There’s a photo of my mother with my sister and me when we were just kids. Bright eyes. Big smiles. Chiclet teeth. No idea what adulthood would ask of us. As I grew older, my mother would often say, “You can’t burn the candle at both ends.” At the time, I didn’t understand. I had […]
Monday unfolded into a delightful escapade as we rendezvoused with Mark and Cindy at ‘Laguna Bob’s’ on the South Padre Beach, ready to dive into an afternoon filled with lively tunes and good vibes. The air was charged with excitement as two separate bands took the stage one after another, energizing us with their soulful […]
Yesterday, Melody and I had a wonderful brunch at Josephine’s Kitchen in downtown Port Isabel. The food was delightful, the conversation effortless, and the atmosphere warm with the quiet hum of a small town moving at its own unhurried rhythm. But something outside the window kept pulling my gaze—the lighthouse. Standing tall against the hazy […]
Sunday dawned bright and clear, a stark contrast to the previous day’s rblostery skies, as we embarked on an unforgettable journey to the 34th Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo (with Pro Rodeo Cowboys) and 44th Annual Cameron County Fair and Livestock Show. With the sun beaming down, we rendezvoused with Mark and Cindy, ready to immerse […]
In a small Gulf city, two friends—Alex and Jordan—still walk the same park, still share the same horizon, and still see the world differently. Alex calls this era a golden age—overflowing with innovation, access, and possibility. Jordan sees uncertainty, division, and noise thick enough to drown out hope. One evening, as the sun lowered over […]
It reminds me why we came to Port Isabel in the first place. You can’t stop the waves. Not the Gulf waves rolling in at South Padre. Not the waves of grief after my mother passed. Not the waves of strained relationships. Not the waves of doubt that still try to visit at 3 a.m. […]
Tuesday morning, Toby Keith’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In” stayed with me long after the song ended. I’d already posted for the day, but some truths don’t knock once—they linger until you listen. Here in Port Isabel, where the Gulf breeze softens the edges of time and the sun seems to rise with quiet […]
Monday morning found us gathered once again in the campground hall as the week unfolded—pool workouts, tours, crafts, games, potlucks, and the easy rhythm of a place where people show up simply to enjoy where they are. It felt familiar now. Not routine—rooted. Later, the winds had their say, turning our outdoor dinner plans into […]
Growing up, I learned early what it feels like to be small—physically, emotionally, and socially. At three years old, spinal meningitis nearly killed me. It left my body fragile and my confidence fractured. By ninth grade I was barely 4’11”. When I finally grew to 5’11” in tenth grade, I still weighed just 98 pounds. […]
For most of my life, I wore armor. Anger. Control. Overachievement. Silence. Not because I was strong—but because I was afraid of what might break through. Every book I’ve written is, in some way, about laying that armor down. In Big Enough Now, I wrote about outgrowing the defenses that once kept us alive but […]