Author Archives: minndixiemom

Unknown's avatar

About minndixiemom

I'm a Minnesota native with an Alabama heart, reflecting on the past while looking toward the future. My husband, David, and I landed in Huntsville in the late 90s through my former career in TV news. We have two amazing girls, Serina and Sophia, whom we are raising (or have raised... they're growing up!) with God's guidance and grace. Besides faith and family, my passions include writing, walking, mental health, and recovery. By day, I'm the Director of Development for North Alabama's largest community mental healthcare provider. Opinions are my own.

ADHD Sucks (But it Doesn’t Have To!)

Posted on August 19, 2026 by minndixiemom

Here’s the truth about ADHD: It sucks.  I’m not talking about the kind that everyone says they have, laughing “Squirrel!” or texting “So ADD…lol.” Sure, real ADHD can be funny, but it can also be serious, frustrating, and in some … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Second Trip Down the Aisle

Posted on June 21, 2026 by minndixiemom

Today marks my 23rd Father’s Day without my dad. It gets easier, but it still stings. He died October 9, 2002 after suffering from a triple-A. The brutal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. He was in a coma for more than a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

From Atari to Instagram: Digital Addiction through the Ages

Posted on February 17, 2026 by minndixiemom

When I ventured off to college, I didn’t just begin a new chapter in my education, I plunged into what would become a 15-year cycle of insanity. But my addictive tendencies surfaced long before I took my first drink. Cookies, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Hear her Voice

Posted on September 11, 2025 by minndixiemom

I can still hear it—a voice as lovely and lively as she was. “Hi, Karen,” she’d say, when I answered one of her daily phone calls. She was always happy to hear my voice. Today, I would do anything to … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Family | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My Interview with Garrison Keillor: Lessons Learned

Posted on February 10, 2025 by minndixiemom

When I met Garrison Keillor in 1995, I was young, immature, and easily offended. I couldn’t believe he made me wait over an hour for an interview. Keillor, a legendary storyteller, was busy tending to his fans, you know, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Last Drunken New Year: Cheers to Sobriety

Posted on January 1, 2025 by minndixiemom

On December 31, 2001, I was still struggling with alcohol misuse. I’d been concerned about my drinking for a while, and had even explored treatment at a local facility. I wasn’t ready, though, and convinced myself, and my husband, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reflections in Recovery: Thoughts on Matthew Perry’s Autobiography, his Death, and the Drug Ketamine

Posted on January 2, 2024 by minndixiemom

Matthew Perry’s memoir hit me hard. The stretches of sobriety, heartbreaking relapses, and deeply-rooted resentments. Sure, there were moments of levity, laughter, and hope, fueled by Perry’s sheer determination to keep fighting, but there was an eerie sense of foreshadowing … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Mental health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My 3-Pound Universe: The Realities of ADHD Relapse

Posted on November 10, 2023 by minndixiemom

When I feel bad mentally, I can usually trace it back to my ADHD. It’s a condition we often joke about, flippantly saying things like, “I’m so ADHD today,” or “Squirrel!” Of all mental illnesses, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is among the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biotechnology, Health, Mental health | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Letter to my Mom

Posted on August 28, 2023 by minndixiemom

Dear Mom, We lost you three years ago, today. It’s an anniversary I recognize, but don’t celebrate. When you took your last breath, I lost a few of mine. You hadn’t been feeling well. I knew that day was coming. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, loss, grief, Mental health, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

“I Win!” Words of Wisdom from my Grissom Grad

Posted on June 19, 2023 by minndixiemom

She smiled big as she sashayed across the stage, stopping for that long-awaited photo opp, one hand shaking the principal’s, the other gripping her high school diploma. It had been a long journey, but she was finally here, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Mental health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment