Cait is of the age where it’s time for me to teach her how to drive. For as exhilarating as she finds her lessons, that’s how nerve-racking I find them. So when we get in the car for another lesson, I take comfort in the way she falls back into our usual “long drives” routine.
She starts with her customary opening line, “So what should we talk about, Mom?”
As Cait has a tendency to drive a little too … Read More
As per usual, I made the trek to Cait’s school to pick her up from after-school activities. She threw her too-heavy backpack on the back seat and slid into the front, pulling the car door closed after her. Before I could even ask how her day went, she launched into conversation.
“Mom,” she said, “You won’t believe the most wonderful thing happened today.”
Not usually the opening line when Cait hops into the car these days, I was curious to … Read More
Memories… Little treasures and traps that we collect over a lifetime. Longtime readers know that I’ve worked hard to help Cait focus on the treasures, as I try to do for myself. That’s because, as a storyteller, I’m keenly aware of the power of the stories we tell ourselves about where we’ve been, who we are, and where we’re going. Hence my desire to carry the treasures forward.
One of my favorite early memories is of going to my … Read More
I was on Craigslist recently, helping a friend who is looking for a dog for her daughter when I saw this post. Having had this exact same experience of picking up a stray dog off the street and trying to find its owner without luck, I can attest to how funny, sad, and true this is. Especially the part about wanting to find the owner if only to be able to kick his sorry a**! I say “his” rather than … Read More
All creative types run into creative blocks at one time or another — that’s a given. But what we do to break through those blocks can vary from person to person. When I’m stuck, I look for people and ideas that inspire me. And, often, I don’t need to look any further than TED. Take a look and listen to this guy, Shea Hembrey. Unbelievable.
… Read More
Okay, so this shoebox of books I keep in my car isn’t technically a Kindle, but for me it serves the same purpose. Aside from the fact that my shoebox only holds around six books vs Kindle’s 1,500, it does provide a serviceable selection of reading material at a moment’s notice.
With all the waiting I do for Cait from after-school sports these days, I’m always sitting around with time to spare. Having a handy book helps pass the time.… Read More
A friend with dogs and kids sent me one of those “Been there, done that” emails. It read:
Life really boils down to two essential questions.
1. Should I get a dog? Or…
2. Should I have children?
I’d have to say on behalf of those of us who have “been there and done that,” having a dog first definitely helps to develop important skills you’ll need later as a parent. At the very least, there’s a good likelihood your … Read More
Yes, time flies — and those of us, ahem, over a certain age know exactly just how fast. Seems every time I turn around another one of my animals has just turned another year older. Just this week Finnegan and Wink have traveled around the sun one more time.
Finnegan is 6 years old now — the longest I’ve had a cat live. He tells me he’s going to live to be 16. I’m choosing to take him at his … Read More
