I attended a memorial service for a family member's parent on Saturday. It was beautiful, touching, warm.

I talked to a young man, the grandson of the woman whose life was celebrated.

Top hat kind of life

I paid for the wedding reception yesterday.
I forgot how to spell such big words such as thousand.

Celebrating a new union

A week from today a daughter becomes a wife and a young man becomes a member of the family.

Eggshells and walking

Walking on eggshells is not very fun.
I have for a few months now.

The survivor

I am a newspaper reporter. I cover crime and the courts.
There is never a day that goes by that something is out of the ordinary.

We were friends

I learned on Monday of the passing of a high school classmate.
Mary-Rose passed away on June 11. She had battled health issues for years.

Show stoppers

Life is much more manageable when the drama is low.
I know we can't run away from it.

Father and friend

Dedicated, Durable. Distinguished.
Always loving, caring, protective, helpful, encouraging, joking, comforting, wise.
Deeply rich in family.

Comfort zone

It's so nice to sit and relax in a comfort zone.
Nothing to bother you. Nothing to get under your skin. Nothing that will shake your mental state.

Nothing surprises

The judge told the reporter when he started covering court, "Nothing surprises me."
With over 30 years on the bench, she has seen a lot. It continues each day.

Note to self: Take it easy.

What makes one be so hard on themselves that even when they do something good, they find a self-deprecating way to crap on the parade?

Talk to someone, please

There is no shame in those fighting mental illness or thoughts of harming or killing themselves.
Stigma sucks.
Slowly, but surely, people are not looking at those battling mental issues as lepers or merely being weak.

Closure?

He put his thing in my butt, the 11-year-old victim testified in sexual assault trial this week.
The "he" in this case is alleged to be her grandfather.

Taking flight

"Fly, robin fly! ... up, up to the sky ..."
I thought of those lyrics from a song recorded by Silver Convention back in 1975 on Tuesday (June 5).
I sang those words after watching a now matured robin take off from its nest located in a wreath on the front porch of my home.

Gut punch

I remembered what a punch in the gut felt like yesterday.

I was told something by a friend.

The workforce at their place of employment has dwindled.

Time to test the wings

High school graduation season is upon us.
It is winding down here in my area.
I attended a a graduation party for a young lady on Saturday.

The good crowd

A 23-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison on May 31 for his role in a bank robbery in 2017.
He scoped out the interior of a bank that his cousin went in and robbed.
They didn't get very far before being arrested.

Walk around the ship

Going down with the ship.
It's got a bad sound to it. Or is that sad sound?

Edge of life and death

Separation anxiety.
Praying to die.
Not good.

Detour from the high road

You have people come in and out of your life.
Some good, helpful. Some bad, disruptive.