Parenting Evolution
I was raising my third child, my girlfriend was raising her first. The contrasts were stark. Each time she washed the binky or couldn’t be somewhere because the “schedule” was disrupted I wanted to yell, “She’ll be okay, I swear! Without the sanitation, without the nap, without the hovering body, without
Taking Time
The electric fence died yesterday. This is significant because we have two dogs whose half acre domain lies within that fence and, without it, they cannot be trusted not to bolt under it and out after a rabbit, squirrel or some such. This is also significant because it means that
Remembering Helen
I saw an old friend today. It wasn’t actually her, but when an elderly woman with short, gray hair, prominent ears and a confident gate walked by, a memory was spurred. Her name was Helen. I say “was” because, although I don’t have knowledge that she is gone, she was in her
Confessions
I’m was not raised Catholic, but I have several friends that were. In talking to them about their Catholic upbringing, one word comes up over and over and over. Guilt. I’ve spent much of my life, as many women of my generation do, striving for perfection. Bless the Superwomen of
It’s NOT Just Business
I recently heard someone utter the phrase “It’s just business.” It was mentioned in a conversation with a growing company that was trying to explain a decision that was made about an employee. As the person continued to talk, I kept listening for clues as to why they would think
Timing + Purpose + Inspiration = FreeStyle
If art imitates life, then my life would be one of those 5,000 piece Monet puzzles. To try and combat this feeling, I like to organize. I become more and more convinced that no matter how big or small, every organization project is a worth the time and effort. Getting
More Good Men
My eldest son was born with bright blue eyes. I remember looking into those eyes and thinking “what do I do with a boy?” It wasn’t long before the answer came to me, “the world needs more good men.” And the good man I was thinking of came into this
Painting Perspective
“Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” ~ Oscar Wilde I’m painting the dining room. It’s been the same color for six years. It used to be red. I really liked it’s solid, sure strength. It fit our style and our life. So what changed? As in life,
The Picture
My first apartment was in downtown Denver when I was 22 years old. It was in a 1920’s building, was maybe 600 square feet and had no dishwasher. It did have beautiful wood floors, intricate molding, a fireplace and a claw-foot tub. Just enough to give me all the ambiance
Getting Comfortable With Imperfection
I can still see her face. A lovely, demure woman in her late 50’s or early 60’s, kind eyes edged with delicate lines. Her voice had that buttery southern lilt to it, and when she spoke to me she gave me one pat on my knee and left her