You know how it smells outside after a rainstorm? There’s a word for that.

Petrichor [pe-trahy-kawr, ker] is the distinct smell of rain in the air. Or, to be more precise, it’s the name of an oil that’s released from the earth into the air before rain begins to fall. Specifically, Webster’s Dictionary defines it as:

1. a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground.

Who knew?

And why might I be fixated on this scent and therefore with finding this word?

Because the word that I can’t find is for the smell of pet urine that becomes especially strong when the air is damp.

Sorry to set […]

When did it happen that we’ve come to live in a time where it has somehow become socially acceptable to publically behave badly by expressing anger and frustration, and a willingness to harm others. Whether by yelling, name-calling, flipping someone the bird, or worse threatening someone’s integrity or safety.

And, conversely, showing signs of sensitivity and vulnerability are frowned on as being weak.

Not an upside down cake I have any interest in taking a slice from.

What if we remembered to start doing and saying even tiny, decent things instead?  What if we extended the great power of kindness and compassion, and remember that we’re all on the same team–Planet Earth Team Humanity.  Now there’s a […]