Kim R. Livingston has taught English at Waubonsee Community College for thirty years. She lives in Oswego, IL, with two cats, two dogs, and her husband, a retired chemical engineer. Their three kids—a physical therapist, a doctoral student, and a nurse—have flown the coop, and now Kim has time to write. After earning an MFA from Bay Path University in 2020, she admits that the empty nest has its benefits. Above all, she hopes for a life with her adult children nearby: big family dinners every Sunday no matter what, future grandkids running through the kitchen, loud political arguments, the whole deal.