A friend sent me a stunning photograph from her boyfriend’s summertime expedition in the northernmost reaches of the Pacific—floating on a ship amidst a sea of ice floes “as thick as I am tall,” he wrote, for endless summer days that never turn into night that far north. Viewing it from San Diego, where delayed summer has given way to warm, sticky, exhaustion, I found it a … [Read more...]
One recent, beautiful day, I suddenly found that I couldn't bear being inside for another moment. I grabbed a hat and headed out to the back yard. It's a mess out there. Being an orderly person, I was beginning to feel desperate and panicky every time I walked out the back door. So while I was outside I decided to tackle the mess. I started pulling weeds, and within an hour … [Read more...]
Most of us don’t remember learning to speak in our native language. We may not recall, exactly, how we picked up reading and writing, tying our shoes, or riding a bike. Somewhere along the way we learned other skills, too, like how to get a library card, put on makeup, drive a car, flirt. Some of these we learned from brothers and sisters, some from neighbors and classmates, … [Read more...]
I've been running at full speed for ages. Last week, I took off on a road trip that included lectures in several cities. Getting ready for the trip was so stressful I was losing hair that my post-menopausal self can ill afford to lose. And then, hours after finishing my first two events, a call came from home. Our dear old one-eyed, diabetic cat was being rushed to the … [Read more...]
We’re not in the market for a new home, but my husband and I enjoy visiting open houses for sale in our neighborhood. This morning we toured a tiny but charming bungalow a few blocks away. Beautifully presented, it had been updated in a way that respected the vintage of the house. It was inspiring—exactly the kind of home tour I normally adore. But I couldn’t wait to leave … [Read more...]
