Love

Grief, forgiveness, and love

A few months ago, my life was completely upended when a man I deeply loved betrayed my trust and broke my heart. While the details matter to me, all I’ll say is this: I was planning to move to Nashville so we could be together, but it didn’t happen. The relationship was serious enough to…

Read More »

A question for Valentine’s Day

My favorite song of the last year is Brandy Clark’s “Love Can Go to Hell.” If you haven’t heard it, please give yourself the sweet, melancholic gift of listening — if for no other reason than Brandy Clark is one of the smartest writers I’ve ever run across. But lest my love of this song…

Read More »

Hootenannie’s Dating Tips

I’ve heard that activity on online dating sites soars after the holidays. As one who currently does not have a profile on any dating site (despite having spent some quality time on every available platform in the past – and probably will again in the future), I say good on you. If you’ve declared 2015…

Read More »

“Everything that made you so different”

“At a certain point in your life, probably when too much of it has gone by, you will open your eyes and see yourself for who you are, especially for everything that made you so different from all the awful normals. And you will say to yourself, ‘But I am this person.’ And in that…

Read More »

Kodiak “Toad” Parsons – 2001-2013

Less than two weeks after taking her to Kansas City, my mom called to let me know that Toad had taken an abrupt turn for the worst. She was in a lot of pain, and the X-rays showed that she had no discs left in her neck. Severe arthritis was taking over. Her back legs…

Read More »

A few good men

The first half of 2013 was a busy time for the Parsons – my sister Becca got married in January, and my sister Sarah got married in April. In the past, the thought of “brother-in-law” never really crossed my mind. I’ve had a sister-in-law (the world’s best) since I was 18, but that’s as far…

Read More »

If you only read one thing today

… read this.

Read More »

The progression of last night’s in-flight conversation

“Can I put the arm rest up?” “Sure.” [spilling over into my seat]  “I’m still a big girl.  But I’ve lost over 200 lbs.” “Wow – that’s incredible!  Congratulations – what an accomplishment.” “No more seat-belt expander for me.” [high-five with a 70-year old woman, initiated by yours truly] “I’m Pat, by the way, and…

Read More »

In terms of love

Is it better to have high expectations, or none at all? You guys have come through with some excellent thoughts in the past – care to pipe up again?

Read More »

Messy love

With my Netflix membership, I wind up watching a lot of crappy movies.  “Noble Things” was awful.  “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” made me want to gouge my eyeballs out.  “Billy: The Early Years of Billy Graham” was the hokiest thing I’ve ever seen.  “The Invention of Lying” was I CAN’T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT….

Read More »