Essays and Random Thoughts

The Pleasure of Being Lost

The tree branches tunnel above me as I run down the path. The sky is growing darker. The rain, when it comes, whispers through the leaves at first,

Creativity, Cancer, and the Circle of Quiet

I walked to the bench today after my MRI. My doctor ordered the test to see if I have pancreatic cancer, not because I have any symptoms or suspicion,

Are Men in Trouble?

Not long ago, I visited my son and his wife at their new place in Brooklyn, New York. We walked from their building to a restaurant where I tried and

They Said I Shouldn’t Marry Him. I Did It Anyway.

When I brought my boyfriend to Florida along with our four young children to visit my mom, things went sideways pretty fast. Dan and I made the

Suddenly Home Alone, After 30 Years

The first thing I did before my husband left for California was go down to the basement and bring up the white wine from the downstairs

Mr. Curve Ball: When a Partner Makes an Unexpected Life Choice, Then What?

When my son came home a couple of weekends ago, he brought champagne to celebrate my husband’s new job. “Here’s to Mr. Curve Ball!” he said as we

How a Sunday Drive Led Me to an Island Home (Part II)

Things move slowly on an island. By the time we actually stepped inside the house we'd bought sight unseen on Prince Edward Island (See Part I here),

How a Sunday Drive Led Me to an Island Home (Part I)

I never meant to buy a second home. I certainly never intended to buy one on an island a full 11-hour drive away from my house in Massachusetts. By

Why Museums Matter

I went to a museum yesterday. Last year, I went to so many museums that I lost track, haunting special archival collections to ferret out

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Essays and Random Thoughts