Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   I hate waiting in the car. I can’t listen to the radio. I can’t make a peep. I have to be nonexistent. I sit here. My stomach is all in knots. What is happening? Are they okay? What could possibly be taking so long? I never take […]

  Collette Cottingham is a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. She has been a taxi driver, chef, negotiator, mediator, house cleaner, decorator, personal assistant, tutor, landscaper, and toilet plunger queen. She currently enjoys the simple things life has to offer. Collette gets excited over board games, swings, music, dancing, writing, singing, doll furniture, sunshine, […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman     I needed to come back here. I am not really sure why. She calls to me. It doesn’t matter how far away I go, I can still hear her. Momma used to say the river had a song. If you sit still and be in the quiet […]

  Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   She walks all over. You could pass her a hundred times and she wouldn’t see you. She walks with her head down. A sign that she doesn’t know her worth. She loves her walks. She doesn’t have a routine. She shakes it up. Some find her bizarre. […]

  Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   The wind whistled around the storage units; a soda can danced with the wind. He couldn’t see her. She was quiet and motionless against the side of the building. The minutes ticked on, “Three, four, five.” This place looks like it should be next to a worn-out […]

  Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   The wind whipped through the snow sending it into her face. It was the last straw. The tears which had welled up in her eyes, began to flow. Her sobs echoed. She had wanted to contain them for the sake of her children, but fate had other […]

  Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   He came in the cover of darkness. Fighting the rough waters in a row boat; the wind and splashing water would conceal him. He didn’t want anyone to know he was there. He needed the key. Nat woke up to her shutters banging against the window. Despite […]

  Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   The sun glisten through the windows. She rolled over and hugged her pillow. “Ah, day one of my staycation.” It was heaven to be awoken by the sun instead of Steve. Well, technically Steve did wake her up by opening the blinds, but he knows how much […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   I have a headache. I’m not supposed to wake up with a headache. What is all over my sheets? Agh…glitter. I swear this stuff reproduces during the Christmas season. It is all around the Christmas tree, floor, and dining room table, sparkling green, red, white and blue…glitter. This […]

  Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   On a cold December morning an ordinary young woman walked down the sidewalk. In was a normal day in this mid-century town. Her navy coat was buttoned up tight and she tucked her snow white mittens into her pockets. The snow had been falling for days; the […]

  Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   The soft grass crunched under his shoes. He had been here many times before, but it had been years. The river once flowed through the canyon, but was now barren. The only thing that remained was the large hole she left behind. Out of breath he reached […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   I am sticky hot. The wind blows through the yard sending the laundry into a dance. I can’t escape this heat. The wind stings against the cracks in my lips. My jeans are hot plates against my legs. My feet are on fire. I am melting from the […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   The god lounges in the sun. Suddenly he hears children screaming in terror. He snaps to attention and spots children locked hand in hand, forced into a continuous circular motion. Thor leaps across the sidewalk and pounces through the invisible gravity field surrounding the children. Thor’s sacrifice frees […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman   I stole from him. I could make the usual excuses about being poor, but the truth is I am not poor. My parents do very well for themselves. If I told them I wanted it they would have bought it for me. I stayed quiet; I am not […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman The door to upstairs swung open, “Colleen, Bobby is on the phone for you.” Mom slammed the door shut, shaking the upstairs. “I don’t want to talk to him, tell him I am not home.” The door to the upstairs swung open. “Colleen I will not lie for you.” […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman The thunder rumbled across the sky like the thoughts in my head. I haven’t seen my aunt in years. Aunt Marge was a great-aunt; she has lived many lifetimes. The woman had money. She has been a widow seven times. Aunt Marge isn’t a black widow though; all of […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman Alas, beautiful sunshine, green grass with crunchy leaves – complete with a cold breeze; I so enjoy the park. Here I am free to roam and explore as a god should. The god squeezes into the shrubs to spy on the enemy. He spots a bird on a wire. […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman Their eyes met across the room. She was completely memorized; it was love at first sight. She loved every crevice, smooth surface, and texture. She was in awe. Her life felt whole and complete. She thought, “Where have you been all my life?” People cut in between them. She […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman I died in 1814. I continue to occupy my body, but my soul is gone. My soul is buried in the cold ground with the rest of my family, on a plantation in Virginia. My body now lives in New York, even though my life had ended, time continued […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman Oh, the Grandma-human has arrived with food. I must inspect! “Thor is on the counter in the grocery sacks, he is so adorable.” “Thor has a mind of his own.” Let’s see…tuna, salmon…wait this salmon is too big for one feeding. Of course I will split it up; a […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman My dear Sister, It is hot and dry here. My skin cracks from the craving for any moisture. I didn’t know pain until this adventure. The sun is a brutal friend. I long for the warmth of the sun at night and curse it during the day. I hope […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman 10:45 pm: I am exhausted. My energy level is a minus 2. Okay not literally minus 2, but it sure feels like it. Work, work, work, it is never ending. My boss is so demanding. There are no thank yous, no appreciation, just a lot of complaints. No time […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman Awe…that was a nap. And there is my human sitting on the sofa starting at that rectangle box. This god must investigate. The God Thor springs down from his carpet tower. He moves with stealth around the sofa. Thor pokes his head over the sofa. Of course my face […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman It is tradition! Every year the seniors at Roosevelt High pull a “Senior Prank”. Last year’s class removed the benches from jock’s landing. Everyone thought it was funny, except the jocks. My brother’s class had the best prank; they moved all the desks and chairs out into the parking […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman My past self must have thought my future self was a rock star. I can’t believe I booked four flights in one day. What was I thinking? I left no margin for error. All my flights had to be on time with no delays. Well, it all worked out. […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman “Daven, seatbelt?” “Check!” “Knox, seatbelt?” “Check!” “Paxton, seatbelt?” “Check, mom.” “Why do you do that?” “I want to make sure the children are buckled up.” “Jesus, they are always buckled up, just give it a rest.” “Okay, we are good and heading home.” “Let’s get moving. I can’t wait […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman Are you okay? Maybe. What are you doing? Laying on the floor. Good. How is that good? You got out of bed today! So I accomplished something. I guess this means you haven’t showered or brushed your teeth. That requires energy I don’t have. Sorry I made you cry, […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman I’m a mess. I shouldn’t be driving, but I need to be out. Our song came on the radio. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I’m sorry for not loving you right. You were my one chance at love and I blew it. Remember how we use to look up […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman In 1810, a 10 year old girl clung to a cliff side in southwestern England. She scanned the cliff face for any odd shapes and rubbed her hands over the coarse, sandy surface, hoping her hands would find what her eyes might miss. This girl was Mary Anning and […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill It was lunchtime, my favorite part of the school day.  I bit into my Rice Krispie, “Ow!” My front tooth hurt.  I tried another bite, “Ouch.” My friend Drew strolled up, “Hey Will, let’s play tag,” Drew reached out and tapped my shoulder and yelled, “You’re it!” then dashed […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Consciously Woman I cried for you today. It doesn’t matter the day or the weather, I cry for you. I manage to function each and every day, yet inside I cry for you. I look normal to the average person, but inside my tears flow. Time has not slowed my tears, […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill The God awakens and pauses for a good stretch…ah. Now, where is my servant? Oh look, he has opened the garden – how pleasant. I must say, this is a beautiful afternoon for a leisurely stroll. The smell of fresh flowers and green grass is…vroom, pop, pop, bang… Help […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill Ugg, I forgot to go to the market, so that means there’s no food and no coffee! The sun shines in through the window. It is a beautiful day. This means I can enjoy my coffee at the corner cafe. Ah, fresh morning air and sunshine, I enjoy how […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill The thing about living in the desert…anywhere you travel is far from home, especially for high school sports. The bus pulls into the post office in the wee hours of the morning. The lights are turned on so we can see, which only blinds me. I end up squinting […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill Bop, bop, bop…my gum is the only thing bursting with delight on this gloomy morning. The last day of school is always the longest day. It is so annoying, because it is the perfect day. A beautiful 80 degrees, the sun is out, birds are singing and yet here […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill The yellow dust danced through the air. You could see it everywhere, roof tops, the ground, and stuck onto faces. The harvest had been good. The dusting was a sign that everyone would reap the rewards from the golden harvest. Zeed emerged from the bank happy. He had the […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill I came into this world the runt of the litter. I was unwanted. I was dumped on the door step of a shelter. The shelter cleaned me up and made me presentable. A young college man came into the shelter looking for a cat. A friend to fill the […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill I had seen her before, but I didn’t know where. Her voice is what caught my attention. I knew the voice. I turned to glance, but seeing her didn’t answer my question. It will pop into my mind in the middle of the night, when it doesn’t matter anymore. […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill Her hair blows with the wind, a sight that takes my breath away. One simple smile from her and I forget everything. Her laugh makes me laugh. Ever since I met her, my nervous system has been in complete turmoil. She was dating a friend of mine. I knew […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill “I missed a call from Mother, what is wrong today.” “I don’t like your voice on this machine, you sound barley awake. It must be all those late nights.” “No, Mother.” “Your cousin daughter’s christening is on Saturday. I knew you would forget. It is at 10 am sharp, […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill As I look at these old photographs I wonder Who are these people So perfect, so true, so young, so happy Their life so full of dreams A wedding day, babies, laughter, vacations in the sun Did these perfect souls really exist Or are they just pictures hanging in […]

