Story 16 The hot summer days hovered over me compressing my thoughts in a clotted knot. This is not two years ago, but just last month. August is usually a celebration time for us. My birthday is early in the month followed a week later by Chuck’s and my anniversary. We usuallyContinue reading “August”
Home
Into the Wilderness: Story 15 Salt Lake City became our second home. We didn’t know it would when we woke up the next morning after arriving after midnight. We slept late and missed the perfunctory hotel breakfast. We had a big day ahead. We had to buy Catina supplies for RTC and make the mostContinue reading “Home”
In the air
Into the Wilderness: Story 14 Up in the air, Catina’s hand clenched in mine, we wondered about the future. Catina was eager to get to her RTC, though we had yet to sign an agreement with the new RTC. FAPE state law requires a 10-day notification to public school of unilateral placement. Our lawyer hadContinue reading “In the air”
Transition
Into the Wilderness: Story 13 Chuck and I stood in the cozy reception area of the Blue Ridge Wilderness office, excitedly rocking from one foot to another. We were here to pick up Catina. As with our overnight visit, we had decided to surprise her with custom T-shirts; this time Walking the Moon, the phraseContinue reading “Transition”
The Next Step
Into the Wilderness: Story 11 Our SUV bumped back down the mountain after our evening in the woods with Catina. In the review mirror, she receded farther and farther away until she wasn’t there anymore. Leaving your child behind is one of the most challenging feats of parenting. It’s as if you leave a necessaryContinue reading “The Next Step”
Walk the Moon 