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Month: June 2016

THIS woman’s place is in the kitchen

by Ashford - 1
kitchen

I started dating my husband 17 years ago (holy crap is that right?!?!) And I spent the last 10 years married to him. The most important lesson that I have learned is that, indeed, my place is in the kitchen. Now before you go all “women’s lib” on me let me start by saying that I am all for equality. I am a successful career woman and am the primary breadwinner for my ever growing family of five. This is not an issue of gender roles. This is an issue of self-preservation. This man, who is wonderful at so many things, once screwed up making Easy Mac. Yes, you read that correctly. Easy Mac. You know the product that is marketed to

Summer in the Southland

by Ashford - 3

It’s here. Summer in the Southland. At first this may conjure up romanticized visions of sipping iced tea on the porch and catching fireflies in mason jars. There are long lazy afternoons in the hammock and days spent at the lake. Every crossroad has a vegetable stand manned by the farmer’s wife herself selling their wares and homemade peach ice cream is an essential. And while all of these things seem beautiful and simple they are NOT the true representation of a deep South summer. Not even a little bit. There is only one word that can accurately describe this experience…. Moist. While I know so many people have an aversion to that very word I assure you that hearing the word is

Telling your children you have cancer

by Ashford - 1

“Daddy has cancer.” For 3 months these words were balled up in my throat making it impossible to breathe, to speak. For 3 months every time I looked at my children's faces I could feel them rising up like vomit that I had to force back down. The tears welled up in my eyes as I imagined the impending “talk” we couldn’t avoid. They knew something was wrong. Of course they knew. He had been through 2 surgeries and we had been gone countless days visiting specialists out of town. They’re smarter than I give them credit. The undercurrent in our house was tense and uncomfortable with the unspoken words. But saying it out loud was more than I could handle. We planned

It was easier when he was sick

by Ashford - 1

Can I be honest here? Can I say something horrible that no one would ever think to say?  Except that they might think it. Or they might think that I’m horrible for saying it. It could really go either way at this point. But I pride myself on my brutal (and sometimes inappropriate) honesty. So here it goes… It was easier when he was sick. There I said it. And I haven’t been struck by lightening just yet so let me explain myself if you would. It’s been almost a year since my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. It’s been about 8 months since he began chemo. And it’s been about 3 months since he’s been feeling somewhat “normal” and our lives have returned. But

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