I had to park the car a long walk away, because the parking lots near the Student Commons were all full.It gave me time to look for Melody’s cape in every group of kids.The whole time I was walking, I had an argument going on in my head. One side said I was being silly. The news report said there were five dead. What are the odds that one of them would be Melody? The other side said that if there was a chance that Melody was hurt, I wanted to be there. As I kept walking, the side that said it … [Read more...]

I heard the news on my way to the Women’s Life Center. A shooting at Clackamas Communitiy College. Tears were pouring as I drove over the Oregon City Bridge. I thought of all those kids I see from time to time when I give Melody a ride because her car has broken down or she’s running late or she feels that she just can’t stand to ride the bus again.And then of Melody. After she turned from the car, looking at me from dark, dark eyes under spiky purple and black hair, she would walk away in her … [Read more...]

Melody called this morning. I saw her number on the caller ID and just didn’t want to answer it.It was breakfast time. Rick was having problems with his tie. Chloe had put off getting a permission slip signed until the last minute, and Sam was trying to slide his Gameboy into his backpack without our noticing it.The phone rang in the middle of all that chaos, and I ran to catch it. I’m still jumpy from the anonymous text, even though it came on my cell phone. I didn’t want Chloe to catch the … [Read more...]

Sam was pleased that I actually put up my first post after he helped me create this thing. He gave a report about it at school today. The topic was something he helped somebody with.Ms. Haycock-Meyer sent home a note congratulating me. Very funny. :) … [Read more...]

Everybody knows that mothers and daughters have complicated relationships.I understand complication.  Really I do. And I know I didn’t do everything right for Melody. What mother ever has done everything right?When Melody was a teen-ager, I took her little rages and poutings in stride. Aren’t teenaged girls famous for angst and drama? But she’s 22 now, and I thought she was over that.It was such a surprise to find her blog today. I know about blogs. I’m not so backward that I don’t know what a … [Read more...]