Read your Sunday paper
Really, I mean other than meeting Gene Hackman in FOUR SHORT SLEEPS, Is there any greater joy than a Sunday morning with the dining room table strewn with newspapers? Here in our unairconditioned and cranky-when-it-is-hot home, warm rosemary bagels from the Bruegger’s on Merrimon Avenue, some nice French press coffee–black, …
Feel yourself beloved on earth, then make me Scottish
Is there a lovelier accent than that of the Scottish? I think not. Oh, alright. I’m very fond of my friend Richard’s Kiwi accent. (Happy Birthday, Richard!) And there’s Tony and his lovely South African tone. And Eliav’s Israeli accent is definitely a keeper. But honestly? The Scottish? My favorite. …
Encourage a friend today
I know you’re busy. Those emails are piling up. The boss needs a report on the use of commas and the subjective clause in the report on the report on the findings of the report on sumpin-sumpin. The massage therapist is waiting. The kids are running naked in the backyard. …
Catalog your fairies
“Tessie, you wanna go to the creek and take a class?” I asked two weeks ago. I had received a notice of a two-hour nature class for 5-7 year-olds at the Botanical Garden near our house. “YES! YES! YES!” she screamed, unsure what I was asking, but absolutely committed nonetheless. …
Reach back, reach forward
Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes. -Gloria Naylor Papa, apa, pita-ji, pabbi, daidi, otosan, tata, tevas, baba, peder, babbas, tayta, pare, daddy. No matter the language you speak, today’s the day to say "father" or "daddy" or "poppy" and reach out a hand to memories or …
Giving voice
I think you might know that I have a book coming out in September. What you might not know is what makes me the proudest about that book. You’ll find out in this short audio file. Thanks to the ever-generous Rick Hamrick, I believe I’ve actually figured out how to …
A journey completed, a circle drawn
Many of you might remember the story of Meta, a young woman who died in a car wreck and the extraordinary story of her leave-taking, a community coming together to ensure her safe passage. Her mother, diagnosed with cancer three months after Meta’s death, has now completed her own leave-taking. …
It’s somebody’s birthday today, now isn’t it?
On planes all day (finally here in the gloriously brisk weather of Estes Park, Colorado, having seen both Cincinnati and Denver before 10am), so I haven’t had an opportunity yet to wish a happy birthday to someone who shall remain nameless and who turns 45 today. If you look closely, …
Love your broken tooth
I don’t know the names of my teeth. Do you? Oh, sure, I know “Front Tooth” and “Back Tooth,” but that’s the extent of my dental lexicon. So, I can’t tell you the exact name of it, but I broke the Tooth- Beside- The-Front-Tooth in half a few weeks back. …
