On a hot, muggy Saturday afternoon in July, Julie slips on her old, dirty sneakers. She heads to the garage, where after navigating the overflowing recycling bin, a bike, and two scooters, she reaches the lawn mower.

She puts in the recharged battery and push it out to the front yard. As she pushes the quick start button, she reflects on how much easier this is than the old gas powered mower she...

Amid splashes, laughter, and shouts of “Marco” “Polo”, a whistle blows.

“Adult Swim!”.

There’s a collective groan as reluctant swimmers begrudgingly make their way to the side of the pool.

A toddler in her puddle jumper shrieks as her dad wrestles her out of the water.

After quick snacks of soggy pretzels, melted granola bars, and carrot sticks (poor Charley),

anxious kids line up at the the d...

After breakfast, we go for a quick walk. Once back inside, you follow close behind as I head up to my home office. You happily settle onto your bed, ready for another hard day supervising me as I work from home. Your tail gentle wagging.

But as I start to pack up my computer and climb under my desk to unplug my laptop charger, your tail stops its measured beat and tucks up under you.

When I go ...

Ding dong dash

Back down the dusty path

Tuck behind bushes...

It’s so hot. I’m sticking to the lounge chair. I slap a mosquito on my leg.

It’s time to join the crowd and cool off.

I want to jump in, but its chaos. I hear a scream, not of fear but of delight. It’s followed by a huge splash. There are kids everywhere. Canonballs, diving for rings, a game of sharks and minnows in the deep end and monkey in the middle in the shallow end. Oops, the ball just a ...

She awoke, eager for what laid ahead.

For the past 5 years, the drudgery of her daily routines had engulfed her days. The 6 am alarm, the long commute, hours at the office navigating the senseless corporate politics…

All that time had passed, and what did she have to show for it. Superficial relationships with her colleagues, a stained coffee cup, folders full of PowerPoints, an inbox of unread ...

Glasses. That’s the first thing I notice. Black rectangular frames, youthful and sporty but also hinting at his nerdy side. Then on closer inspections, I see the little brown dots, sprinkled on the top of his nose and across his cheeks. He looks so much like his younger sister that people ask if they are twins, but she doesn’t have any of those freckles. He gives me an annoyed look, because I’m st...

I’m supposed to be at my computer, you know “working from home”. But my mind is wondering. As I fold laundry instead, my phone rings. I don’t know the number, but it’s local. I usually let it go to voicemail, yet for some reason I decide to answer.

“Hello” I say.

There’s a pause, then I hear “Hello.” It almost sounds like an automated call, so I don’t respond.

Again I hear, “Hello, is this Mrs. ...