Joyce O’Day
Bio
After retiring from teaching world history for over 20 years, I am living every day on holiday: enjoying life with my family, traveling, gardening, engaging with my community in Las Vegas, and reflecting on the current state of the world.
Stories (15/0)
Gaming the System
Disheveled people disembarked busses coming from Albuquerque to Phoenix – 72 in this convoy alone. It was happening around the country – in mass – bringing shills from decided districts to swing states. Each busload arrived at a different precinct to cast ballots. Every homeless voter received $50 for their round-trip excursion.
By Joyce O’Day14 days ago in Fiction
Finding My Family
As my daughter lay in the recovery room, I decided to check my ancestry.com account to see if any new relatives had shown up. My daughter had sinus surgery, and from my own experience, I knew things would be messy – really messy – over the next few days. As the anesthesia wore off, she was in and out of consciousness.
By Joyce O’Dayabout a month ago in Families
Destination: Las Vegas
“Give your seatbelt a tug and your companion a hug, cuz this Boeing is a goin’, and we are Vegas bound this time around,” announced the handsome male flight attendant to a cabin full of people ready to party and a few exhausted passengers heading home to the high desert.
By Joyce O’Day2 months ago in Fiction
Château Mémoire
The mirror showed a reflection that wasn’t my own. I suddenly became so dizzy that I fell to the ground. After a minute or two, I pulled myself up and looked back at the mirror. I smoothed my coiffed bun; the course gray hairs are impossible to keep in place. Without Louisa, my lady’s maid, getting dressed and doing my hair has become a major ordeal. Drawing in my breath, I adjusted my corset, lifting and arranging my breasts in place. Finally, I fluffed my three petticoats into proper form.
By Joyce O’Day2 months ago in Fiction
Swim Lessons with Honu
Cody climbed onto his surfboard, paddled out past the break, and kept going. He watched the sun set over the water, and kept moving. Darkness settled in, but Cody kept paddling. When the stars came out to greet him, Cody sat up on his board. The ache in his right leg practically took his breath away. The pain meds he took earlier had worn off, along with the Jack Daniel’s. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t last long anyway.
By Joyce O’Day3 months ago in Fiction
My Father-In-Law Passed As White
Growing up, my husband Daniel never questioned his “white” identity, even though the truth was clear to see. Daniel’s father James was as dark as Barack Obama, but since he worked outdoors as a carpenter, my husband attributed his dad’s skin color to having a tan. James kept his tell-tale hair cropped short and often wore his cowboy hat. James never discussed his depression-era childhood, aside from saying he was an orphan, and my husband never pushed him for additional information.
By Joyce O’Day3 months ago in Confessions
Later-Born Baby Boomers Have a New Name: Generation Jones
Classic Boomers born between 1946 and 1954 have always dominated the Baby Boomers — a generation defined more by their sheer numbers than by true generational characteristics — while Late Boomers were ignored as a Lost Generation.
By Joyce O’Day3 months ago in FYI
