Everyone didn’t see the joke — Imagine the scene. I was 23 and working in the claims department of an insurance company. Cubicles were all around me. Surely over 100 cubicles in this enormous room, with mine around the middle. Nothing special at all. Paying medical claims at that time required a lot of data input…

Their lives speak through their ink — I was visiting a friend and saw she had gotten a tattoo. I could only make out a few words, so asked to see the whole quote and hear her tattoo story. I love tattoo stories. I am that person who asks strangers to see their tattoos and then tell…

So why did I stay in that cage? — I shouldn’t have stayed in that job for a week. I stayed for 14 years. I learned very quickly it wasn’t a place for me. I am one of those kids who started to ask “Why?” at an early age and never stopped. I like that quality in me. I…

The woes of an introvert with social anxiety — It’s almost time for my friend’s 65th birthday party. I’m obviously not on my way. I’m writing this. It’s not that I don’t want to go. I do. But it’s so darn hard! I’m single and will arrive by myself. …

January Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Hometown Pride” — Three corners? Basket made in Statesville. I live in Statesville, North Carolina, which I believe to be the “Hot Air Balloon Capital of the South”. Yes, I just proclaimed it as such. We have a balloon factory here, Firefly Balloons, originally called Balloon Works. Back when I was in school, the business started. It began production…

And remind us of our power — The dad of my best friend from childhood died recently. I learned about it a couple of days later, when another friend tagged me on Facebook with his obituary. Carole and I became friends at age nine and were inseparable all through school. Almost every important school memory contains her. …

Turning down the invitations — It’s that time of year I’m getting New Year’s Eve party invitations and trying to figure out how to graciously bow out without hurting feelings. I know my friends – I say “no” and they will want to know why. They know me. They know why. …

Musings from around town: December Freestyle — Look in windows; see their secrets. Do you ever think about those people driving by looking in your windows? My friends and I were driving around town looking at lights. We saw a lot of gorgeous ones — so many people in our little community go all out. We drove by this house and I was…

A travel story — I’m headed through Heathrow Airport this week, the first time since November 2019. The pandemic obviously interrupted my travel schedule. I’m headed to Wales to see my family. My mom is from there and her family still lives there. As my mind mentally organizes the million things it processes before…