addendum to my six people I’d like to meet
…and I think you’d like to meet her as well. Her name is Christine Kane, and she’s an inspiring artist who does a phenomenal job of keeping in touch with her fans and friends through her blog and through email. She’s a reminder to me of just how important it is to stay grounded in [...]
Slaughter in the Back Yard
When we moved into our new house last May, Spring had already consumed our small, quarter-acre lot. The azaleas in the front were in full, brilliant bloom–an explosion of pinks and reds and whites that distinguished our home from all others along our quiet street. In the back yard, where our property line kisses the [...]
The Fragrant Evening
Last night, as I made my usual 9:41 p.m. Starbucks run (grande soy chai latte, if you were possibly wondering), I was stung by the sudden fragrance of fresh honeysuckle that has just bloomed in the middle of our yard. For the longest time, we wondered what that bush might be. Well, last night, it [...]
I’m Back (in black)
Greetings, all: First, let me thank all of you for your kind words, your emails, your cards, your everything. I am honored to know all of you, whether it be in person or online. All of you have made this passing much easier to bear, and I am very grateful. With each day that has [...]
Caring for Mom
Ugh. Earlier this year, just after Winter Break, I and a few of my colleagues were looking at the semester ahead of us. February allowed its usual breaks for Presidents’ Day and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. But then we all looked at March: a string of five straight weeks of teaching without a break [...]
Understanding What Others Think
It’s a pretty dangerous thing to rely on the reactions of others to gauge where you are in your life or how you might even feel about yourself. I’ve always been a person-pleaser. I’ve struggled with finding the right words to elicit the right responses at the right times. It has become almost an obsessive [...]
What it means to Let Go (Understanding Friendship, part 2)
Where there are no desires, all things are at peace. . . This passage from the Tao te Ching has stuck with me for nearly 8 years now, but not without good discussion from friends and family members who believe we must have desires to propel us forward in our careers, our lives, our everything. [...]
Understanding Friendship, part 1
Namaste. For those of you who are still checking in every now and then, I appreciate your loyalty more than you will ever know. I have not written in five weeks, and yet, you may still be stopping by. I believe that one or two of you may read this in the coming week. Know [...]
The Road No Longer Traveled (at least as much)
When I was in college as an undergrad, I spent a great deal of time studying William Wordsworth’s romantic works. He wasn’t an author I was assigned to research and analyze. I think it was more of an affinity that I felt for his writing and his passion for love and for life. I focused [...]
Peace in the Flood
An interesting few days, to say the least. DW and I feel as if our house has had the 48-hour virus complete with the runs, for the rains that we have been experiencing since Sunday have hit us above and below virtually nonstop. DW’s been handling the flooding upstairs (we can’t stop the rain from [...]
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