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Boot Hill Walking in the warm sunshine brings me so much joy. I even enjoy the click of my heels on the payment. I love walking downtown. Everywhere I look I see a building my great-grandfather built. This was his town and now it is my town. I am running the […]

I am shopping at the high end stores. All the clothes I try on fit perfectly.  The fabric is amazing, plus the style of the clothes hide my flaws. I look at my face in the mirror, I am glowing. I look so beautiful. I need to buy this mirror. My hair has no static, […]

Time can be a friend, but it can also be an enemy. As time moves forward we have learned much and made mistakes with tragic consequences. Through all this we learned to move forward. There are parts of the past that remain hidden, secrets we will never uncover, or so we thought. My employer found […]

The ground is wet, the wind is harsh…ouch, “Gosh darn it,” I wave my finger in the air, like that does anything. I suck the wound and spit. This takes some of the sting out. That barbwire sure can bite. I reach down into my yellow bucket. It’s my own dang fault. I should’ve had […]

The wind cuts like ice biting into ones flesh. Winter was upon them. She drew strength from the cold. Her gift was a treasure and curse. A power others longed to control.  As she descended the cobble stones steps the click of her feet echoed in rhythm with her heart beat. Her breath was like […]

Hot and dry, sand and rocks, wind and the river, the only thing that bred here was sagebrush and rattle snakes. I am a daughter of the desert. I am a creation of the river waters that cut through the canyon on their way to somewhere greater. I still live here even after all these […]

I died in 1814. I continue to occupy my body, but my soul is gone. My soul is buried in the cold ground with the rest of my family, on a plantation in Virginia. My body now lives in New York, even though my life had ended time continued on as if nothing had happened. […]

“Mon, what is taking so long?” “Rach, the toilet paper is going the wrong direction. I have to fix it.” “Monica, no you don’t.” “Can I figure out how to work the toilet paper mechanism?” “What, no Monica we need to go.” “Rach, I did it” “Can we go now Mon?” “Rach, the people in […]

Her screams were piercing. Her cry echoed through the neighborhood. The screams were in harmony with the objects being plummeting against the wall, windows and floors. Her rage is powerful. One scream sends shivers down my spine. I find myself holding my breath. I walk toward her door. Why do I have to do this? […]

I have a secret. One I have kept since I was six. It started out as any normal day for a six year old. I left in the morning to go exploring around my house. I walked to the great wall that lined our community. I saw two giant rocks resting next to each other. […]

I am not allowed to go to Boot Hill Cemetery located in Virginia City, Montana. There is a darkness that surrounds the cemetery. It isn’t a safe place. The cemetery got its name, because the first residences passed away with their boots on, which in the old west, is not a good thing. My family’s […]

Oh my goodness. It is a potato! I love potatoes. I will eat them mashed, fried, chopped, whole or baked.  Why? Why not! They are delicious. I try not to think of the great potato famine, because I cry. Did you know millions of potatoes perished? They couldn’t be eaten.  No mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, […]

I don’t want to spend my life with my dress tucked into my pantyhose. I have repeated this saying many times in my life. Why you may ask, because I learned from an embarrassing situation. I am a very shy person. I don’t know what to say to people. If I say anything it ends […]

Collette Cottingham is a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. She has been a taxi driver, chef, negotiator, mediator, house cleaner, decorator, personal assistant, tutor, landscaper, and toilet plunger queen. She currently enjoys the simple things life has to offer. Collette gets excited over board games, swings, music, dancing, writing, singing, doll furniture, sunshine, make […]