Category: Inspiration

The Butcher and the Butterfly

December 18, 2021

My bus arrived, and I loaded my bags and sat down. When I looked back out my window, the butcher was standing outside, looking at me, his moustache curled up as he pointed his finger. I looked where he was pointing, and saw the butterfly fluttering right by my window, the sun shining through its wings like they were delicate stained glass windows in an ancient cathedral, and I had to glance down to make sure I was actually on a bus and not a magic tapestry.

A Book That Changed My Life

December 7, 2021

One of my favorite dinner party questions is, “Name three books that changed your life.” I love to hear people really think about this question and answer as I usually learn a lot about them. If someone were ever to ask me this question, the first book I would name is Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky.

A Whole Lotta Shaking Going On… in Samba

November 29, 2021

Humor me if you will, and picture this: 1) a chicken trying to fly; 2) a dog doing a full body shake after a bath; 3) and an oompa loompa doing jumping jacks. Now, meld those three images together. Got it? If so, you have a pretty good idea of what I looked like at a samba class the other night.

The Alchemy of Prague

November 13, 2021

I never thought I’d find myself backpacking to Prague in 1990, walking the cobblestone streets with lanterns creating dancing shadows on the walls, surrounded by centuries of history, shrouded in myths and a whispering river, sounds that conjured up tall ancient churches with stained glass windows and flickering candles, sounds that invited us to explore this magnificent city that seemed so strange and exotic.

How Did I Dance with Paul McCartney?

November 12, 2021

How did I end up dancing with Paul McCartney on his tour in Boston?

Who Needs Tiffany’s? I do!

November 3, 2021

Who needs Tiffany’s when we’ve got sunlight sparkling on the sea? I do! I love Tiffany’s! The first monologue I ever performed in high school drama class was Holly Golightly getting ready to go see Sally Tomato in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I studied the scene

Am I Clairvoyant?

October 1, 2021

Am I developing clairvoyant powers? Or was it just coincidence?

Here’s what happened: Yesterday I went out to my back deck in the forest, surrounded by waterfalls and flowers, and laid out my yoga mat. I lit candles and …

Lift a Glass to My Ol’ Hip

September 24, 2021

So tonight, I lift a glass to my ol’ hip… (or if not a glass, a Tramadol). It’s been a good hip, grown two amazing souls, been the source of endless dancing pleasure and supported me now for half a century. It’s time for my to go to hip heaven… Hip Hip Hooray! (Just kidding- surgery sucks, but I’m told the pain-free existence afterwards is well worth it. I’ll let you know.)

Healing my Hips and My Heart

September 22, 2021

’s been 22 days since my hip replacement surgery, and the hardest part is slowing down. I want to be healed. I want to dance, to stretch, to slide into bed without tweaking pain, to sleep on any side I choose. I want to jump into the ocean and then slide into a hot bubble bath.

My Mom is my Paris

August 10, 2021

I just want to be next to her, to read to her, put my arms around her, to feel my heart near hers, and pretend that her brain will come back and she will remember who I am, even for one bittersweet moment.