by suelarkinsweems | Sep 26, 2015 | On Military Life
Unpack (v.) to undo; remove the contents It’s undoing me. The crinkle of paper and crunch of cardboard. Treasures are mixed with trash and the sorting feels like it will never end. I have probably requested a dumpster once a day for the last two months—not that I’d...
by suelarkinsweems | Aug 14, 2015 | On Family
for my oldest son It’s a shock to realize You’re four years older than our Suburban Just yesterday, she seemed old, this morning, you both seem too young We bought her when you were seven years old You crawled over the seat, pressing buttons, laughing She...
by suelarkinsweems | Aug 7, 2015 | On Learning
Another school year is upon us, and the orientation/introduction/inservice meetings are in full swing. In the last week, I’ve met several teachers fresh out of preparation programs, hoping their student teaching and internship experience will guide them into the...
by suelarkinsweems | Aug 1, 2015 | On Military Life
At the beginning of re-entry, everything feels like a blank canvas. Right now, the world around us seems very small, a network of single roads that lead to the Publix or the dentist or to Lowes. Anything further requires navigation. Each time I drive out of our...
by suelarkinsweems | Jul 24, 2015 | On Military Life
After kissing the ground and vowing never to drive again, the work begins as we argue over who gets which air mattress. Then we promptly forget our no-driving-vows to make runs to Target and Lowes, along with Sonic and Starbucks. We’ve been here a week now and...
