The day my middle son turned 21

It doesn’t even seem possible that the boys’ dad and I have successfully reared two 21+ year-old offspring. I think I’ll pause here for a moment of quiet celebration. Feel free to join me. Okay - so, twenty-one can be a real defining moment of adulthood. A milestone of sorts. With this particular kid of … Continue reading The day my middle son turned 21

Painterly thoughts

It’s been just about exactly twenty-one years since I last painted the upstairs bathroom. I’m not always so clear with years and dates, but this one is easy to remember because I was pregnant with my second son. My water broke as I raced to get the newly renovated third floor of our house prepared … Continue reading Painterly thoughts

Thoughts from the end of the world

These are bonafide whacky times. This free fall of the once great America is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I hear comparisons to the AIDS epidemic and the immediate post-9/11 days and understand and appreciate the obvious similarities. This, though? This is different. There’s a children’s book that I despise, The Giving Tree. … Continue reading Thoughts from the end of the world

Life is messy

From the minute we’re born, we seem to be placing ourselves in, and extracting and ourselves from, one mess after another. It just seems unavoidable. Despite best intentions to keep things tidy and unsullied, maintaining an existence which is uncomplicated and neat feels impossible. At least to me. Sometimes, especially when my three sons were … Continue reading Life is messy

Recuperation under the watchful eyes of a Labrador nurse

Being a patient is not really my thing. I’m not sure if that comes from growing up without the presence of an overly indulgent parent or simply being uncomfortable with too much personal attention, but either way, I prefer to be alone when I’m not feeling 100%. Meniscus surgery recovery has been remarkably undramatic. The … Continue reading Recuperation under the watchful eyes of a Labrador nurse