Irene North – Page 18

It was just a knock at the door

On 2021-03-31

My eyes were fixated on the clock. It read 7:43 a.m. Karla would be knocking on my door soon. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we walked together to Bessey Hall. She had a class and I went into the Anthropology lab to clean and label artifacts.

I was stretched out on the couch under my bald eagle blanket. I stared at the red numbers on the digital clock and watched it turn to 7:44 a.m. There was a bang on my door. My eyes rapidly shifted to my doorknob. Did I remember to lock the door last night?

The perfect pitch

By Irene

On 2021-03-08

In Gram, Stories

Bats: L; Hits L; BA: .367; ERA: 1.97; Age: 13; Height 5ft. 0in.; Weight: 95 pounds; Position; P, 1st

I stared at the signs Stacy was showing 60 feet away. I shook her off a few times before settling in on my “go-to” pitch. I could place it almost anywhere.

Standing on the pitcher’s mound, the entire world melted away. My teammates knew I liked it quiet, so the normal cheers of encouragement were rarely heard when I was on the mound. I shut out the people screaming in the stands. It was just me, the catcher, and the batter.

I’m not crying, it’s just raining on my face

By Irene

On 2021-03-04

In Ramblings

On any given day, I carry one of several backpacks with me. Inside is a copy of a letter a friend sent to me last year. It’s a list of reasons why she looks up to me and, on many days, it is a foundation which helps me keep moving forward.

Just a fool walking to school

By Irene

On 2021-03-01

In Stories

I was a junior in high school before I first attempted to take the bus to school. If you lived more than two miles from school, the district would provide a school bus for students. This was a new experience for me. I was nervous. I had always walked to school, but the idea of not being cold in winter or arriving to school sweaty in June was enticing.

Indelible moment

By Irene

On 2021-02-08

In Gram, Poetry

I didn’t go looking for fish anyway

By Irene

On 2021-01-29

In Nebraska, Photos

Nine Mile Creek State Wildlife Management Area is a great place to fish for trout in western Nebraska. I don’t fish, so this is not that story.

And I didn’t even panic

By Irene

On 2021-01-26

In News

Over the weekend, things here went a little screwy, but everything is fine now.

An anniversary, of sorts

By Irene

On 2021-01-22

In Stories

Today is the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a 1973 Supreme Court decision, which saved my life in 1984.

Starting off on the right foot

By Irene

On 2021-01-02

In Nebraska, Photos

In my first excursion into the world with other people in 10 months, I began 2021 on a high note. Traveling with my friends Steve, Katie, and Jeff, we hiked to the top of the bluff at the Cedar Canyon Wildlife Management Area, walked across the bluff to the far side and back. After 8.5 miles, it was my first physically distanced, non-mask wearing trip since February 2020.

I’m only a dolphin ma’am

By Irene

On 2021-01-01

In Stories

It’s tagline was, “If you forgot what terror was like…it’s back,” except I wasn’t terrified until I went to sleep.