Author Archives: IRT-JAH

Gray kitty. You blew into the neighborhood behind REI 15 years ago. Jennifer told me about you. Her neighbors “adopted you.” When I met you, I saw that their idea of adoption was leaving the garage door open a few … Continue reading →

‘Disturbing’ lack of Holocaust knowledge in US popped up on my Facebook feed the other day. . I re-posted noting, “this is why we must continue to teach books like Night.” A mom, a friend, and a tremendous advocate of … Continue reading →

As a fourth-year teacher teaching fourth graders, I was not prepared for the lockdown drills that followed the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999. My pint-sized principal, Mrs. Ure in Orem, Utah, assured me that if someone came into … Continue reading →

When I choose my nail polish, I buy it because of the name, not the color. I own colors like “I’m not Really a Waitress,” “Do You Lilac It,” and, even “Exotic Birds Don’t Tweet,” not because they look good … Continue reading →

We Can Do Hard Things In the beginning, I joked. I called it CORONA-cation. Years ago, we had SWINE-cation with the Swine Flu. The day Superintendent Timothy put Park City School District under quarantine, my principal and I drove to … Continue reading →

MOMversation about Men and Murder or, Why I Should Date Women 29 June 2019 On Saturdays, mom visits Helen at Salon Enchante. Helen is renowned for her skill with thinning gray hair. No one can insert rollers and get someone … Continue reading →

Today, Monday, after school, my friend, my colleague was strapping her son into their Toyota minivan. I stopped. Friend: What are you going to do now? Me: I’m debating about going to Food Town. Friend: Don’t do that. Go home. … Continue reading →

Driving to mom’s fluff-n-fold. MOM:  What are you wearing? ME:  A dress. MOM:  Does it zip on both sides? ME:  Yes. MOM:  So, you have to zip it from the bottom? ME:  No. I just pull it over my head. … Continue reading →