Let us begin with full disclosure: I do not like this current president. Every time the man tweets I feel like I'm in a monster movie. I have lost sleep because of him, I've lost friends because of him, and some days I think I just might lose my mind because of him. He is … Continue reading In defense of Sarah Huckabee Sanders – an open letter to the Sisterhood →

For the past few weeks, social media, blogs and the op-ed pages of the traditional press have been filled with articles about mental illness, prompted by the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. In many cases, these articles are hand-wringing: Why, in such an advanced country, has the suicide rate grown by more than … Continue reading How to stop a suicide →

I hate to fall into the "good old days" trap, but some moments call for it. Today is just such a moment. In the good old days - or simply back in 2009 - one could go to the grocery store, buy groceries, pay with a debit card, and have to do only two things … Continue reading Life as a multiple choice test →

One of the hardest things to do in this country is have a consistent pro-life ethic. It is one thing to be anti-abortion or anti-death penalty or anti-war, but it is something else to have what the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin deemed a "seamless-garment" approach to pro-life issues. To him, claiming the pro-life mantle meant … Continue reading Consistent pro-life ethic →

This past weekend, my eldest son and daughter-in-law came over to celebrate Mother's Day early with dinner and a competitive game of Forty-Two. Yesterday, my youngest daughter called and said she and her husband want to see me Sunday on Mother's Day. No doubt, my youngest son and eldest daughter will call me on the … Continue reading Mother’s day blessing and longing →

Yesterday, in my secret life as a detective, I walked into a local Starbucks, used the restroom, took a seat, scrolled through my phone for 10 minutes and then - gasp - left. Without buying anything. In spite of having $2.53 left on my Starbucks app and in spite of thinking an Americano would have … Continue reading Loitering in Starbucks →

Thirty-four years ago, I was a first-time mother barely surviving my liberated effort to “do it all”. I moved frantically from long days as a newspaper reporter into long nights of a colicky baby, trying to prove myself perfect in both arenas. I wanted to quit the job, but I was fighting the voices of … Continue reading How Erma saved me →