Annie Parsons
North
If you know my sister Becca, you know she’s all about dogs. She always has been; her first word was “woof-woof.” In addition to running a dog rescue (whence came Foxy!), she has three dogs of her own – and they’re like her kids. So when she and my brother-in-law decided to go to Seattle,…
An eensy weensy check-in
Some seasons can’t be wrapped up into compact little blog posts. So let’s just pretend that I haven’t not written here for a while – at least anything of substance – and catch up free-form. Like a meandering conversation – but with me talking into a megaphone (everyone’s dream). We’ll start with the most important…
Clouds
I travel a lot, which means that I drive to the airport a lot. If you know Denver International Airport, you know that it’s a) full of conspiracy theories, and b) SO FAR AWAY FROM DENVER. Peña Boulevard is paved with good intentions, but mostly a dull drive. Except for the clouds. For the longest…
The three nicest things anyone has ever said to me
From a mom of 4 wild ass monkey boys: “I want a girl just like you in my family.” From a mom of twins whom I’ve still never met, pre-teens at the time: “I wish my girls could know you.” From a kindred spirit gal in Louisiana: “I like you. You’re like when little kids…
Annie recommends
The past several weeks have been so full. I’ve had multiple work trips (Minneapolis, San Francisco, Anaheim), three humongous work events, houseguests, family visits, and a particular emotional roller coaster that’s still unfolding. With each close friend that I confide in, I realize that my heart is hoping more and more for a certain outcome,…
A meandering take on honesty, vulnerability, and courage
I hate conflict and I hate humiliation. If someone wants to have an honest conversation that would require me to say something that might hurt their feelings, I turn tail and run like a deer. I’m learning to be better, be braver – but I know that no matter how good I get at it,…
I’ll just leave my heart right here
All of San Francisco is a protest to the uniform and utilitarian. I will never not wish for more time here.
More adventures in flight
This morning when I woke up at 5am in Minneapolis, the “feels like” temperature was -30 degrees. “How am I going to make it from the hotel to my car?” I was legitimately afraid that somewhere in that 500 feet, I would freeze, suddenly, like a Neanderthal. But my 7am flight would be leaving with…
In which I drain my savings account
Back in December, a natural gas leak was discovered in the crawl space beneath my house. The inspector from Xcel told me that it wasn’t urgent, and that I could have it repaired at my leisure (pronounced “lehh-zhure” in my mind). So this past Friday, I finally had someone come take a look. He shut…
Hope on the rocks
I am not a rock climber. Aside from that ill-fated day at elementary summer camp when I was forced to rappel which resulted in emotional trauma so severe they made a special exception to let me call my mom afterward (thanks a lot, CAMP REDCLOUD), I have never been roped to a rock wall –…