By My childhood Christmas lists were a work of art. Crafted from hours with my nose in the Sears catalog, the key at the top was essential. Need Very Badly = NVB. Need = N. Want = W. Want Very Much = WVM. Each item (often topping 100) was coded, with its
Death, Meaning, and a Chest Cold: Gratitude
I keep trying to make meaning with words on this day, but they aren’t coming out properly yet. One year ago today, my family and I buried my mom in Tennessee, on the same hill as her father and family. It was a year ago date-wise, but day-of-the-week-wise, which is
The Layers of Funeral Day
A year ago today, my family and I, with 200+ folks, honored my mother’s life, celebrating her beautiful spirit at her funeral. She died on December 4th, 2012. This past week has been intense, sortof a dual living, split in time between now and a year ago, like it’s layered,
My Mother’s Ring
Right now, I am standing at a coffee shop, trying to write about my mom, for you, for myself, to honor her today. She died at about 2:30 a.m. on December 4th a year ago. Tomorrow, I will tell you more about those last days. For this day, I have
Thanksgiving, Family, and Light
I’ve tried several times over the last few weeks to tell you of how life is right now. Anniversaries that no one else sees pass daily: the day my mom told me which dress to wear at her funeral, the day she gave away her jewelry, her last batch of
The Somersaulted Rant of Sheisse (Thank You)
This whole thing started with “Sheisse!” (“shit” in German) And I felt justified in saying it, too. Out loud, even! For Stuff has gone Wrong all day. Broken dishes, broken wifi, broken me…ah, there’s one part of it. Only in the last few days has my mom felt…gone gone, physically
The Dream Life
It just hit me. I’m living my dream life. Do I mean everything is perfect? Nope. That I have all I want? Nay. Then how? Well, it has to do with cooking. When people ask me what I “do,” I say, “I’m an Artist.” And then they ask which medium,
Kidnapped! My First Friday Family
So it’s 8:30 on a Friday, and it’s already been a banner night. I was walking along, down my street, happy to be spending an hour with my camera and the light of sunset, and as I waited on a car to cross the street a block from home, the
Struggle as Strength: How NPR’s Story on Education Helped Me Keep Writing
Do you have kids? Students? Family? Friends? Please read or listen to this story I heard on NPR’s Morning Edition today (then share it!). Its core: “For the most part in American culture, intellectual struggle in school children is seen as an indicator of weakness, while in Eastern cultures it
Miyazaki and Yoga
Today, Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement. Creator of my favorite movie–Howl’s Moving Castle–and many more well-loved cinematic marvels, we fans mourned his exit…perhaps all hoping he will break out with some unforeseen brilliance for us someday? From Howl’s Moving Castle, I have learned and internalized so much about love and
