My Portfolio

You may call it what you wish - progesterone depletion, brain fog, carnality.  All I know is that I got myself in a heap of trouble this weekend all because of attitude.  The first time I handled it all right . . . I guess.  As long as the lady doesn't...

Dear Friends and Family: Next to Colorado, Kentucky must be the closest place to heaven on earth. What a beautiful state! If my family and friends would go with me, I'd move there in a heartbeat. Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky is lovely and quaint. The town is no bigger than a...

We don't go there as often as we used to. When we were young, my brothers and I hurried through Saturday morning chores knowing that when our work was done, more often than not, we'd get to go to Taco House. Tacos, burritos, chalupas, guacamole . . . but "voted family...

A blustery north wind crooned a haunting melody as it blew relentlessly across the open field. Shivering, Ruth pulled her coarse woolen cloak tautly about her slight frame in an effort to ward off the chill. She wished she’d been blessed with an ample body like her mother; the cold never...

Dear Paul, Diana, Andy and Ben,It’s not always easy being a mom.  First, you birth them, then you bathe them, then you teach them right from wrong.  No matter how hard you try, with all that you do right, you're bound to do some things wrong.  You gently guide, praying that your mistakes will be minimal, and their understanding large....

I hurt. You told me that you care.&quo t;What can I do?" you asked.Let me tell you.Listen. Link action with your words. Hug my neck, hold me tight.Call me, come and see me. Let me share, look me in the eye. I need to talk, and cry, and hurt. I need...

The children were in bed, and I sat alone in front of the fireplace in the family room of my parent's home.  It had only been a few short months since Eddie's arrest, and though we were now safe, our world still spun out of control.  I watched as the flames reduced the...

PUNISHMENT CAN BE FUN Two little brothers who were best buddies were running up and down the three flights of stairs in the house. Not five minutes before they had been told by their daddy to stop doing this as it was becoming annoying, but being boys of six and eight...

  King Solomon probably thought it unique to himself when he said, “Laughter is good medicine." But, I think it was God’s idea. The world looked rather bleak this morning. "You look tired, Mom,” Diana said as I climbed wearily onto the treadmill, “Didn't you sleep well last night?" "No. I...

  It probably has something to do with being twelve. Or, maybe it’s just that he’s his mother’s son. Whatever, everything looks bigger, badder, teetering on catastrophe to Ben. The dangly thing hanging under the car was nearly his undoing. “Will it fall off mom? Are you sure it’s gonna be...

    Ask me and I'll tell you, it's Luci's fault.  As a popular Christian speaker who has been there, done it all she should have known better.  I maintain good standing in the, "Sisterhood of Naïveté." Tell us it can be done, and we'll take you at your word.  While...

Daughter Diana and I are to meet for our weekly jaunt to the gym. Lest you worry needlessly, let me hasten to assure you that I am not having a love affair with treadmills and belly crunches. But, I am crazy about her. Having spent a restless night, tossing and turning,...

O.K. Since I know you’ve been dying to ask, I’ll just admit it . .  it’s not easy driving a shiny new coupe, and pretending like it’s yours. But, somebody’s got to do it. That’s one of the perks that comes with being married to a car salesman. Perk number one,...

Hi my name is Christine Brackin, Cormier. I was born in Shirley, MA. January 30th, 1952. My Father Wallace Randall Brackin and my Mother Helen Martha Andreansky, Brackin lived on Fort Devens Army base with my 3 older sisters, Carole, Patricia and Susan. Dad born January 26, 1918 in Newark, NJ....

TEN GIFTS In the year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred Forty Seven; We thought we'd reached what we called Heaven. September the twenty eighth was our wedding day, Little did we know the dues we'd have to pay! We pined for three months for a newborn babe; And nine months later...

Eric's Story, by His Nana Hello there, called Nana to Eric. It was a beautiful sunny July day and he was trying out his new bike his Mom and Dad had bought for him. He was excited because he was almost ready to have his Daddy remove the training wheels. He...

A TENNESSEE TALE BY LILY CORMIER Somewhere deep in the woods and mountains of Tennessee lived a man and his wife who really and truly loved nature. They hiked on the mountain trails and swam in the sparkling clear rivers and streams. One day mister Jones (that was his name) said...

Surviving The Wrath of a Major HurricaneChapter 1 - A Desire for Climate ChangeFor us, the winter of 2001 was long, cold and dreary.  We were living in Ashland, Massachusetts, a modest, blue collar town located about 25 miles west of Boston.  Snow had fallen so often that the tops of...

Chapter 2 - Batten Down the Hatches!This "extended vacation" would come to a crashing halt for us on August 13th, 2004.  For days we watched the news, our first experience in following a tropical storm turned hurricane as it turned north towards Florida</st1:state>.  Forecasters said it was going to make a...

Chapter 3 - Barricaded Inside a 2’x6’ ClosetIt was time to plan our escape within the house and the most obvious option for our "hunkering down" was our master bedroom closet.  So I emptied it like a madman, tossing things out and visualizing how we were all going to fit in...