Irene North – Page 2

I can’t drive 55

On 23 May, 2020

Police lights by night

The lights appeared out of nowhere in my rear view mirror. “What the hell?” I said. I was driving through Banner County, Nebraska, which is all wide open plains. I somehow missed seeing the police car.

I looked down at my speedometer. 80 mph. That’s only five over the speed limit. I pulled my car over to the side of the road, turned my four-way flashers on, and grabbed my documents from the glove compartment.

I was returning from Cheyenne, Wyoming, where I had taken my Hyundai Accent in for a new clutch. The Accent made it 99,950 miles with its original clutch. The Hyundai dealership provided a loaner car until mine was fixed. I assumed something was wrong with the loaner car and that was why I was pulled over.

Advice from 44 BCE

By Irene

On 22 May, 2020

In Watching & Reading

My friend, Bas, and my husband, Paul on July 26, 2015.

In 44 BCE, Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote about friendship. He was inspired by Greek philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, who also wrote on the topic, but Cicero’s guide has been influential since the time he put pen to paper.

We store our dead

By Irene

On 19 May, 2020

In Poetry

My blood is ink

By Irene

On 11 May, 2020

In Ramblings

Many people find writing to be therapeutic. I am one of them. One key difference for me is I rarely put things down on paper to never be read again. The majority of what I write is posted publicly.

It’s the little things that count

By Irene

On 9 May, 2020

In Ramblings

As human beings, it’s easy for us to look at the negative rather than the positive. If we make a mistake, we beat ourselves up over it. We look to blame someone or something else. The negative is easy. We should be paying attention to the little things that bring us joy and appreciation in our lives.

A rant, in pictures

By Irene

On 5 May, 2020

In Photos

There is so much to unpack every day in the news that it’s overwhelming to try to keep up. I’m sharing some political cartoons, memes, and photographs I have been collecting for a while. Just saving them and doing nothing with them helps. The following are pictures that made me laugh, think, and worry about where we are headed as a nation.

Unmasking deception

By Irene

On 4 May, 2020

In Poetry

It just doesn’t work for me

By Irene

On 2 May, 2020

In Ramblings

The left side of the desk is my side. The right side is Paul’s side. I do my online therapy from here and there are many distractions.

I walked into my therapist’s office for my usual Tuesday appointment and sat down in my usual spot. We exchanged the normal pleasantries before she said, “Irene. We need to talk.”

My brain screamed the loudest, “Fuck,” I ever heard rattle through my skull. I knew what was coming.

The only way to soar is to believe you can fly

By Irene

On 29 April, 2020

In Photos

A mule deer runs around the back of the Scotts Bluff National Monument in the late afternoon.

One thing I wanted to work on in 2020 was becoming a better photographer. I’m an okay one right now. I know I can get better. It takes practice, thought about how to frame your picture and why you are taking the picture, and some more practice.

Running through the streets naked covered in green jello

By Irene

On 25 April, 2020

In Watching & Reading

Movies are a magical world which take me away from my own life, but the films I watch tend to tackle the hard questions in life. They make me think, laugh, cry, and wonder about my place in the universe.

Since we’re all still sitting at home, I thought I would make a list of some my favorite underrated gems I like to recommend to others.