Our Inner Emily and How to Live in the Present

My eighth grade English teacher had us read the play, Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Mr. Greco was trying to teach us how to identify the theme, or the author’s message - that which lies beyond the mere retelling of a plot. My thirteen year-old brain, which up to this point had leaned toward Betty... Continue Reading →

Remaining, Abiding, Staying (In memory of Codie – 2010-2023)

The judge begrudgingly told me, "I am sorry we cannot pass your dog." Codie had failed the culminating test of the dog training class. A true golden retriever, she could not hold her STAY position for the required minutes, the urge to say hello to onlookers (and judges) becoming too much. While her compliant classmates,... Continue Reading →

Rosemarie Remembered

Sludging through the snowy street under a gray sky, I tried to conjure up something to be grateful for. A squirrel scurried on a branch above. Thank you, God, for that reminder of your creativity. A leftover leaf clung to the bare branch, a vestige of the prior season, unwilling to let go. Thank you,... Continue Reading →

Hope Restored

I was sifting through the mail when a familiar looking envelope caught my eye.  At first I thought it was a letter addressed to me, but then I realized it was MY letter being returned to me. A birthday card I had mailed just a week earlier. It was addressed to Anna, a bed-ridden 90-year... Continue Reading →

Wearing my mother’s jacket

My mother's closet was as fastidious as she - blazers on one side, slacks on the other, and on the shelf, rows of purses and hats (floppy Florida hats, the pinker, the better.)  Most everything carried a designer label. After mom's memorial service, the women of the family had eyes for her closet. I was... Continue Reading →

Lessons from Kacie, the Cranky Shih Tzu

We call her Kacie-Facie.  Or simply The Face.  I mean, how could you not?  Just look at her! Fifteen years ago, on a sunny day in early May, Alex and I drove to a Denny's parking lot, off the highway, midway between the Indiana breeder and our Chicago home.  We had done our research.  According... Continue Reading →

What’s in YOUR hand?

I think of myself as open, loving, accepting, forgiving, and of course...humble.  Oozing with humility.  Never prone to judging. Well, a mere glimpse into my thought life and this image is dispelled. I make instant judgements regarding others based on a car driven, clothes worn, an accent perceived.  And my petty thoughts do not stop... Continue Reading →

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