I recently had the pleasure of running into an old friend.  We were casually chatting, catching up on life’s adventures, when she mentioned that her youngest son had gone off to college last fall.  “Oh,” I surmised, “You’re an empty nester now.”  She corrected me, “No, we’re free birds.” (more…)

More than once I’ve made attempts to follow the tradition of making a new year’s resolution.  “Resolve to exercise.”  “Resolve to lose weight.”  “Resolve to floss teeth.”  Yea, right.  Has anyone actually succeeded with these clichéd goals?  I might as well have spit in the wind.  By Valentine’s day, my New Year’s resolutions were long forgotten. (more…)

When I was a kid growing up in Dallas, we spent Thanksgivings at my granny and grampy’s house.  No one could make a pumpkin chiffon pie (cool whip in the batter) better than granny.  When I was a teenager, we spent Thanksgivings in New York City – going to the Macy’s parade and seeing Broadway shows.    And when I was married to my first husband, we spent Thanksgivings eating his signature meal of turkey, red cabbage, and apple pie. (more…)

Almost three years ago now, I began telling friends and family that I was getting a divorce (and furthermore that I had initiated it).  There was a mixture of predictable ‘horror’ responses that fell into one of three categories: tragedy (‘oh what a terrible loss’), war (‘better prepare for a legal battle’), or judgment (‘you’re making a terrible mistake’).  Yet one response stood out for its utter singularity and unique wisdom — a friend’s father embraced me with, “What  wonderful news!  Congratulations!!!  How brave you are!  Getting divorced was the best thing that ever happened to me.” (more…)

My stepson started first grade today.  My nephew did too.  First grade.  A big deal!  They are on the brink of their long educational journey.

But for me, first grade has always felt like the end of an era.  When my oldest daughter went to first grade, I spent the entire day in tears.  My ‘baby’, who up until that point had spent her days with me, was now in a new environment in which I had less impact.  I felt diminished, replaced, ineffective, afraid. (more…)