Check It Out:

What are your favorite local places for shopping, pampering or entertaining? Vote now in this year's Best Of Holiday Shopping readers' choice poll.

Cornershot


To submit a CornerShot
The Roanoke Times welcomes CornerShot submissions from its readers. Here are the guidelines:
  • Length: about 200 words
  • Topic: CornerShots can run the gamut, but we generally prefer unique and clever observations on the human experience.
  • No poetry, please.
  • Email your submission to extra@roanoke.com with your full name and hometown and “CornerShot” in the subject line. You can also mail submissions to Kathy Lu, CornerShot, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, VA 24010.
  • Submissions are subject to editing.
MOST READ ON ROANOKE.COM
by
Lindsey Nair | 981-3343

Sunday, May 26, 2013


My dad and stepmom spent the night at our house in Roanoke recently so they could catch an early-morning flight to Seattle, where they would board a cruise ship to Alaska.

We set an alarm clock in the guest room for 2:30 a.m., then set the alarm on my stepmother’s cellphone as a back up . Then, because my husband suggested it and I knew he was right, I set my own alarm to make good and sure they got up on time.

That’s how I found myself half awake at 2:45 a.m. on a Sunday morning, helping my father through a brief, frantic wallet search and quizzing them: “Did you pack your toothbrush? Do you have your medicine? Do you have your flight information?”

I fetched Dad a bottled water, made sure they had enough granola bars and asked if they wanted to borrow my travel pillow. Then I helped carry their bags out to the station wagon, hugged them and watched the tail lights of their Subaru head off into the darkness.

Lying in bed afterward, I found it impossible to fall asleep. I prayed their flights would be safe and on time, that they hadn’t forgotten anything important, and that they’d feel well during the cruise.

An hour later, as I still tossed and turned, it struck me: So this is what it feels like to be up in the wee hours — not partying, but worrying.

Turnabout, as they say, is fair play.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Weather Journal

Cold front will have more bark than...

2 days ago

Your news, photos, opinions
Sign up for free daily news by email
LATEST OBITUARIES
MOST READ