I was almost home from my daily walk, and looked over to see my neighbor on the ground, bleeding.

What on earth?

I never needed glasses.

I was the only one in my family growing up who didn’t have some kind of visual impairment, and I thought it was pretty great.

Just over eleven years ago, Julie asked for an Elf on the Shelf for her birthday.

It sounded like a benign request. A book and a little elf that came with it? How cute! I bought the gift naively, not realizing what I had actually done.

My name generates a lot of comments, especially this time of year. I get a few people questioning if my name is REALLY my name, comments about how Christmas-y my name is, and most people asking if I was born around Christmas.

Just yesterday I was asked (again!) if my birthday was at Christmastime.

A while ago, I was scrolling on my phone and I came across a video that has haunted me every since. The person said we are now spending so much time on social media that we have created memories of other peoples’ lives, instead of making our own.

A few years ago, one of my daughters got invited to a birthday party. It had all the usual information on it, but at the bottom there was an additional message:

“Make sure to wear green!”

I was surprised. Was this a birthday party or a football game?

After I took my daughter back to college, I flew home to Texas. The flight landed late at night, and Brian was still in surgery, so I waited at the airport until he could finish and pick me up.

The air outside was still hot and heavy with humidity, so I decided to wait inside.

If you know me, you may think one of my strengths is communication. Honesty comes naturally, and my approach is direct.

Yes and no.

My mom hated me.

I was absolutely convinced. My older sister had long, dark brown, beautiful hair, and I did not. I was so jealous of her hair. Our bathroom drawer held leather hair wraps, like the ones the Native Americans in my small hometown wore. I loved those things! I loved the smell of the leather and the softness of the straps. I pretended my hair was long, long enough to braid and cover with those beloved hair wraps.

“No one wants it more than me.”

“My mom is cooler than your mom.”

“I work harder than anyone else.”

“My kid is better than yours.”

My social media often has reels and videos where phrases like these are the headliner. I suppose I understand the sentiment—

We bought a Hyundai a year and a half ago. I’ve absolutely loved this car—until a month ago.

First of all, my horn stopped working. I like my horn.

“Don’t worry—everything will just click. “

I’ve heard this phrase a few times. Most recently it happened during a medical appointment. Another memorable time happened in a conversation with one of my kid’s teachers.

Hmmm—it will just click? What does that even mean?

Change is hard.

I’m not talking about the exciting part—the part where your imagination is creating all kinds of new realities built around the person you want to be instead of who you currently are. That part of change is fun…intoxicating, even.

I was talking to some friends about a month ago, and one woman said once she started a project, she couldn’t stop until it was finished. I listened, dumbfounded. Who was this woman?? People finished things?! I convinced myself she was lying.

I’m in a little pickle with my tailor. And it may end in the dissolution of our relationship.

Let me clarify.

Ever have those moments where you realize YOU are creating the drama in your life?

I had one of those last night. 😳

I was suckered.

I did it. My social media was sprinkled with people saying it was a good, compassionate thing to do, and I believed them. It was August of 2020, and we were still grieving the loss of my daughter’s cat, Bennett. In this state of sadness and with an utter lack of mental clarity, my daughter and I drove to a pet shelter nearby.

My parents didn’t give me a middle name, but I think the name I have earned is Holly “one-step-too-far” Snow. Sometimes I say things that are just too much, or I push the joke just a bit too far, or I drive my car just a hair too fast—you get the idea.

I’ve been married for almost 27 years.

TWENTY-SEVEN!!

During our engagement and throughout our married life, we have been given a lot of advice from a variety of sources.

I think it’s way better to be honest than lie because you’re trying to avoid an awkward situation.

Yesterday was a mess.