Spring has sprung here in New England . . . or rather winter has ended, more or less.  Some days are surprisingly warm and sunny.  Other days are soggy and muddy.  It appears that the Easter bunny will not be leaving eggs nestled in snow clumps this year. (more…)

“Why are so many lights on?” Dan used to ask when we were new to each other’s living habits.  “Because I can’t see a thing,” I would answer.  My typical response to winter nights was to turn on every light that I could get my hands on . . . starting at 4pm.  Even mounting electric bills couldn’t curb my craving for brightly lit rooms. (more…)

I’m not a true died-in-the-wool, year-round chocoholic . . . and yet, when it comes to the day of red hearts and cupids, I go nuts for chocolate.  Sure, you could say that I’m just a puppet to marketing and a pawn in the game of retail consumerism.  And you’d be right; I am.  I admit it!  And I always have been — at least on this Saint’s day. (more…)

Every year I wrestle with my ‘weary-winter syndrome’.   Even though I’ve had nearly 30 years of northern winters, my native Texas bones long for warmth and light.  Like a honking Canadian goose, I have the urge to fly south for the winter.  I know that more daylight is slowly returning, but it just ain’t returnin’ fast enough up north (if ya know what I mean). (more…)

I’m standing right beside him as he lifts a small glass, raises his hand high and pronounces, “God bless us, everyone!”  The audience, predictably, lets out a collective, sympathetic sigh.  This holiday season, I have the pleasure of playing Tiny Tim’s mother for nine performances in ten days.  I watch him offer the famous toast; I choke back tears as I experience his death; and I watch from the wings as Scrooge makes his famous transformation. (more…)