Author: Shay

  • The Longest Shadow

    It’s almost poetic that my dad would die on the day of the winter solstice, or sometimes called “the longest night of the year.” Only he and I would likely find it so. Because for years he has called me, almost without fail, to remind me that the days are either getting longer or shorter.…

  • My Favorite Books of 2021

    My Favorite Books of 2021

    Every year I attempt to read at least one book a month on average. This year I had set a goal to read fourteen books, but according to my GoodReads account I finished twenty-five. Now, I must admit that some of these books I started in 2020 and finished in 2021 because they were ones…

  • Christmas Tree 2021

  • On Being Fragile and Calling 9-1-1

    “Call 9-1-1” Bethany had never told me that before so I knew this was serious. “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” “Yeah, hi… my wife is on the ground and she’s experiencing some kind of chest pain. I don’t know what to do.” After some basic questions about my location the operator asked: “How old is she?”…

  • Somewhere Between an Artist and an Engineer

    I’ve been thinking a lot about identity. Dad was a building engineer. I say “was” because he’s technically retired, but not because he’s stopped. To this day he continues to build. His 5 acres in the rolling hills of Kentucky are filled with barns and buildings of which he and my mom have designed and…