Friendship | Dina L. Relles

say it in life

Dina L. Relles

03/19/2015

I wonder if Lisa Adams knew that Dani Shapiro viewed her Twitter timeline as a brave and unconventional work of memoir. Perhaps she did. And I hope so. But the thought rattled around in my mind during this morning’s shower. In 7th grade, they called me fake. And I was. I know now (and probably did then) that …

This Is the Village It Takes

Dina L. Relles

6 comments

08/31/2014

I’m standing on a stretch of grass outside the camp’s dining hall during the weekly Wednesday evening cookout. My watermelon-stained hands struggle to free a wipe from its package. My oldest nags at my feet for a third cookie. And dammit, where is my middle son? Just then, my stroller tips over. You help me …

This Is Camp.

Dina L. Relles

25 comments

08/19/2014

Life is but a collection of moments strung together, one right after another, to make up you… * * * Early morning, I throw on a hoodie and slip out in the first light to send a quick e-mail. The crisp air hits my cheeks; my feet flatten the dew-soaked ground. Distant sounds of crickets …

Day Care: Love and a Farewell

Dina L. Relles

18 comments

06/09/2014

“Stop at the corner!” I call ahead to my two older boys as they bike the half-mile between our home and “school.” I’m pushing the baby in an umbrella stroller weighed down by at least five bags of blankets, lunch boxes, changes of clothes, sippy cups, and who-knows-what-else like a veritable pack mule. Each of …

Welcome (Back) to Commonplace

Dina L. Relles

3 comments

05/27/2014

Last week, I wrote a post reflecting on these first months of writing. I loved writing it, sharing it, and reading people’s reactions. As circular as it may seem, writing (and reading!) about writing is one of my favorite things. {A brief digression, because my setting as I write this seems worth mentioning: I’m sitting …