My maternal grandmother was born in Minnesota near where Laura Ingalls Wilder began her story in Little House in the Big Woods. Mimi, as we called her, grew up in Des Moines, Iowa – I’m not sure when she moved there, but I’ve found records of her Minnesota family continuing to make crop payments toContinue reading “Little House Not in the Big Woods”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Closure
There are some things that need to close. Doors on a cold day. Windows on a rainy day. A relationship turned volatile. A box of cereal. A refrigerator door. A can of paint. A toothpaste tube. A bottle of wine. A car door. And there are things that might be closed. A career. A conversation.Continue reading “Closure”
What’s a Mother?
I’ve been emotional the last few days and I hadn’t identified why. That happens a lot these days. Then Blair asked me what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day and friends started asking me how I’m feeling about Mother’s Day. Ahhhh…there it is…there’s the answer to my emotional state. My answer when asked aboutContinue reading “What’s a Mother?”
Niels Was One of Them
How do I hold on to Niels? How do I keep him a part of my life? It feels that little by little he’s slipping away. We gave away so much of his “stuff”. We sold his condo. We closed his accounts. These tasks are all mundane. These are all just normal “adulting” jobs. NormalContinue reading “Niels Was One of Them”
It’s Never Good When You Cry at the Pharmacy
Our medical system and its people are overworked, underpaid, and not user-friendly.* Remember that whole “Heroes work here” anthem from COVID days. I bet they aren’t feeling that love lately. Everything seems to be a struggle…for them and for the system users. If you know us, you know that we are big fans of theContinue reading “It’s Never Good When You Cry at the Pharmacy”
Goddess, Queen, Badass
There are people in your life and then there are people in your life. I’m going to backwards to go forwards and tell you about a special “people” in our life. In 2008, Glen was diagnosed with “base of tongue” (head and neck) cancer. In typical Glen fashion, he used all of his connections andContinue reading “Goddess, Queen, Badass”
Shrimp Tacos and a Key Lime Tart
People ask…How are you doing? I answer…Fine? Okay? Hanging in there? How much do they want to know? Do they really want to know? How much do I want to tell them? Do I really want to tell them? Do they want to know that I just saw a recipe for shrimp tacos that NielsContinue reading “Shrimp Tacos and a Key Lime Tart”
The Circle of Life and Let Your Light Shine
The Circle of Life is real. And it’s impossible to say those three words without singing it and for me…that song ALWAYS brings a tear to my eye. When The Lion King came out in the 90s, Blair was about three and Niels five. We were not big movie-goers, but of course the three ofContinue reading “The Circle of Life and Let Your Light Shine”
A Love Story
Mary and Roberto* I’d like to tell you another story. It’s connected to my last story…but you’ll have to wait until the end… Last week, we got the call…Mom had changed and it was time to get in the car and head for Pasadena. I had the honor and privilege to be with Mom inContinue reading “A Love Story”
Let Me Tell You a Story
Today, our social media threads are full of advice for starting the New Year off on the right foot. We get information about how we can eat cleanly, celebrate a dry January, get organized, start exercising, create a practice of gratitude….the list goes on and on and all of it is great advice although maybeContinue reading “Let Me Tell You a Story”
Can We? Will We? 