I recently had my biggest thrill as an author so far: my paperback of Hope in a Time of Dying arrived in the mail, and I got to hold this long-term dream in my hands. Being the notorious crier that I am, I shed a few very happy tears. Also, I was surprised by a…
For My Late Mom, Whose Birthday is Tomorrow
The year is 1972, the month is February, and this is three days before my father would die from lung cancer. This was our last family photo, commemorating the last time I saw my dad alive since I left later that day to return to Austin, where I was a freshman at the University of…
Outgrowing the Old
I am sitting in my office alone. The parent who was supposed to call at 5 requested a last-minute change to 5:45. I have no computer with me, just my phone, several pieces of blank white paper, and a pencil. I rarely find myself with forty-five unscheduled minutes, particularly on Wednesdays and Thursdays when our…
Albert Einstein: “A Friendly or Hostile Universe”
I wrote this piece a few years ago, but I believe it is still relevant today. We are assailed daily with the invitation to see the universe we live in as hostile. While many terrible things are happening right now that I don’t support or believe are right, I still think most people are decent,…
Congratulations to McKenzie Royo: 4/4 Acceptances and Scholarships to Top Art Schools
I am so pleased and proud to announce that my writing student, McKenzie Royo, has received acceptances and scholarships to four top art schools in the United States: Pratt, Parsons, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Otis. He has chosen to attend Pratt in Brooklyn because he “loved the campus and their…
My Friend Nick and His ALS Journey
Last November, my beloved friend, John Nicolaisen, aka Nick, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Since then, he has lost strength and breathing ability. Nick was my college boyfriend and travel mate for a year in Italy in the mid-70s. We both taught English at the British School in Milan….
Happy Birthday, Rachael: Here’s Your Birth Story (Our Family Tradition)
I post my daughters’ birth stories pretty much every year on their birthdays, so if you’ve read this one, feel free to skip it. However, for me, it is a special ritual to commemorate the events that occurred on the day all three of my girls arrived on this earth. It makes me happy to…
Happy Birthday, Ron!
Today is our son-in-law Ron’s birthday. He is the husband of our daughter, Liz, and the father of our grandson, Ethan. Ron is a successful lawyer, an excellent cook, a talented sourdough bread maker, a fantastic gardener, a fine son, and an honest, decent, and kind person. We are exceedingly lucky to have him in…
Shifting Worrying to Thoughts of Things I Love
Lately, I’ve discovered that I need some new coping skills. Between the constant news about yet another distressing national or international concern and juggling a few too many plates in the air, I have found myself worrying much more than usual. I also feel a bit overwhelmed at the many details that seem to demand…
Congratulations to Diya!
My writing student Diya had a hard choice regarding colleges since she was accepted at the University of Arizona, Arizona State, Pepperdine, Syracuse, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Merced, San Diego State University, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State LA, and waitlisted at USC, Loyola Marymount, and U Miami. She wrote me late last week…
20 Minutes a Day 