The Diner Dilemma

diet, diner, diningI never go to diners because I’m always on a diet. At 49 years of age, you’d think I  –  Dr. Pauline Limone  –  would be tired of trying to reshape myself, and my body, into something it’s not.

But no. this month I’m on the OEG diet, the biggest fad going on at the college where I teach. I don’t think the students know of this diet. They’re too busy snacking on Ring Dings and getting drunk on mojitos every Friday night. Continue reading

Grand at the Mirror

winter scene, snow, windowI’m trying desperately to avoid the knocking.

At first I thought it was the sound of one of “my” hummers knocking on the bedroom window. All summer I’d watched the hummingbirds sprint around our feeder hanging just outside the window, their long thin pointy tongues drawing sweet water out of the teeny tiny hole meant to mimic the center of a flower.

But it’s now December, the hummers have sensibly flown to warmer climes, and I’m here staring out at the window, listening to the knock on glass. But nothing is across from me on the other side of the window but falling snow.    Sighing, I cross the room to my antique dresser, the one that belonged to my great-grandmother, who died years before I was born. I stand before the large oval mirror joined at the top of the dresser and framed with mahogany.  Yes, there she is. Great-Grandmamma, tapping her fingernail on the other side of the speckled mirror, waiting impatiently.Pixabay images, antique mirror Continue reading

The Potion

  Bluesnap, Pixabay, Halloween potionAll six writers received the invitation on the same day and immediately called each other: “Are you going? Will you bring your ingredient?”

As instructed, not one writer told the other what she was requested to bring.

On Halloween night, a round iron pot sat in the center of the library conference table where the writers met once a week. Joellen splashed in two quarts of Diet Coke. Danielle measured and added a tablespoon of vinegar. Continue reading