Mother’s Day Gifts

I am looking at the white orchids that my children gave me yesterday for Mother’s Day. I love orchids. I find their simplicity compelling. I remember going into the home of one of my students here in Beverly Hills when I first started working with children (and before I insisted they come to my home)….

Mother’s Day in Pictures

Here is my day in pictures: 7:15 am St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Hollywood 2nd View 2 pm Walt Disney Concert Hall 3 pm Garden of Walt Disney Concert Hall 4:30 Time with my Beautiful Family This photo was taken for Rachael’s birthday in mid-April, but since I forgot to take pictures at our Mother’s…

A Few of My Favorite Things about My Mother

I was thinking about my mother today and the secret things I loved about her. For example, I loved her smell, which was a combination of Oleg Cassini perfume, vo5 hair conditioner, and CoverGirl face powder. Also, I loved her “look.” She always wore slacks, a top, and a jacket no matter if it were…

Cynthia Williams, Rest in Peace

Today is a sad day for all of us at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, Hollywood. Our beloved Cynthia Williams died this morning after being diagnosed several months ago with cancer. While there is relief in knowing that she will no longer suffer any pain, we will miss her ready smile, deep-throated laughter and…

Ted Talk: Play is More Than Just Fun

Tonight I went to a Dodgers game, courtesy of my beloved son-in-law Gregorio. We had great seats and it was an exciting game. I had lots of fun with Sarah, Luna, Gregorio and Ray. No worries, no work, just pure play. Here is a video that explores the benefits of play. I thought it might…

Mother Bodies

I used to have a flat stomach. I remember having one at least. I also remember having breasts that were a normal size, not the jugs I have now, which seem to be the result, at least in part, of seven years of nursing three little girls. Yes, seven. Two, two and three for the…

My Dad at the Livestock Commission Company AKA Sale Barn

Here is one of my favorite pictures of my dad. He is the man holding the microphone and he has on black “Barry Goldwater” glasses. He is above the ring where livestock came in one at a time and were auctioned off to local ranchers as well as to major meat-packing companies, like Hormel or…

The Flight Back to LA

I am on the airplane headed back to CA from Texas. We are on Spirit Airlines, whose tickets are not too much, but neither is the leg room. Still, I’m not complaining. I have been on a weeklong trip and I have not driven the almost 3000 miles round-trip miles. The pilot has just announced…

My Mother’s Birthday and St. Stephen’s Church

Today is my mother’s birthday; she would be turning 97. Alas, we lost her 15 years ago to lung cancer, a full 20 years after she stopped smoking. It seemed only fitting that we were in Sherman today and were able to attend St. Stephen’s Episcopal church here. This was the church where my mother…

A Memory of Mom…

Today I worked with a graduate student in Psychology on a paper on “Differentiation in Family Systems.” Differentiation is basically when children establish their own personhood that is separate from the family unit. I remember a moment when I was 13 when this concept played out in my own life. When I was 13, I…