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Easy Money

It’s 2:52 am and I am wide awake. I was beyond excited to crawl into bed at 9pm last night for the first time in a long time … I would have been giddy to sink into my soft mattress, engulfed in a sea of blankets, staring at nothing but the backs of my eyelids […]

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A thrill of hope

This year did not play out the way I thought it might. I am learning that this will likely always be the case. The unexpected is becoming commonplace. I can only hope that sometimes the unexpected will be bright, comforting, and good. If I pause long enough to recognize these subtle moments, that hope will […]

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What is grief?

I attended an online writing seminar today via zoom, and through the wonders of technology I will never understand, I was virtually connected with eight other humans that I otherwise may never have crossed paths with, and will likely never interact with again. Yet there we sat in our various places – me at the […]

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Isolated But Not Alone

About two months ago, my dearest friend passed away. I had the privilege of spending time with her as she left us slowly while receiving hospice care. Being near her during that time was comforting to me, therapeutic, even. Although it broke my heart to watch her go, being present with her made me feel […]

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All the things I would have told her…

                This has been a rough week.  I have been feeling agitated and impatient.  And also heartbroken. My exhaustion has only enhanced these tendencies.  Grief, I am told, comes in different forms.  I didn’t sleep well today after my nearly 13 hour shift at work last night.  Low on energy, the last thing I felt […]

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Puppy love

In ten days, if all goes well, we will be welcoming a furry little bundle of (hopefully) mellow and obedient energy into our home.  We are about to adopt a puppy, and my kids don’t yet know.  I am anxiously, excitedly anticipating his arrival, eager to see the reactions on the faces of my children […]

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Awkward Beginnings

My kids have started back to school.  As our busy summer rapidly came to a close, I couldn’t help but be excited about the endless possibilities that would soon be awaiting me between the hours of eight and three.  This year, I will be more efficient and organized than I have been in years past, […]

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A Merry Meltdown

If you are a recipient of my Christmas card this year, please don’t be fooled by it. The big smiles on the faces of my little family set against the backdrop of warmly glowing Christmas lights might make you pause to think something like “Wow, these people sure seem to have it all together!” Heck, […]

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A Wonderful World?

I was in high school when the school shooting at Columbine occurred.  I remember not being able to look away from the television as the horror unfolded and the stories were told in news reports and photographs in the days and weeks and months that followed.  Although I didn’t know any of the victims or […]

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Virtually Trapped

Self care is a concept that has been very near and dear to my heart lately.  I can remember when a light bulb moment of understanding happened for me on an airplane, as I listened to the instructions to “secure your own oxygen mask before helping those around you.”  Though I had heard it before, […]