Glennon over at Momastery recently wrote this brutiful piece about feeling overwhelmed and down because she didn’t perceive her family to be happy and normal like all those snapshots we see in Christmas cards and on our social media pages. In the post she wrote that she feared people might consider her a fraud and she used the phrase, … Read More
The 5 Ws of Thanks
What can we give thanks for? Two weeks ago today, the unthinkable happened. A seven-month-old died. In her sleep. The young mother had put her down for a nap. And hours later the twenty-year-old was being whisked from one authority to another. “You would think they could have at least waited to question her. It’s like they think she did … Read More
The Scent of Rape, A Digging for the Light Excerpt
I recently wrote (Not) God’s Plan, God’s Will, or Divine Intervention in response to Richard Mourdock’s statement that pregnancy from rape was part of God’s plan. I talk about the rape in Digging for the Light. Below is an excerpt from that work, which is looking for an agent and a publishing home… Pass it along. J * * * … Read More
The Space Between Luck and Misfortune
Well, fellow Journeyers, I’ve done it! After more hours than I wish to recognize, I have finally pieced together my first video. The idea came to me when I discovered Washington, DC’s TEDxWomen and their theme for this year’s conference. The Space Between… I immediately thought of my piece Finding Four-Leaf-Clover-Kind-of-Luck in Shit. And The Space Between Luck and Misfortunewas … Read More
Children Face Life’s Irony, Paradox, and Tragedy
I am the type of person who ranks honesty as one of my top values. I’m the type of person who doesn’t pussyfoot around any subject, even those like vaginas, penes, and death. I’ve tried to parent the same way, being open, honest, and answering my children’s questions as age-appropriately as I could. I’ve been direct in letting them know … Read More
On Marital Discord, Part III: Tips for Staying Together in Spite of Strife
As far back as March, journalists began talking about a Maria/Arnold reunion. And a few days ago, HuffPost Celebrity reported that Maria was recently seen wearing what looks like a wedding band. Is she taking Arnold Schwarzenegger back?The headline teases. These thoughts simultaneously ran through my mind. Who cares? Just leave them alone. And yet, I find myself watching. Secretly … Read More
Every Day a New Story Begins, Part II: Senseless and a Digging for the Light Excerpt
“It’s senseless,” she said, before they parted ways. Two women were talking about the unexpected death of a mutual friend. She was sixty-three years old. A mother. Grandmother. Wife. Friend. Vibrant and working one day. Gone the next. Poof! A new story begins. One where the person’s stories will now be spun by those who love her. Those who are … Read More
Are You One of Romney’s 47%?
A mega firestorm has ensued over Mitt Romney’s remarks regarding the character of our nation’s near majority. I follow people, not politics, but it has been hard to avoid the impact of this secretly recorded dialogue. Pauline Gaines wrote a fabulous pieceabout three people she encountered in one day who it could be said are some of the constituents Romney … Read More
Joan Didion, Abigail Thomas, and Writing Lists, Memos, Messages
In the past two days, I have written the following: · Numerous text and e-mail responses. · Numerous text and e-mail correspondences. · Two hand-written notes to send in the mail. One to my son. One to the mail lady. · Messages on two birthday cards. · Lengthy responses to an application to speak at a TEDx event. · An e-mail to administration … Read More
The Rearview Mirror
View from My Rearview Mirror “You’ve got to quit looking in the rearview mirror.”Last June, when I was feeling overwhelmed by the Hamster-Wheel month and a little depression, I had my first appointment with The Therapist. I told her I needed to work on figuring out the cause of the ongoing anger and conflict I seemed to have regarding my … Read More