I just met one of my besties, Cristie, for an impromptu quick cup of tea after morning drop-off. I broke my cardinal rule about going into public dressed in my sweats, and of course I ran into many people I knew, but at least I had curled my hair and put on lipstick, so it wasn’t a total disaster. This is not a cultural standard, but my own standard. This is New England—NO ONE wears lipstick, curls their hair, or…
I’ve been divorced for two weeks, and the battle wounds are not healed yet, and there are many many loose ends to sort out, but the relief of having the battle over is surreal. Even more surreal is accepting my new title of divorcee… “Hello Darling, I am a ‘divorcee’!” (extend hand for kissing) Actually, I don’t know if I like this new title. I mean, it does sound kind of fabulous, glamorous, and slightly scandalous, like I should be…
I wept because my pain was gone and I was not yet accustomed to its absence.
My favorite mythologist, Joseph Campbell, said near the end of every hero’s journey, we face a massive dragon guarding life’s greatest treasure—the truth of our soul. It’s a lesson I learn over and over, but it seems the dragon is bigger this time, with much sharper teeth and claws and hotter fire-breathing capabilities than ever before. But guess what? I have experience slaying dragons. After getting my Masters degree at Harvard, I craved quiet, long walks in the woods, and…
I was jumping on the bed last night in a spontaneous dance party to Soulmate by Lizzo, when I missed the bed and face-planted on my hardwood floor. Henry, my 13-year-old’s face appeared above me. “Mom? Are you okay?” “Of course! I know how to take a fall! I was in the circus!” And it’s true—while most people dream of running away with the circus, I bear the proud accomplishment of actually having run away with one. Well, not exactly…
Part 1: Caring for my Mom, and laying next to her watching her favorite movie, Cinderella as she falls asleep. Part 2: Singing Over the Bones, my father’s bones to be exact, singing over his grave on Christmas Eve, and how in my time of grief and loss, I sometimes feel like La Loba, the ancient pueblo mythical woman who gathers up the scattered bones in the desert and when she takes them back to her cave and assembles them…
Singing over the bones, grief and transformation…
Everyone keeps saying Happy New Year and asking me how my holidays were. I would like to say AMAZING! A BLAST! FABULOUS! But it isn’t true. For us, the 2019 holidays were back-breaking heart-breaking work. If you know me, you know how much I love the holidays. The world finally joins me in my love of sparkle and twinkle lights. I can wear my elf costume without being taken away by the men in white coats, and I can indulge…
I’m tired of being in pain all the time. I’m tired of wearing a crown of thorns. They pierce my skin and they never stop hurting. I want to switch my crown of thorns into a crown of butterflies. Did you know that a group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope? Did you know that when caterpillars are transforming into butterflies they turn into liquid? I can relate. I feel completely liquefied, mushy, unformed, and there’s not a darn thing…