I was driven to the airport by a friend who had come back to the U.S. suddenly in crisis – she had sublet her apartment, gone out of the country to be with her boyfriend and secured a number of gigs while there. Then it blew up. I arrived in Spain to learn that my dear friend was leaving her partner after twenty years as he wrestled with whether there was love left. I arrived…
I went for a three months check up and the doctor said the following: 1) you’ve gained 10 pounds since your last visit. 2) after this much time it is highly unlikely your hair would grow back. 3) I think you are depressed. 4) you most likely need more medication. And? I asked. That’s all.
Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase for “healing the world” – I’m reading Rodger Kamenetz’s The Jew in The Lotus in order to take a break from tome after tome about racism in this country. Tikkun olam gives me hope that any work done dismantling racism is worthwhile because it is a belief that the world can actually heal. Yesterday, I had a lunch date set up with a newly met colleague from Chicago who was…
I learned a few minutes ago that new friends of mine lost their son in a tragic swimming accident on Saturday. You end the week on Friday and wake on Saturday to learn the world has changed, shifted, morphed into a sadness from which there is no return. The better part of my weekend was spent filtering out the gnawing feeling of tentativeness – in other words, my sanity. I’m faced with the harsh reality…
I was invited over to someone’s house the other day and when I arrived, I noticed first thing that sitting by the end table in the living room were two books – Eckhart Tolle’s The Power Of Now and A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. Then I was led downstairs into an enchanting garden complete with tadpoles and koi. Both men had been through something – I knew this before I arrived because…
Being the mother of a son whose birth father does not live near, I think about Tin’s male role model needs quite a bit. I read and study up on what it is to be a boy. My introduction to boy-ness came from four older brothers and a father along with countless uncles, cousins, and my two grandfathers. I’ve been steeped in boys since early on. I’ve also had three husbands and many boyfriends, lovers,…
Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always…
Tatjana left her car here while she is out of the country and so I’m using it because it saves on gas with taking Tin to camp. So I was washing both her car and my truck, when I realized that my truck had been broken into and my iPhone charger and headset among other things stolen. As I was closing up both cars my transvestite neighbor – a real sweetie – was walking by…
So I’ve had a lot of visitors lately – not having a babysitter means mi casa es tu casa because I’m trapped like rodentia over here. I’ve had some stoop hanging, some dog hunts (Heidi jumped through the front door and took hot pursuit after a cat causing a HUGE dog search only to find her a few blocks away), fun hula hooping in the backyard, and certainly a few bottles of wine have been…