Call for Submissions

Z and I have had some serious ... adventures are what I like to call them. The most recent was a flat tire. I noticed it was going flat and went to the shop to see if I could get a $15 repair. Nope. The tire was on its last legs and the man even wanted me to sign a paper saying he warned me and I drove out with a practically dead tire.

I didn't sign nothin'. I drove the two blocks home and prayed for a miracle because I had volunteer work to do at the food bank in a couple days. Nothing happened and I didn't wanna break my promise, so I prayed and acted. I had money for Fix-a-Flat, which I love, bt dubbs, so I got some, put it in and then went to the gas station to add air. Then Z and I prayed the whole way to volunteer and back. We made it.

The next day we were headed out again and I just assumed the tire was ok. It was not. It was totally flat and loud as we drove so I back up and returned home. Again I had another volunteer commitment coming up so I went and bought more Fix-a-Flat to repeat my process. Ha! The stuff was leaking out because tired had a big gash in it. 

I prayed in the bathroom in desperation, came out and my PayPal notice dinged saying someone had sowed a seed. I could get a new tire now.

I had another great idea. Instead of calling a tow truck I'd take the tire off and go buy another and then just put the new one on. Well, I couldn't get the tire off which is why my gloves above got jacked up. so because I was desperate I jumped in the car and drove it the two blocks around the corner to the tire shop 50 minutes before closing time on a Saturday night. Yes, I drove on the rim with it burning up, smoking and smelling like a serious fire and with my hazard lights flashing. Good grief.

You know I was praying the whole time and called in angels to keep the rim in tack. And when I got there the shop guy was laughing. I wasn't laughing, I said two curse words. Out loud. Car stuff is not the business for me. Sexist or not, in my mind that's man's work. It stresses me out and I don't like to deal with it. And being a single mom adds another layer of anxiety to the situation for me.

Anyhoo, I was telling Z that I've been collecting all of the "adventures" we've had together as a single-parent family to do something with someday. That someday is now and I'm inviting other single parents who have stories - good, bad, ugly and inspirational - to share, also.

I'm accepting written submissions to be included in an anthology about single parenting from 12.2.2015 to 12.23.2015.

TO APPLY: In a Word document write and edit your story of 500-1000 words, include a photo, bio and contact information and send in an email by 11:59 p.m. PST. If your story is accepted you'll be contacted for payment and release information.