I know every grandparent thinks their grandkid is special, but I swear, Arlo’s always been different. He started talking in full sentences before most kids could string two words together,…
MY NEIGHBOR STARTED FORGETTING THINGS—BUT SHE BECAME THE HEART OF OUR STREET
If you’d told me a couple years ago that Mrs. Claudine would end up being the most appreciated person on our block, I probably would’ve just nodded politely. She’s always…
A POLICEMAN BROKE MY CAR WINDOW TO SAVE MY DOG—AND I’LL NEVER FORGET MY MISTAKE
I’ll be honest—I still feel sick thinking about it. I only meant to run into the pharmacy for five minutes. The sun wasn’t blazing when I parked, and Ruffles was…
I FOUND PEACE LIVING IN MY TENT—EVEN IF I ONLY SEE MY FAMILY A FEW WEEKS A YEAR
If you’d told me a few years ago that my favorite place in the world would be a little yellow tent, I probably would’ve laughed. Back then, everything was deadlines,…
MY SON GOT A CONCUSSION TRYING TO SAVE AN OLD MAN FROM A CAR ACCIDENT—AND I’M STILL IN SHOCK
I always knew Eli was a kind kid, but I never thought he’d be this brave—or maybe this reckless. I got the call from a number I didn’t recognize, right…
OUR DREAM HOUSE WAS DESTROYED BY A HURRICANE—AND IT WASN’T EVEN FINISHED YET
Building this house was supposed to be our new start. We’d spent months dreaming over blueprints and picking out tiles, arguing over where the kitchen window should face, all that…
THE OFFICER WHO KEEPS OUR CITY IN CHECK—AND WHY NO ONE DARES TO OUTLAW
If you ask anyone around here who’s responsible for the calm we’ve got in this city, you’ll probably hear the same name over and over: Chief Inspector Landon. He’s been…
I FELL FOR MY EX-WIFE’S AUNT—AND I’VE NEVER FELT THIS KIND OF HAPPINESS
If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d end up with my ex-wife’s aunt, I probably would’ve laughed it off as some weird soap opera plot. But life…
I GOT EVICTED BY MY OWN FAMILY—BUT I FOUND PEACE LIVING IN MY CAR
If you’d told me last year that I’d be calling the back of my minivan “home,” I probably would’ve laughed—or maybe cried, honestly. But here I am, waking up every…
MY CAT HAS HER OWN ROOM—BECAUSE SHE’S THE REAL QUEEN OF THIS HOUSE
People laugh when I tell them my cat, Yvette, has her own room. Like, a real room—bed, rug, tiny framed photos on the wall, and yes, her own little TV…