The (Forced) Road Trip Pause

Beneath a huge sky in the backseat of “Cream Puff”, our silver sedan, and sitting with no where to go, my body slowly began to relax. The only available movement was exercising my eyesight to look out the window. With each breath every muscle in my body seemed to slacken. My lungs repeatedly exhaled involuntarily, expunging stress from … Read more

“Small Things” Adventures In The Backyard

Just recently multiple friends (re-)discovered their backyards. According to a July 14th Wall Street Journal article, forty-six percent of consumers “said they did a landscaping, gardening or outdoor-living update in the last three months.”* Yes, we can connect and feel enthusiastic Close To Home! We can cultivate trust with our neighbors! Who said we have … Read more

The Strange Wonderful (Re) Connecting

No hugging, cheek kissing or hand shaking allowed. Yes, our social skills are a little rusty. Yes, there’s an underlying feeling of uncertainty (less when people wear face masks). Yet even in a socially- distanced way, physically being in the same space with another offers relief. Nothing can replace physical presence.     Now we … Read more

Road Rituals for Re-Entry

  “Rituals are the formulas by which harmony is restored.”                                                                                           … Read more

The Rabbit Hole: It Can Be Sweet!

When looking at our backyard you see lots of small holes passionately dug by two bored dogs. These holes were not made by sweet rabbits. The silver Standard poodle, Toulousse, and the chubby black Labradoodle, Louis, enthusiastically thought,  “There must be treasure underneath, worms, treats and even a buried steak.” Walking in the yard is … Read more

The Road Not Taken

As young children my brother and I worked with a speech therapist on articulation. These sessions with Mrs. Philips represent some of my earliest memories as a child. Walking to the front door of a small white Colonial house, holding Henry’s hand, and spending many hours exercising our lips, we learned to speak clearly.   Sometimes … Read more

Three Ways to Crush Mind Wandering Demons

Recently a friend visited who had traveled on an airplane to Colorado. “It was alarming. Everyone on the plane wore a face mask.”* For the next two hours dinner conversation focused on the possible impact of the Coronavirus. You name it; we imagined it, every scary scenario. Our minds wandered the universe! Thoughts hijacked rational … Read more

Where Are You?

There was a book and in this book was a description of a room. And, in the description of this room was a gentle nudging to enjoy the space and the place. Yes, a whole beautiful flip book sharing everything about the sleeping quarters for the next few nights and the destination. No plastic portfolio … Read more