Holidays make lot of us giddy. The lights, decorations and excited kids drunk on all the magic. I love this time of year. My daughter is grown but I still run to my front porch and wave to Santa when he comes riding into our neighborhood, sirens flaring (now in a pickup truck vs fire […]
Broken crosses: Two local religious leaders who broke my heart
The reverend asked us to call him Bryan, but some people called him “Rev.” He was a regular visiting minister at my lay led Unitarian Universalist church. Wildly popular, burly Santa-type, warm and calming. When Bryan spoke, I made a point of getting my lazy-butt to church. Clergy always made me a little uncomfortable. […]
10 things to tell yourself when you’re going through a hard time.
From Tiny Buddha (I love this site). Every point hit home for me. But oddly enough, number two stood out because at first glance, it sounded kind of selfish. You have the right to feel how you feel even if other people have it worse. Your pain is valid regardless of what anyone else is […]
My interview on Mother Plus Podcast
Ambivalence and motherhood. Why it’s natural to love your kid, but hate some things about motherhood. It’s fine. Really.
I love, I hate. Peace after accepting ambivalence.
All mothers know this. That the love we have for our child is so intense and all-consuming that it’s spectacular and terrifying in its power. Yet it’s rare we admit that what motherhood gives us, so too can she take away… Depression… A few weeks after my daughter was born I was hit with severe postpartum […]
Condolences that hurt
I just listened to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast where he interviewed Nicole Byer (both are comedians, actors, podcasters). Marc asked Nicole when her parents passed away. Both were in their mid-50’s. Like anyone who loses parents too young, Nicole had a hard time. And like most well-intended people who console the bereaved, the condolences came pouring […]
What my sociopath boss taught me at 22
When I was 22, a year after working my first after-college job as a market research analyst, I moved to live with my serious boyfriend. For six months I scanned the paper looking for jobs in marketing or marketing research. Eventually I found a listing for a “marketing assistant” to sell seasonal plants out of […]
Orlando Sentinel guest column: Vaccine-passport debate shows middle-ground thinking is dead.
Orginally published by the Orlando Sentinel – Guest columnist My daughter recently attended a Harry Styles concert at the Amway Center in Orlando. As required by the venue she showed her vaccine passport (or a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours prior). Now, the Amway Center and other establishments in Florida, are under investigation for violating […]
“Bed alarm” – a poem in my father’s voice
My father straddled self-awareness, grasping for the last of his free will, yet obedient.
Are you sacrificing the peace within you to keep the peace around you?
Being kind with difficult people, while setting boundaries.