Non-fiction Short Stories
Date Published: July 20, 2025
MindStir Media
Life isn’t always about big, dramatic moments. Sometimes, the most
meaningful experiences are tucked into the folds of our everyday
routines—quiet, funny, touching, and occasionally bittersweet. Enjoying
the Ride and the Short Stories Along the Way is a heartwarming collection of
true short stories drawn from the life of Jennifer Vaughan Lague, an
entrepreneur, mother, and grandmother who believes that life is best lived
with humor, love, and a touch of perspective.
of childhood to the joys and chaos of raising a blended family, each story is
delivered with authenticity, warmth, and a dose of wit. You’ll meet the
characters that color her world—family, friends, neighbors—and
perhaps even see glimpses of your own life in the process.
busy readers or those who prefer bite-sized inspiration, this collection can
be picked up and enjoyed one story at a time. Whether you’re looking for
laughter, a little life wisdom, or a moment of connection, these stories will
remind you to slow down, reflect, and most of all—enjoy the ride.
Highlights
include:
🌹 A mysterious rose in the yard that says more than words ever
could
👩👧 A heartfelt tribute to motherhood and all its messy beauty
🔥
Cozy memories of childhood, tangled hair, and The Muppet Show
🎄 Hilarious
moments of parenting during the holidays
👣 A candid reminder not to let fear
hold you back from fully living
moments that shape us—and a tribute to those we carry in our hearts
forever.
EXCERPT
Last month I did something crazy. I quit my job.
For the past 17 years I’ve worked as the business manager of my husband’s Certified Public Accounting firm, well OUR firm, as he says. He loves his work, but I never got a warm fuzzy about it.
Four days a week, I drove to the office, sat at my desk and did my work. It was never anything more than just a job to me; something that was convenient, because I could be home when the kids were home and I was lucky enough to spend my days with my husband.
Then one afternoon, one of our clients came in and wanted to speak with me about this little Facebook group I administer in my spare time. He sat across the table from me as we discussed the group, my intentions and the events I’d been planning. Then he looked at me and said, “What the hell are you doing here?”
Called me out, just like that.
I looked right back at him and said, “I don’t know.”
He could tell it wasn’t something that was really making me happy.
People should love what they do, right?
Within a week later, I’d cut back my hours and started training others to do my work.
Here it is, the end of the summer and I’m in the process of starting my own business. It’s still very much in the early stages of planning, but it’s going to feed my soul. My new career will give me purpose and a reason to hop out of bed in the morning.
It will be something that I love doing — just not sure what the “it” is quite yet.
Yesterday I had to fill out a form that included “place of employment” and I left it blank. I wanted to write those “thinking dots,” you know the little blinking dots that appear when someone is writing back to you in a text.
Those thinking dots also reminded me I haven’t been unemployed since I was 13 years old.
The first job I ever had was as a personal assistant to a former soap opera star who lived in our town. I spent hours, literally hours, sorting business cards and hanging up her clothes in multiple closets. She had just moved back to town from Thailand. I was in awe of her things. One afternoon I hung up skirts for at least 3 hours — just skirts. She would offer to let me keep older things; too bad, she was a size 2 and I was only 13.
I actually worked three jobs at that age. My other two were as a day camp counselor during the summer weeks and a waitress at a catering facility on the weekends. I met some very interesting people.
Since the day I was old enough to get working papers, I’ve never, ever been unemployed. Just to type that word, unemployed, is a little scary to me, but actually more exciting because of the upcoming possibilities.
Luckily, I have the support of my husband during this time of reinventing myself. He seems to acknowledge and appreciate my special kind of crazy — but maybe he’s really just enjoying the peace and quiet at the office without his wife pestering him.
In the meantime, I’m hoping to cross some items off of my bucket list and learn some new skills.
Hopefully, you’ll come along and enjoy the ride with me.
in Southern New Hampshire. As the owner of New England Tie Dye, she combines
creative expression with a strong sense of community, building a business that
brings color and connection to people’s lives. A loving wife, with a
blended family of five adult children and four grandchildren, Jennifer draws
inspiration from the joyful, chaotic, and unforgettable moments that come with
raising a blended family.
local newspaper column, her stories quickly won hearts for their relatability,
humor, and emotional resonance. With Enjoying the Ride and the Short Stories
Along the Way, she shares a collection of those columns—true stories
that remind us that life’s ordinary moments are often the most
extraordinary.
her near the beach or at the dojo—her favorite places to find peace,
inspiration, and perspective as both a martial artist and a lifelong learner.
