Fashionably Late to the Covid Party
Dear Diary, Plans were set in motion months ago, long before I lost my job. A cross-country summer driving trip to see all my kids—from Florida to Lexington to Boulder to Portland to Olympia and back home to Florida via Indiana. I mapped and timed everything meticulously, booked all the Airbnbs, and counted down the […]
Gratitude
Dear Diary, I’ve been thinking about my big sister a lot lately. About her waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. About how she couldn’t find her way back to her bed because there was a tumor compromising her brain. About how that fucking tumor would take her away […]
The Promises We Make
It’s the official week to be thankful (although, really, we should be living in gratitude all the time, yes?), and I’ve been thinking a lot about the past few years. I’ve gone through many changes, personal, professional, emotional, familial. And in general, life is getting a little easier day by day as I learn to […]
In the Quiet Spaces
some people when they hear your story. contract. others upon hearing your story, expand. and this is how you know ~ Nayyirah Waheed It’s been over seven months since I came out. Long enough to cry a few tears. Long enough to laugh with inhibition. Long enough to learn a lesson or two. Long enough […]
Change Someone’s Story
It’s been an emotional summer. As you’ve all read — ad nauseam — sending Sam off to college and into his new life has kept me a bit off balance. And on August 14, I chose — finally, and after many restless, heart-wrenching days and nights — to publicly write about pieces of my life […]
Action Reaction
Sam wrecked our Tahoe Friday night. He had six of his friends in the car, and they were coming home from a high school football game in a neighboring town. Thirty-one days ago, he totaled his own car. Both accidents were his fault. Receiving that late night phone call is heart-stopping. The first questions, of […]
Turn, Turn, Turn
Yesterday was the release of My Other Ex: Women’s True Stories of Leaving and Losing Friends. It’s a beautiful collection, penned by many gifted writers. What an honor it is to share these pages with them. I’ve been so privileged to be included in two inspiring 2014 anthologies. My cup runneth over. Of course, as […]
Cross-Country Friendship Lessons for My Daughter
Living in three different states over the course of four years is a revelation in many ways. The experience shines a light on the people in our lives, on those who choose to stay… and on those who don’t. Proximity makes most relationships much easier. There are no miles to traverse, no time zones to […]
Sticky Words
I’d begun a fledgling friendship here in our new town. Coffee dates, common interests, laughter, possibility. We were planning a family cook-out together, a pool party. And a short while back, my 15-year-old came home and said my new friend, while driving him home, had called his 17-year-old brother an asshole and a douche. “It […]
There Is a Season
Nineteen years. That’s how long it’s been since this picture was taken. Our October day was take-my-breath-away stunning in every way imaginable. My brand new husband, my family, my friends. Lots of booze and dancing. Wedding cake. Billy Joel. Forever vows. I was looking through old pictures today, reminiscing, laughing. We were such babies when […]