Many in the Northeast agree that the foliage this autumn has been spectacular. The vivid colors, frequently set off by a background bright blue sky, have been dazzling. I’ve reveled in nature’s garishness, spending as much time as possible outdoors, but underneath my joy there’s been a consistent competing emotion - a sense of foreboding. … Continue reading (When life feels like) A Dystopian novel
Category: stress
Confrontations at 7:00 a.m.
On this first cool morning of September, things got a little heated in my neighborhood while Jeter and I were out for our first walk of the day. We were just rounding the corner to return to our block when I observed two things. First, the good news: the mound of discarded, broken furniture which … Continue reading Confrontations at 7:00 a.m.
The white kitten
I’d heard it mewling, maybe since the first day I arrived. I assumed the kitten was being unattended periodically as its mother perhaps searched for food in this country where stray cats and dogs often fend for themselves. By the third day however, the sound the kitten was making took on proportions, for me, on … Continue reading The white kitten
Questions, comments or concerns
You’ve been to a professional or team or school meeting at least once in your life, I imagine. At one such meeting, you’ve probably been presented with an opportunity to share any “questions, comments or concerns” about the materials covered or the topics shared. If you’re anything like me, you might have saved your questions, … Continue reading Questions, comments or concerns
Mother’s Day reflections
The photo of my mother and me below was given to me a few years ago by my brother. I was probably about 2 years-old in the picture, perched on her lap in a cute dress and a halo of hair in the same shade of red as the one she had transformed her previously … Continue reading Mother’s Day reflections
What did I do wrong?
How do you interpret someone’s lack of response to your overture? I’m not talking about romance here, people. No, I’m referring to occasions when you send a text or leave a voicemail for a friend and fail to receive a response within what you perceive to be a normal amount of time. What do … Continue reading What did I do wrong?
At 17
My 17th birthday party remains in my memory as one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had. I invited a handful of girlfriends to my house to celebrate with me and we feasted on a shrimp and rice gumbo dish that my mother had made for us to enjoy after she departed for the … Continue reading At 17





