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Until the End

On July 6, 2021 / Bereavement and End of Life, Family and Friends / 17 Comments

“I’ll stay until the end,” Lauren said. We knew what “the end” meant, but didn’t know when it would come. Doctors said any minute, but my husband hung on. Vic had gone downhill quickly, so our sons

Witnessing a Catastrophe? Search for Small Miracles

On June 22, 2021 / My Land and Home, Nature / 23 Comments

I prowl through budding milkweed and prickly blackberry plants for an hour looking for Monarch eggs and don’t find one. Monarchs are usually here by now, but I’ve only seen three. Last week, I found nine viable

Nature’s Lessons: Forgive, Protect, & Try Again

On June 8, 2021 / Creativity, Nature / 31 Comments

Every morning, I walk with my dogs before breakfast. Since one of my bird nesting boxes is near the trail head, I often checked in to see how the resident Tree Swallow family was doing. At last

Grief Rituals Keep Our Family Love Alive

On May 25, 2021 / Bereavement and End of Life, Family and Friends / 24 Comments

“I love you, David,” I say when my North Carolina son arrives on Thursday night. Because of the pandemic, I haven’t seen him for 8 months, so I wrap my arms around him and press my cheek

Belly Laugh Blessings: Marion Woodman and the Dalai Lama

On May 11, 2021 / Creativity, Psychology and Mythology / 27 Comments

“I had a dream about you, Marion,” I said. “I typed it up.” I handed Marion Woodman an envelope with the dream inside when we passed each other on the conference center stairs. I’d had this dream

Keeping Secrets

On April 27, 2021 / Bereavement and End of Life / 20 Comments

When our son David and I arrived at the hospital room that morning in 2008, Vic sat upright, his bare legs hanging over the side of the bed. He looked exhausted and uncomfortable, but it was the

Eros and Arrows of Love

On April 13, 2021 / Bereavement and End of Life, Family and Friends / 17 Comments

“I can’t stop,” I said, choking out the words between my tears. “I just can’t…” Erotic attraction had been a big part of our lives since we met the year before at the beginning of my senior

Navigating Depression: A Warning from a Wise Woman

On March 30, 2021 / Psychology and Mythology / 33 Comments

“My Subaru was stuck in mud, sliding downhill backwards into a garbage-filled swamp. I was in the driver’s seat, but when I tried to drive forward, the car slid farther back. As my tires and car sank

When the Heart Is Wiser Than the Head

On March 16, 2021 / Bereavement and End of Life, My Land and Home / 29 Comments

“You’ll figure it out,” Vic said, gently pulling me into a long hug. He wasn’t interested in making decisions about my life after his death. He trusted me and had no interest in planning his funeral or

I Rescued a Puppy and She Rescued Me

On March 2, 2021 / Family and Friends / 29 Comments

Each night around 9 pm, Disco watches my every move. Her eyes say, “Isn’t it time to go upstairs so I can put my head on your belly while you read? Isn’t it time to snuggle?” I’ve