“No Lymphoma” and “Pray for Rain”

Posted On: August 12, 2017
Comments: 6 Responses In the past weeks, those were the most profound words I heard. They also took me to highs and lows that I’ll likely carry for some time. After surgery, now 3+ weeks ago, I was…

Going to College: The Ultimate BreakAway

Posted On: October 4, 2015
Comments: No Responses Roots and wings. That oft-used aphorism professes what most parents hope to grow in their children. And the highest and widest wing-spreading journey, for most, happens when leaving for college. In my case, the boy…

Reflections on Reflecting, Unplugging, and Healing

Posted On: July 30, 2015
Comments: No Responses Well, hi there! Last time we gathered, the topic du jour (which became flavor of the month) was the notion of over-booking summer activities for kids. I defended it, and now that summer is two-thirds…

Reflections on an Over-Scheduled Summer

Posted On: June 19, 2015
Comments: No Responses In a recent NYT column / book review about kids and summer, Julie Lythcott-Haims waxes poetic about lazy, old-school summers, while criticizing current trends to push America’s “luckiest” teenagers toward internships, college-prep classes, sports and…

GBA* and our 6 remaining holidays

Posted On: May 25, 2015
Comments: No Responses Memorial Day, 2015. The holiday has changed since my youth—when everyone went somewhere, usually to simple cabins and camping to catch real fish before overfishing happened. Nowadays, stores stay open and the city keeps humming.…

Bucket List for Today (Akumal, Mexico)

Posted On: March 20, 2015
Comments: No Responses A stranger buzz-crafting at the beach bar commented to me today, “There’s much better beer at the lobby bar—if you’re tired of this insipid piss!” “So I’ve heard,” I nodded, “That’s on my bucket list…

A Father’s Day Rant for Dads Who Rock

Posted On: June 14, 2014
Comments: No Responses As another Hallmark holiday happens, I pat myself on the back (this time) because I remembered to send a gift—one that I know my dad will enjoy. One hopes this makes up for the dozens…

The Sounds (& Sights) of Silence

Posted On: April 18, 2014
Comments: No Responses This morning, I woke up too early. The wind had been whistling and whirring for hours. And when I headed down the hallway, the cold breeze that sneaks through lake-facing windows chilled me. Then I…

2 Hours Plugged-in Is Enough!

Posted On: October 30, 2013
Comments: No Responses I enjoyed lunch with a friend today—the mother of three young children. Their family may be the only one I know that has managed to keep their kids internet-free. Oh sure, there’s some TV. But…

Kids at Camp: Just Say Yes!

Posted On: August 10, 2013
Comments: No Responses I just picked up my kids (ages 10 and 16), along with seven other Rosevillians, after their week at Camp Foster at Lake Okoboji, Iowa. (Yes, Iowa.) While camp isn’t for every kid and is…