Author Archives: Dawn McMullan

We moved into the only house we’ve ever owned in May of 1998. Noah was 11 months old. When I walked into this house, I immediately could imagine where the Christmas tree would go. With almost zero knowledge of what … Continue reading →

Off and on since we got our vaccines in the spring, I have wondered about COVID keeps — things I enjoyed about our weird year. I’ve wondered what I want to bring back (which is so many things) and what … Continue reading →

When I look back at photos from last November, it almost looks like a movie I watched. One I know I’ve seen but I can’t remember the details (my husband will tell you this is a common occurrence). Then someone … Continue reading →

The last time my mom was with us for Thanksgiving, in 2015, these things were true: • Noah was home for the first time since starting college in Brooklyn. (Now he’s a 24-year-old college graduate with his own business.) • … Continue reading →

I’ve had many battles with my kids in our 24 and 21 years together. Two stand out, probably because there is photographic evidence. In the fall of 2010, we went to Austin to see Clyde’s alma mater (the Texas Longhorns) … Continue reading →

My husband and I are traveling to California this week. He’s coming back Saturday, the Eve of All Hallows’ Eve, but I’m staying until Monday to visit a friend. Our neighborhood is lively with trick-or-treaters so I asked him a … Continue reading →

I was having a discussion with my husband recently when it occurred to me, he’s missed a lot. Background: My mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks before Dallas went on COVID lockdown. Within a few months, she was … Continue reading →

This is my sixth year of kids coming and going from out-of-state colleges. We are NOT the people whose kids come home at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer break. I mean yes, of course, they are home those times. But with … Continue reading →

Noah has been living with my mother-in-law the past couple of months. He broke up with his girlfriend, spent a few nights here, a few nights at his old place, a night here and there on a friend’s couch, and … Continue reading →

Yesterday was Sawyer’s half birthday. 21.5. He got texts from us and a giant s’more “pizza” from the Chocolate Pizza company delivered to his apartment in New Orleans. The origins of the half-birthday celebrations in our home are straightforward: When … Continue reading →