Today, as often happens to me during the winter, I struggled to stay awake. I'm pretty certain humans are supposed to hibernate in the dreary grayness of winter, or maybe it is just this particular human who is wired that way. Regardless, from December through March, I often feel like I should be in a … Continue reading Why friends matter →

The problem with turning 60 is the panic. Just yesterday, I was 16, dressed in a sparkly leotard and ballet flats, doing perfect splits on a rainy high school football field at halftime, arms aloft, head tilted up to the press box, my face breaking from holding the smile. Just yesterday, I was 18, kissing … Continue reading They say age is only a number. They may be lying. →

One of my favorite memories is a conversation I had nearly 15 years ago with a colleague who had returned from a trip to Ireland. I asked him what most impressed him while there, thinking it would be the pubs, or the sweeping lush green of the landscapes or maybe sheep crossing the road like … Continue reading An alternative to the standard questions →

There’s a chance I may have slipped into crazy old lady territory. Evidence? I just took a 3-mile afternoon walk wearing dress slacks and a sweater, a grey puffy vest, cobalt blue tennis shoes, a pink scarf fetchingly wrapped around my head for warmth and – wait for it – a hiking hat to block … Continue reading Embracing my inner crazy old lady →

The angel in our nativity scene - I call her Joy - falls down a lot. She can’t seem to stay put, no matter how often I wrestle her four-inch-tall frame back onto the tiny nail sticking out of our stable's plywood roof. Joy only has one job, to stand guard over the stable, wings … Continue reading How to train a Christmas angel →

It has been nearly a decade since Tucson went from having two daily newspapers down to one, and the effect of that loss have been difficult for me to watch. As a former reporter who worked for the now-defunct Tucson Citizen, it pains me every day I see stories go uncovered. The remaining daily - … Continue reading What happens when we lose newspapers →

A few months ago, my grandson and I attended the grand opening of a new playground. It was his third birthday, and he was thrilled about all the festivities, especially that there were police officers attending. All in all, it was pretty great event, until I became the latest target of parenting (and grandparenting) in … Continue reading Fear-based parenting →