When we first moved to Beverly Hills in 1994, we enrolled all three of our daughters at Hawthorne Elementary (K-8), where Dick Douglas was the principal. We walked in that first day and were greeted by Mr. Douglas, who had a wide-open smile and bright blue eyes. He made sure that each of our daughters…
A Poem: Let Your Heart Be Broken
Let Your Heart Be Broken Walk into life Full-hearted Open Willing Don’t hold back Out of fear Insecurity Ego Be brazen In love Passion Engagement Know your heart Will be broken But don’t be afraid Brokenness produces New opportunities for Love Passion Joy We are all shards Of the same broken vessel With the potential…
My Mother’s Positive Reaction to My Risktaking
When I was 19, I decided I needed to travel to Europe alone. I look at that now and marvel at how brave I was. Off I went with my backpack and my Eurail pass from Italy to Switzerland then onto Germany, France and then to England. I was shaky through the first part of…
Coming to California and Remaining Here
I am sitting here in my living room. It is dark outside and there is a chill coming from the open back door, which leads to our back patio. A helicopter just passed overhead, the drone of its engine slowly fading into the distance. Cordelia, the corgi, is walking around the living room looking for…
Quirks of Some of the People I Love
When my husband is bored or ready to leave or fed up with what someone is saying, he whistles. It is the same tune every time – a series of notes that go up and then go down – and he is not particularly aware that he is sending off this signal. When I comment…
Robert McClucky Waugh, My Scottish Grandfather
I never met my grandfather, but my mother’s description of him has brought him to life for me. He was a small man, not quite 5’8”, and very slim. He wore round spectacles and had bright eyes that shone when he saw his only daughter, Helen Marie. He called my mother his “little gurl,” since…
A Delicious Recipe for Honey Cake w/ Carmelized Pears
Looking for a cake for a special occasion? This will serve you well. Honey Cake with Carmelized Pears from Delish.com INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS Carmelized Pears INGREDIENTS Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sugar; cook, stirring, until almost dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pears; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and just golden,…
An Unexpected Encounter with Grace
Albert Einstein said, “The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.” I have spent my life convinced that we inhabit the “friendly” universe that Albert Einstein refers to; that we live in a world full of people who, like me, do their best most days…
The Zigzags of Life
Prompt: How is Your Life Different Than What You Envisioned at Sixteen? When I was sixteen, I knew that in my future I wanted a loving husband and several children. I also wanted a career since I knew from watching my mother get her Ph.D. as I was growing up that having intellectual stimulation and…
Rachael’s Belated Birthday Party in Photos
Rachael with her two nieces and two nephews plus Luna, the husky. Sarah, Lyla, Ron, Rachael, and Ray Andrew’s mom, Martha, cooking for us. Andrew’s brothers, David and Michael, with Andrew and his mom in the background Baby Ethan with David along with Andrew and Martha in the background. Ray, Ron, Gregorio, and Rachael David’s…
20 Minutes a Day 