Yesterday we said goodbye to my sweet boy, Shiloh. It was the right thing to do for him, even though it broke our hearts into pieces. Here is the letter I wrote to him before he had to go. ### Dear Shiloh, As I type…
On Flammable Teapots and the Element of Surprise
“I’ll put the kettle on for your oatmeal. Don’t forget it!” That’s how it all started: the flames. The ashes. The soot. The melted metal. The pervasive stench of burnt plastic. At least that’s what my parents allege. Me? I was blowdrying my hair, getting ready…
A Meditation on Meditation
Audio: “Let’s begin today’s meditation by taking several deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Now close your eyes and focus on your breath. In. And out. In. And out. If you get distracted, gently make note of whether it’s a thought or a…
Gran’s 100th Birthday
“Gran, it’s a selfie.” “It is? Hi, everyone!” *waves* “It’s just a picture, we’re not broadcasting live.” “Oh?” “Just smile, okay?” “Okay! Hi, everybody!” *waves* Today would have been Gran’s 100th birthday. Not that anyone EVER believed her when she told them her age. That conversation…
The Dandelion That Ate New York
It’s Not Easy Being Green
*ring ring ring* “Hi, this is your new lawn care expert! How is everything going? “Well, fine, I guess. We’ve only had one treatment so far.” “That’s great! Well I’m calling to let you know we’ll be doing a grub treatment in the next couple of…
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Musical
Because I live under a rock, it’s only recently that I started paying attention to the buzz about Hamilton. For this reason, it’s unlikely that I’ll get tickets to see it in person until I’m around 102 years old, but it did remind me how much…
Spring Arrives on Little Spider Feet
I am not a fan of winter. I’ve never been a fan of winter. Winter and me? Not friends. Our relationship became far more fraught once I lived in Miami for over a decade: my mid-Atlantic blood thinned to the point where I’d get cold even…
The Great Parking Lot Escape
Once upon a time, you had to pay cash to exit parking garages. That’s it. Cash. No credit cards. No paying ahead and using a little ticket to exit. No tapping a screen with your phone. No app. Just money. And a real person would be…