Surviving Rogue Waves
I live next to the Pacific Ocean. The shore is rocky, sometimes sandy but sometimes treacherous. At a few beaches, there are caution signs where the…
Holding Onto My Loss
It is common, I expect, this desire to “process correctly.” It is a stubborn ideal borne out of independence, success, and the force of personality. We…
Gestures of Love
They were standing together, a group of female students. It was time for class, time to move inside. Without thinking, I lifted the bottom cluster of curls…
Being Broken
During my walk with my dog today, we came upon someone else who was walking a dog, as we often do. I made polite conversation as we rounded the corner, but…
What to Remember
There are so many images that sometimes press themselves into my mind, pictures I do not want to see, moments in time I do not want to…
Visions of Life – and Longing
Yesterday was a very hot day. When I was out for my morning walk, people were already headed to the beach in shorts and suits. Some had already…
Listening in the Night
In the wee hours as I slept, I was awakened by the sound of the house settling and immediately assumed Camila was getting up to go…
Fill Your Heart with Love
Everyone develops coping mechanisms, things they do to help them get through the days and the long hours of the night. When I began trying to…
Learning to Live with Sadness
I know, as all of you know, what it feels like to be sad. I defined my new state after my daughter’s death as “learning to…
A Compassionate Friend 