A sea of mortarboard caps . . . seniors with tear-soaked tissues . . . parents dabbing at moist eyes.  Pomp.  Circumstance.  Ah . . . graduation.

When I graduated from high school, I was overcome by the end of life as I knew it.  It was not only the end of school but also the end of my residence in Texas and the end of living with my parents.  When I graduated from college, I was likewise cognizant of the ‘death’ of everything familiar. (more…)

Just a few years ago, mother’s day for me meant breakfast in bed, big sloppy kisses, and hand-made cards proclaiming “I love you mommy.”  Now, with a house full of teenagers, I might get a meal with them and maybe, if I’m lucky, a mumbled “happy mother’s day.” (more…)

My daughter Victoria has just turned 13.  There are now 4 teenagers in my household – 3 of whom are female. Unbelievable!  Can you imagine such a concentration of hormones under one roof? (more…)

I’m still trying to sell a house.  The process, for me, continues to be a mixture of action and letting go.  Even as I’ve resorted to burying a St. Joseph statue (allegedly good luck for house sales) and airing the rooms with a sage smudge (allegedly to clear out old energy), I know that I have to surrender to forces beyond my control. (more…)

It seems a fitting topic on Easter eve to reflect on new life.  After all, the theme echoes through the resurrection, through Mother Nature and through the often daunting and ever timeless task of raising children.  My 17 year old daughter Elizabeth has been, her whole life, on the front lines of new life . . . leading me further along the path of loving and letting go. (more…)