Lois Cunniff
Bio
I am a self-taught photographer and creative writer based in Boston, MA. There are manny stories yet to be told, join me on the journey.
Stories (9/0)
Anthony's Ice cream
One sunny morning in late June, Anthony dutifully walked behind his dad pulling a small suitcase containing all the art supplies he would need. The suitcase had a wonky, wobbly wheel that kept locking up causing his small body to lurch forward. He would pick the suitcase up, slam it hard on the sidewalk, forcing the wheel into position and begin again. Anthony had no patience or time for the suitcase, his attention was on the fate ahead of him, a long boring summer. As they reached the car, Anthony's dad loaded the larger suitcase into the trunk and turned to see the glum look on his son's face. "Look, it's going to be fun." Gram and Poppa are excited to have you there, and you'll meet tons of new kids your age." Anthony rolled his eyes, he knew his grandparents were anything but fun. "Okay, it's going to be horrible, I'm sorry, but you can't come with me, so in you go." The car door let out a sympathetic creaking sound as his dad opened it, and a loud thud as it closed sealed his fate.
By Lois Cunniff3 days ago in Fiction
Affordable Housing Is Dead
There are two types of people in the world, homeowners and renters. I'm a long-time renter. There was a period of time when I moved every year, mostly because I liked being semi-nomadic, and wanted to experience a different part of the city. I became proficient at packing and organizing. I love the excitement of getting into a new place, settling in, and making it my own. A few years ago, I spent several months being truly nomadic, living in a small camper and traveling across the states. You can read all about that adventure here: https://vocal.media/petlife/my-epic-rv-adventure
By Lois Cunniff13 days ago in The Swamp
My Epic RV Adventure
My dog Buddy and I have a strong bond and have shared many adventures; but none more epic than the six month road trip we took in 2015. We started in Maine, ultimately traveling as far as British Columbia in a 2006 Ford F-350 and a truck camper (pictured above). It was a bittersweet journey, because the money I received from my mother's estate funded the trip. Her sudden passing had prompted me to reevaluate everything in my life. I had always dreamt of taking a trip like this, but it came with some apprehension. I had never driven a truck before, and there would be a 1200 pound camper on the back. Not to mention, I had no experience with RV living. There were more practical decisions I could have made at the time, but I knew this opportunity might not come my way again. I moved forward with my plans. I gave away most of my belongings and put the rest in storage. I moved into the camper with Buddy and my cat Phoenix, who identified as a dog. After spending a few days getting used to the camper and organizing, we left for our trip the last weekend in October. I'm not going to chronicle every stop we made, because not every stop was interesting; some places were kind of creepy. I'll highlight the spots that made the biggest impression on me. As a side note, I recently lost my external hard drive, and most of my photos from the road, but there are a few gems which I will include with this story.
By Lois Cunniff5 months ago in Petlife
Lost Connection
My heart sank as I stared at the message on my phone. Error Invalid number, please re-send using a valid ten digit number. I had recently bought a new phone, so I checked to verify the number was correct. Of course it was, I knew that number by heart. It was my mother's number. It was the same number I had texted thousands of times in the years since she passed away. It was a silly thing I did, that somehow made me feel connected to her. I fully expected to someday learn that her number had been reassigned, and receive a "who's this?" in response to my text, but I never expected the number to come up as invalid. Texting my mom was a thread that I clung to in bad times. It gave me comfort to text her. Without fail, a few days later a solution would come to mind. Many times, I texted just to say I loved her and missed her. Today was her birthday and I always texted her on her birthday and holidays. We were very close, and we both believed it would be possible to connect after she passed. One of the last things she said to me was "Watch for the signs, my dear, I'll send them whenever I'm near." Her nickname was Birdy, so whenever I felt her presence and spotted a bird, I knew she was around.
By Lois Cunniff6 months ago in Humans
A Photographic Journey
This sweet soul is Buddy, a redbone coonhound. I don't know anything about his background other than he was found as a stray in rural Kentucky. In that part of the country, coonhounds are sometimes viewed not so much as a pet, but rather a tool used for hunting. If they are a bad hunter, they let them go. If they get lost on the hunt they don't look for them. The redbone is a rare breed, so finding one at shelter was amazing. My theory with Buddy is he was a bad hunter. He is the only dog I have ever known that won't react to seeing a squirrel or any other scurrying creature. He once walked right by a skunk. He didn't care about the skunk, so the skunk didn't spray. This was a doggie miracle. I don't know if Buddy is lacking the hunting gene, or if he is simply too sweet to want to hunt. I tend to lean towards him being too sweet. Buddy can't stand to see anyone hurt. If he sees one on his friends at the dog park being bullied, he will step in and stop it every time.
By Lois Cunniffabout a year ago in Petlife
My Mom
Mom, Things haven't been the same since you've been gone. You were the center of our family, the glue that held it all together. Losing you unexpectedly, isn't something I will ever get over. How do you get over losing your mom and your best friend? You were the strongest person I have ever known. Even in those last moments, as we all surrounded your hospital bed trying to reassure you. You couldn't speak, but you squeezed my hand as if you were trying to comfort me. Perhaps you were simply saying goodbye to me the only way you could.
By Lois Cunniffabout a year ago in Families
I'm Such A Sagittarius
According to my natal chart, I'm a Sagittarius Sun, Aries ascendant, Leo moon, making me a triple fire sign. That is a lot of heat for one chart. Luckily, I have other aspects that quell some of that fire, otherwise I would be a bit much. Every sign has a ruling planet, Jupiter reigns over Sagittarius. This combination is a match made in heaven. Jupiter is all about expansion, with a focus on personal growth, optimism, and new things. The Archer's (Sagittarius) innate yearning for adventure and experience is well-served by Jupiter's influence . The Archer comes from Greek mythology, where Sagittarius is depicted as a centaur. This half human and half man wielding a bow and arrow aimed towards the sky. Creating the unique magic of the Archer, which is both earthbound and otherworldly.
By Lois Cunniffabout a year ago in Futurism
An Insider's Guide To Boston
Boston, there is magic in this city. If you asked each person who calls Boston home what their city means to them, you would probably never hear the same story twice. Some people come to school in Boston and put down roots here. Others are born and raised here. While others come from different countries seeking a better life. Boston is and always has been a melting pot. This is what I love about my city. Boston speaks 140 languages, with approximately 25% of the population being foreign born. Yet, one thing we are most well-known for is our distinct accent. Also, our superior driving skills which has earned us the name "Massholes."
By Lois Cunniffabout a year ago in Wander
Gone Rogue
After working for weeks to loosen a section of fencing in the yard's corner, I wiggled my way through it; I was finally free. I had been in the woods that abutted my house many times, but never by myself; this was going to be awesome! The fall air was crisp and cool, the smell of the woods enveloped my senses, enticing me to go me to venture deeper into the woods. I played a fun game of chase with some squirrels, I even saw a skunk wandering around, but I learned the hard way once that they don't like to play chase. I practiced bayng my best coonhound bay. Baying is an important skill for a coonhound. Mine was getting louder and stronger by the day . The wind had kicked up a bit, blowing some fallen leaves around in the air. Chasing and eating leaves it the best thing ever!
By Lois Cunniffabout a year ago in Petlife
