If I lived in Paris, I would never close the windows. The traffic noise below my apartment would become the soundtrack of my early mornings, my lazy afternoons, and my midnight snacks. My apartment would be old with generations of white paint, brass knobs, and creaky floors. During winter or rain, I’d make tea in…
Changing habits and challenging established expectations is stressful stuff, but this is my year. All the wrapping will be recycled or reusable, and all of my gifts will be local or handmade by small shops via Etsy. I will not purchase one gift from a big store. This year and every year after, I am doing…
It might be time to step outside. I’m thinking near the ocean or under another gorgeous full moon, something to help gain perspective. Over the past few months, things have become incredibly myopic, and while I understand disappointment, I am confused by the over-the-top drama. My choice for elected-follower didn’t win on Tuesday either, but a…
I am not good at copying. Save the spot-on rendition of Everybody by The Backstreet Boys that my son and I perform in the car, I don’t do impressions. Simon Says was not my game. I either could not remember what Simon said, or forgot to ask. I rarely follow trends for any extended period.…
I need to manage my mind. It’s a bit like Grand Central Station up there these days and since I can’t keep things quiet, I tried gathering. Last week, I herded thoughts into similar groups and then willed them to line up single file. I figured if I could get all of it to hold…
Oh, how I once longed to smoke. Truly. When I was in college I tried sober in a coffee shop; I tried drunk in Mexico, I put some serious effort into picking up the habit. There was something alluring about the intense inhale followed by that seductive plume curling from someone’s mouth. Smokers had an…
Inviting a pet into your life is an exercise in being in the now. When I was searching for my Jack, I read about different dog breeds, and there was one section I still find troubling—life expectancy. Jack is a Brittany, and the average life expectancy for his breed is 12-13 years. That’s not…
I cut all my hair off. I don’t mean short, I mean short-short. Tiny bangs, actually no bangs. Everything as short as it can go without the use of the clippers. I can’t do clippers. My face is right there, no sweep of hair to hide my relentless forehead wrinkle, nothing. It’s not like my…
I have never been bullied. There was that one time some kid said my red hair looked like a used tampon in front of the entire class, but that was just… odd. I’ve been teased about my freckles and my last name. I am occasionally mocked, mostly by my children these days. Throughout my…