Prairie Girl Colorless 50’s photo a child hermetically sealed Fading small against Junoesque pine Cradling basket-less Moses doll Softly smiling sideways glancing Plaid, pleated prairie dress disguising tom-girl legs Honeyed tidy braided hair feigning sweet, demure Clydesdale heavy, clunky shoes claustrophobic feet Drenching in sweet prairie grass Chomping at the bit Shoes shed, running free … Continue reading Part 1 Prairie Beginnings
Category: Annie’s Blog
Teenage years (14-19)
Part I City of Orange California ~ December 1964 I lie in the hall with my legs hanging over the top step outside my bedroom door hugging my chest to suppress my sobs, but there is only a vacuum to absorb them. Mother, Why did you scream at me to never look for you again … Continue reading Teenage years (14-19)
Who Am I?
“Ms. Skarin, you know you are odd, no I guess a better word for that would be unique.” The slender figure of the counselor in the chair across from mine shifted as she folded her arms gently.. She had dark brown hair and kind eyes. I stared at her blankly as I often did when … Continue reading Who Am I?
That Was a Simple Procedure-No Problem
"Ms. Skarin, are you with us?" I tried to connect the voice with the face looming over me. Hi Ms. Skarin, you were out for a long time. Out? Where did I go? My body is heavy against a narrow bed between two metal railings. The machines are making a slow methodical beep and there … Continue reading That Was a Simple Procedure-No Problem
Catastrophic Suffering
I grew up in a fundamentalist religious group in Canada until I turned ten and our family moved to Los Angeles. Our world in Canada was all white with a “Truman Show” atmosphere. I experienced a traumatic culture shock after we moved. I didn’t stand out as being different in our sheltered prairie town but … Continue reading Catastrophic Suffering
Remember Daddy When…
Remember daddy, when you made a radio from scratch. A small light yellow box with an open back containing a fascinating array of tubes, wires, and the string with a safety pin dangling down by a thumbtack so we could tap it back to life with a sizzle. I remember the smell of warm tubes … Continue reading Remember Daddy When…
I Am From
I am from a sister sandwich, I’m from the middle, the peanut in peanut butter. From a Navy ship gangway, a mother with two arms and three children and a leash that held me in range. I am from two sisters in silk-lined coffins. I will see you in heaven, Heidi and Debbi. I am … Continue reading I Am From
My Grand Adventure
My fingers gripped the cold metal railing as I peered down at the yawning hole in the most amazing sight I had ever laid eyes on. My stomach tightened and I sucked in my breath. My father stood next to me, his thick wavy black hair rippling, his hands pushed into his pockets. My older … Continue reading My Grand Adventure
Two Cells in One
The Fleshly Cell The cell was as sound-proof as my life had been. I wanted to scream. Maybe someone would hear. But all that came out was the scream of my nightmares. The scream that pulled all of my broiling emotions so tight against my chest that I felt my ribs would crack, but no … Continue reading Two Cells in One
I’m Going Home At Five
I was tagged with a plastic wristband, then wheeled upstairs to a room. After my children left, I was bored and asked if I could walk around with my dangling bag of saline on a pole. They let me walk the halls, but wouldn’t allow me into the waiting room. That night as I listened … Continue reading I’m Going Home At Five
Unforced rythms of grace ~ by Annie Pauli 