The Pause Between

October 20, 2019.Reading time 11 minutes.

“When God closes one door, He opens another.” It’s 5 a.m. I’m wide awake, though I don’t need to be. For the first time in almost 30 years, I don’t have a job. Last month, my employer announced it would be making reductions in the workforce, and I knew, in the mental intersection of intuition […]

The Calm After the Storm

September 7, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

When I woke up Thursday morning, the first thing I did was listen. I heard the hum of my air conditioner. I didn’t hear howling wind or pounding rain. And I felt a rush of relief. After nearly a week of anxiety and an overdose of the Weather Channel, Hurricane Dorian passed by my home […]

Just About Perfect

July 27, 2019.Reading time 12 minutes.

When I was a little girl, I thought my father was perfect. Most people did. If you asked Pete Manale to help you with something, you could be sure he’d do a bang-up job, whether it was hanging living room curtains with millimeter precision, fixing broken things or creating something decorative. Dad’s never been much […]

A Control Freak Living in the Moment

May 13, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

A couple of weeks ago, Ret and I relived our 1970s youth at a KISS concert. What a blast – literally! I’ve been to my share of rock concerts over the years, but this was my first experience around pyrotechnics that melted my mascara. The show was an exhilarating, playful, nostalgic joyride from start to […]

Little Joys are Big Stress Relievers

March 10, 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

Let me introduce you to my geese. Well, these geese are not actually mine. But I’ve become mildly obsessed with them. My infatuation began years ago, when I lived in a new, sprawling subdivision with amenities that included several lagoons. One spring, a pair of geese decided to establish their home there. I’m no expert […]

Time Flies, Except When It Drags

November 19, 2018.Reading time 10 minutes.

“How did it get so late so soon?” Dr. Seuss This post was originally titled What Happened to September? when I drafted the first sketchy lines on October 19. But now, well, it’s November, and What Happened to September and October? doesn’t have quite the same ring. I’m feeling disappointed with myself because in January […]

Go to the Beach!

August 31, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

It’s Labor Day weekend, and I haven’t been to the beach all summer. This is very sad, because I love the beach. The hypnotic music of waves rolling in, tang of salty spray on my face, warm sand caressing my feet – the sights, sounds and smells are like a healing balm. I live near […]