My half brother from New York is visiting this week. He came to spend time with my parents, his father and step-mom, and the rest of our family. He’s 52 now. Moving in to hug him, I remembered the excitement of his arrivals throughout my childhood years, during summers and holidays; my super-cool, break-dancing, bleach Read More
Category: Growth
Weekend Book Review: The Magic of Momentum
The Magic of Momentum: Escape Any Rut. Build Winning Streaks. Use Forward Motion to Change the Trajectory of Your Life. by Stephen Guise My rating: 4 of 5 starsGenre: Self-Help Length: 244 pages The Magic of Momentum is my introduction to Stephen Guise and his self-help books, and it did not disappoint. It focuses on Read More
Fire, Water, Air
Last week, I spent my time taking in brilliant blue coastal views, inhaling woodsy fresh forest air, and climbing volcanic mountains to reach serene alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers. We set out in our faithful, functional RV not headed to Yellowstone as planned (due to flooding) but up the coast of Northern California, into the Read More
Weekend Book Review: The Storyteller
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave GrohlFormat: Hardback Pages: 387 Genre: Memoir My rating: 5 of 5 stars “When your heart, mind, and soul cannot control or refuse the desire to create a sound, or lyric, or rhythm, and you are helpless against the burning impulse to purge these inner demons, you Read More
July’s Word of the Month: Celebrate
So engrossed in the Pause that was June, I let July arrive without a plan, post or purpose. Catching up now, July 4, which is my birthday and oh yeah, the birthday of our nation, I am sharing my word of the month, which is, Celebrate. My relationship with my birthday and the July 4th Read More
Weekend Book Review: The Change
The Change by Kirsten MillerFormat: AudiobookMy rating: 5 of 5 starsGenre: Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery “Why do you think women are designed to outlive men? Why do we keep going for thirty years after our bodies can no longer reproduce? Do you think nature meant for those years to be useless? No, of course Read More
I Could Care Less, but I Don’t
Yesterday, I received an invitation to my good friend’s birthday party: a good thing! The only problem is that it’s going winetasting. My happiness turned to dread as I realized the venue and the agenda. To my friend’s credit, she wrote me a thoughtful text saying she understands if it’s not something I feel comfortable Read More
A Different Kind of Pause
Squirming into clothes in a fitting room at Nordstrom Rack, finally resigned to buy shorts a size bigger than last summer, I look into the mirror and see my sweat-covered face sporting raccoon eyes from the crappy non-waterproof mascara I bought to save a few bucks. A snapshot of my life these days. It’s funny Read More
Weekend Book Review: If This Were Fiction
Continuing my weekend book review series, I’m choosing If This Were Fiction: A Love Story in Essays, by Jill Christman. These beautifully illuminating essays are about motherhood, laying ghosts to rest, embracing grief, and most of all, love. Love for Jill Christman’s long-ago fiancé, who died young in a car accident; for her children; for Read More
What Not to Say
I recently attended a gathering with extended family, many of whom I’d not spoken to in years. A lot of families find themselves lives and miles apart, once the matriarch and patriarch have passed away, and mine is no exception. When we do get together, conversations often feel arbitrary or surface; how do two people Read More