We were strangers in a strange land in a strange season of our life. Betweensville was our current address. Have you been there, too, where you’re not quite here, not quite there? Waiting themed our discombobulation from a job suddenly ended through no fault of our own.
Read MoreI am sitting on the dock next to the lake. It is a place of solace during my darkest moments. My best friend since childhood sits quietly nearby. I can’t do this alone. It’s only been three months since my dad’s death. It’s his birthday—the first one without him here.
Read MoreThis summer, my boyfriend and I joined two other couples for a river cruise down the Danube. I was thrilled to visit parts of Germany, Austria and Hungary, places I’d never been before—places I never dreamed of when young. I was in awe of the lush green landscape, old castles, colorful small towns, and bustling cities. The most significant moment though, happened in our touring clothes: he in his awful gym sweat shorts and hiking boots, and me in tennis shoes and nothing special.
The moment I’ll always remember didn’t happen during our whirlwind tours through Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Krems, Vienna, and Budapest...
Read MoreMy daughter and I had a great summer. Don’t get me wrong, we have a good relationship and are quite close as I have raised her mainly by myself these past twenty odd years. But there are always stumbling blocks in any relationship, and none can be more tangled than parent and child. Why? Because...
Read MoreIn Costco, I spotted a dad on bended knee. He held up two beautiful costume options: “Do you want to be a mermaid or Wonder Woman?”
His daughter, probably 4 years old, stared at her options. Meanwhile, the son’s Captain America gear was already in the cart.
“I’ll be both,” said the daughter.
Read MoreI pulled up to the first window and proudly handed over my coupon—the catalyst to my entire visit—and paid. In the back of my brain, I felt like I was missing something, but I whizzed forward anyway. I flew right past that second window...
Read MoreI’m in the water, swimming laps at the pool. Puffing away. I feel pretty good about myself. Pull. Pull. Pull. Breathe. Repeat and flip turn. In the zone, I don’t worry about much else. It’s rhythmic. My swimming sanctuary. Back and forth.
Read MoreShopping with my Aunt, I stepped into the dressing room. The wall had “yes”, “no” and “maybe” written in black script. It didn’t even take me a moment to realize the power. I instantly saw the small significance; there was no hook to hang “maybe.”
Read More