Jackpot: My Urban Cinderella Story

 Happily ever after does not exist. And that’s okay. The beauty of happiness lies in the knowledge that it doesn’t last forever. Its impermanence forces each of us to savor it while it’s here and hope for it when it’s not. Our founding fathers had the right idea when they coined the phrase, “the pursuit of happiness” to convey the never-ending race to take hold of happiness and the continued hope that one day, with enough work, sweat and tears, it will  surrender and be ours once and for all.

Forget the cards & candy:Gimme your heart.

I must admit: I’ve never been a fan of Valentine’s Day. I guess almost always being single on the day designated for lovers will do that. Last year was the exception. Then, my boyfriend at the time merely handed me a stack of cash.

“I figured you would rather have the money,” he shrugged.

He was right. 

Little Things

I woke up this morning at 5, surprised to find myself curled up on the couch in the living room.  Yesterday’s 10 -5 shift at the mall and an evening gig covering a local arts event had taken its toll. Around 10 p.m., I entered the warm house, ate and collapsed to the tune of “Stepping to the Bad Side” from DreamGirls lulling in the background.

Night of the Yellow Rose

On my desk, towering over a rowdy sea of letters, cards, pictures and pens, sits a dying yellow rose. Wrinkled and browned with age, fighting to live on past expiration, the flower is my lone reminder of one of the craziest nights of my life.