Sometimes it’s easy to be discouraged by human beings. Too many stories abound of aggression, hatred, and destruction. Meanwhile, countless acts of kindness play out every day that go unnoticed. One such occurrence happened to my aunt. You couldn’t find a nicer, sweeter person than my Aunt Ann who lives in Florida. Pretty, silver-haired and […]
Money is one of those subjects we don’t discuss in polite society. But the other day, I found myself doing one of several bizarre cash rituals and asked myself if it’s just me. (Already, as I list several of these, I imagine the look of horror on my husband Randy’s face). Keeping dollar bills in […]
I rolled my eyes when I heard of Jeff Bezos’ journey into space this week. One more super rich guy with his vanity project. Meanwhile, there are too many problems here on earth. As my husband Randy followed the launch on cable news, I half-watched. Then I heard something that riveted my attention. An 18-year-old […]
It’s easy to feel terrible about the human condition lately, with the constant hatred between political factions. But sometimes something magical happens that gives me hope, even for a brief time. This week “The Stone’s” gave an impromptu concert in the unlikeliest of venues. Okay, not those “Stone’s.” But it was still amazing. Obsessive […]
Alas, there’s a new test for flexibility in our later years. No, it’s not how well we touch our toes or pull a stretch band. It’s how low we can sit in a beach chair. When young, I could gracefully perch on a tiny canvas strap one inch from the ground. Getting up was […]
My son Patrick came into the kitchen, his face worried. “I caught a mouse in the basement.” I shrugged. Mice came into our house all the time, part of life in the Connecticut woods. “Put it out,” I said. He looked at me like I’d just spoken Swahili. “How?” I sighed. Time to teach my […]
Yes! In Connecticut, we survived another winter of storms, freezing cold, icicles, power outages, and slippery roads. Now comes our reward. I always think of spring as the real start of the year. All that burgeoning new life. The earth smells clean and fresh. There are so many things to appreciate, but here are […]
At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of this strange cylindrical object sitting on our kitchen counter, courtesy of my husband Randy. “Have a nice day” it would say in a cool, female voice, or give the local weather forecast, or play whatever song we asked. Five years later, I’ve not only made peace […]
I try and stay away, but fail every time. It’s so easy to use, so lightweight and compact, so effortless. When I want something, I press a button and what I crave appears in seconds, like magic. The other day it occurred to me – I can’t live without this object. Yes, I’m addicted to […]
It always starts innocently. I’m minding my own business on Facebook when “it” appears on the sidebar. Like a mirage in the desert, this object shimmers on the edges, enticing and beckoning. That shirt I pined for last month, but could never find, is there in the perfect fit and color. I don’t need it, […]
