In 2012, about 100 blog posts ago, I set up a little blog called Permission to be Real. It was born out of unexpected inner conflict when my youngest started kindergarten. When I dropped him off for school the first day, I thought I might cry. Lots of my friends had cried. However, I’d dropped ... Read More
An Unconventional Valentine
It was what you might call an unconventional valentine. Early and unexpected. The best kind. It didn’t come with doilies, construction paper, glue or conversation hearts. There were no chocolates or stuffed animals. It was delivered to me over a table full of Mexican food as we crammed ... Read More
Zooming In: On Magnifying Mirrors and Mountains
Kurt and I recently stayed in a pretty swanky hotel. We were swimming in “amenities” we didn’t even know how to use: For the safe keeping of my Walmart jewelry, there was a safe which I couldn’t open. There was also a spa and fitness room which we never found. But there was one “amenity” that was ... Read More
Keeping Track: Books and Sharks
I'm not sure I’ve ever kept a resolution for three consecutive years. Until now. “Keep track of books I read.” It was a change of strategy regarding resolutions which you can read about here, and it worked for me. This year, two books stood out as all-time-favorite material. And you don’t have ... Read More
All I Want for Christmas
It came up again last week at bedtime. A gift from the past: hand print snow man ornament. “Mom, what do you want for Christmas?” I could not think of one reasonable thing to say. A few years ago Zach asked me this same question, and I was ready with a completely practical ... Read More