Especially on family vacations — I am writing this while I am on a family vacation — yes, one of the best oxymorons I know. If we are lucky (and I am), we love our family. We also know that just a little bit of humor can go a long way in keeping us happy…

A way to manage complexity and pain — Six years ago, I used the image above of a mother bird and her fledgling for a collection of pieces that were part of a series I was creating. I asked contributors to share one lesson — only one — they learned from their mother that had made all the…

Lessons of life and love and loss — Fourteen years ago I succumbed to family pressure and added a dog to our family. I wasn’t sure why because as I repeatedly said, “I can’t even consistently get dinner on the table.” But they wore me down, and so I reluctantly said “ok” and counted on my husband to…

Essentially all stories begin and end here — Every day, I pass this bench when I walk my dog. The words of Mary Oliver have captivated me. If a bench could speak, what would it say? What are some of the stories it could share about the people who sat here? This is what I imagine. A grandmother…

So much better than “or” — Let’s practice making some smart choices: Do I eat a chocolate muffin or blueberries (rich in antioxidants)? Do I exercise or write today? Do I feel anger or relief that good friends can’t come for dinner? …

Changin’ times call for changin’ language — In the last few years, new words and expressions have come in very handy for me. Here are just three: Hangry: When I am hungry, I definitely feel anger come upon me. How convenient that I now have a word that combines both. Doomscrolling: I spend too much time perusing…

And still, I persist — I actually never intended to write a novel. My jam is opinion pieces, reflections on our changing culture, and diving into family oddities sprinkled with humor. Examples: Why am I the only one who can find misplaced things? Why do I have a family of interrupters? Sheesh! But then came…

A look back and a look forward — I grew up in a family that ate dinner together every night. I remember seeing my father feel crestfallen when Humbert Humphrey lost to Richard Nixon in 1968. The margin of loss was small (.7% popular vote), and as a family, we had the opportunity to digest why my dad…

What’s an idealess person to do? — We’ve all had those moments when our muse has gone silent. The inkwell is dry. Try as you may, you can’t come up with a topic that sounds interesting and gets your creative juices flowing. Megan Llorente of the publication, Midform recently wrote about this when faced with what she…