Consequential Conversations Part 1: Civility
Do you avoid conflict? Do you find it hard to disagree with someone during a meaningful conversation?
Growing Up in Queens
I was born in the 1950’ s and came of age during the social upheaval of the sixties.
A Pilgrimage to the Future
Lately, I’ve been thinking about taking a pilgrimage. Not by walking the Santiago Trail. Not by journeying to a religious site. Not even by going on a solitary meditation retreat. Actually, I’m thinking about taking a pilgrimage to the present moment.
How Many Summers Do We Have Left?
Lately, I have heard many parents, celebrities, and professionals discuss how they have so little time with their children before they go to college. In a very distraught voice, I overheard a young parent say, "I only have seven more summers with my child before they leave home."
Sailor and the Sea
The sailor had been alone at sea for a long time, but not long before he started talking to the sea. At first, the crashing, bubbling, and salt-scratching his palate of a life raft were nothing but ordinary noises,
How Do You Choose?
I pull up to the red light and see him standing very close to my car. He's holding a small cardboard sign. His hands and face hold many days of dirt, etched in the wrinkles of his brow and the ridges of his worn-out knuckles.
Our Pets Come with a Price
Have you ever had a pet? Whether adopted, gifted, purchased, or found, our furry friends become a cherished part of the family.
A Small Sea Scallop
On the Sea of Cortez’ wet morning sand
I found a small shell that fit snugly in my hand
Libraries and the Banning of Books
As a child, my parents couldn’t afford to buy my siblings and me books, so we regularly checked out tall stacks at the local library for free. Comfort, information, wonder, freedom, and libraries are all connected in my mind.
Bindings of Life
Why do you love libraries? Why do you love books? I love them because of all the possibilities each book holds within its binding.
The Carnegie Libraries
Ask any New Yorker the best way to get to Carnegie Hall, and they will probably say, “Practice.”
Hoarding Battles
Our attic qualifies as a place where we guard and preserve our hidden treasures, among many other random items, but I wish it didn’t.
Dancing With Dementia
Mom has dementia, but she doesn’t know it. The amazing thing about Mom is that she lives rather contently in her own ‘reality,’ which is an entire world of unreality. Her dementia has bubble-wrapped her in an imaginary world of make-believe.
Making Connections
Remember a taut string attached to two paper cups? Of course, it’s a kid’s first telephone!
The Grace of Ordinary Days
The other day my husband said, “If someone ever wants to find me it will be so easy. I do the same thing morning after morning.” It’s true.