A favorite time of my life was the early years of my marriage to Ray. We barely knew each other when we tied the knot in 1980—and I mean that quite literally. We’d worked together on a psychiatric unit in Denison, Texas—me, a 24-year-old therapist; Ray, a 19-year-old orderly—when we first became friends. Then I…
Marriage, Anger, and the Art of Growth
I have a long fuse, but once it burns out—watch out. Just ask my husband. I’m calm and forgiving up to a point, and then—bam! I go straight to mad. And not just irritated, but (as we say in Texas) pure-D angry. I’m working on not being such a hothead, but it comes pretty naturally….
Soccer, Our Grandson, Nico, and This Weekend
Lucky us! For the past two days, our 9-year-old grandson, Nico, his sister, Luna, and his dad, Gregorio, have been in Ventura for a soccer tournament. Nico has joined a club team, which means that he has now moved up into “serious” soccer. He had to audition for his position as goalie and this weekend…
Poem: Positano
This is a memory from a long-ago visit to Positano, Italy, on the Amalfi Coast. I was there again in 2019, but didn’t get to spend much time in this lovely cliffside village. When I traveled to Positano at age 22, I was certain it was the most beautiful place in the entire world. It…
Thank You to Those Who Have Bought and/or Have Read My Novel
I read an article the other day that said, “It’s a whole lot easier to get someone to buy your book than for them to actually read it.” I am guilty of this myself with my ever-growing stack of books on my bedside table, so I know that statement is absolutely true. However, slow but…
Flash Fiction: A Life Composed Anew
Janet wasn’t sure why life felt so complicated these days. Maybe it had something to do with the way the wind never seemed to stop blowing, tugging at her short gray hair, and stirring memories of happier times—before Chet died. Chet, her husband of 35 years, who’d woken up one morning saying he didn’t feel…
Poem: The Mud Puddle of Life
We all have flaws, yes? Those pesky parts that demonstrate Our humanness The parts that make us Crimson with shame When we realize what they have revealed to others Our thoughtlessness Our inability to be charitable, kind, considerate, empathetic On a day when we’re overloaded, overwhelmed, Over everything and everybody Who is looking at us…
Combating the Mean Voice in My Head
Dear Mean Voice, I didn’t realize for a long time that you were as active a character in my brain as you are. You were much better then at throwing in a subtle negative comment only occasionally. But now you’ve moved to a new level. You are relentless about tossing in your opinion, which is…
Adding Psychotherapy Back In as One of My Professional Pursuits
As many of you may or may not know, I have been licensed in the State of Texas as a Professional Counselor since Methuselah was an infant. I was an ardent psychotherapist in my twenties, working in several community mental health centers and also on a psychiatric unit. After marrying, I had a small private…
Flash Fiction: Two Different Approaches to Living
The light was soft in the room, and the windows were covered by three lines of bookshelves that allowed the sunlight to come in but also diffused it. A long built-in wooden couch with lime green cushions and splashes of orange and yellow pillows ran right below the bookshelves. Jacob lay sprawled on the couch,…
20 Minutes a Day 