Life through my eyes
I was watching a PBS special about John Denver, and there was one thing about his life that reminded me of my dad. Denver first went to the Rocky Mountains as an adult, and his first wife, Anne, says that Denver (a.k.a. Deutschendorf, such a great German name!) was most at peace when he was … Read more…
My mother loved purple and dancing and wildflowers. She didn’t tolerate BS and couldn’t stand people who didn’t do their job well. She often communicated more by her actions than by her words, although she had a few choice words for me when I was growing up. I often heard such things as: “No, … Read more…
We all die from something. Some of us receive advanced notice, and others die in an unexpected instant. My mother was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (an aggressive cancerous brain tumor) in February of 2015. Along with the business of living, she and I have been quietly pondering the business of dying, albeit each in our … Read more…
My mom was diagnosed with a Stage IV glioblastoma on February 12, 2015. In honor of Mother’s Day and in light of the not-so-subtle nudge from mortality, I sat down and made a list of the most important lessons I’ve learned at the knee of my mother. 25 Things I Learned from My Mom … Read more…
[This was originally posted on February 10, 2014.] If you grew up on the west side of Rapid City, chances are you went sledding at Chalk Rock Hill. Chalk Rock Hill borders Meadowbrook Elementary School grounds on the east, at the corner of Arrowhead Drive and West Flormann Street. Most of the year the … Read more…
[This was originally posted on April 9, 2014.] On April 4, 2014, Stuart Opp died in London after a battle with stomach cancer. He was only 46 years old, a member of my high school graduating class of 1986. Last night I flipped through the Sabre for my junior and senior years at Stevens High School in Rapid … Read more…
For most of us growing up in the Dakotas, we’re only a few generations removed from those who tamed the virgin prairies with plows or fed the nations’ city dwellers with beef, wheat, corn, and pork. Our grandparents, great and great-great grandparents were farmers and ranchers or they were small town merchants who brought plumbing … Read more…
In just three short weeks it will have been seven years since my dad died. Seven years! Many things have changed since November 26 of 2007, but I am experiencing it anew, because I recently woke up from a seven year sleep. Shortly after my father’s death, I stopped sleeping at all. My life at … Read more…
I had to completely revamp the Rapid City Girl website. Polish and Russian spammers had hacked through the back door and taken over my site. There was even a porno guy from India who added a lovely element, and he just had to go. I will be reposting earlier blog entries, and WordPress has assured … Read more…
I live in Alabama now, and Alabama is covered in pine trees. They grow on low rolling hills, near marshy bogs and on sun baked plains. The loblolly pine is particularly prevalent, as it grows quickly, even in the red clay soils of the Deep South. The trees are judiciously harvested for various wood products … Read more…