The most simplistic answer would be that momentous event occurred on September 21st, 1966 in early morning when I made my debut at the (now defunct) Manhattan Infirmary.* Because, although neither of my parents were American citizens, and only one of them is even listed on my birth certificate, by birthright I was declared American, … Continue reading When did America become “the country where I was born?”
Tag: boys
My kidney stone baby
More than a quarter of a century ago, as I labored to deliver my second son (VBAC, pitocin, sans pain medication), his uncle passed a kidney stone. For a short time, distracted by his own pain, Uncle M’s delivery eclipsed my own. The family didn’t learn about the new Lilly until later in the day … Continue reading My kidney stone baby
Out of bandwidth
In the next six weeks, I’ve got a lot moving parts to facilitate. Note that I did not use the word “manage.” This was a very intentional language choice. While I will internalize and stress about all of the balls up in the air, I refuse to pretend I have the ability to exert any … Continue reading Out of bandwidth
Mother’s Day, 2024
Last year I received a gift of a small orchid from a friend. She brought it along to our foursome dinner at my favorite neighborhood restaurant and gave it to me, with a hug, as a greeting. Less than two days later, she was shockingly gone from this earth. A cardiac event took her instantly, … Continue reading Mother’s Day, 2024
Hey, 19
My youngest son recently began his last year as a teenager causing me to deeply exhale. I’ve been parenting teenagers for about 14 years now and frankly, I’m exhausted. There have been a lot of challenges and poor decisions made along the way, on both sides, and while I'm not one to wish time away, … Continue reading Hey, 19
(20)23 and me
2023 was the year when… it became possible for me to be generous to the woman who never gave me enough the effects of climate change became absolutely undeniable i worked to find the balance between gentle acceptance and the feeling of giving in direct honesty became unavoidable i started to understand that my physical … Continue reading (20)23 and me
Thanksgiving (isn’t just a) Day
There was a time in my life when I worked hard to follow and maintain holiday traditions. Some weirdly potent combination of recalled childhood moments, impressions of how other families celebrated and a desire to create lasting memories for my own sons, caused me to hold tightly to what I believed were irrefutable and defining … Continue reading Thanksgiving (isn’t just a) Day






