There was something big that appeared in my life back in 2018 that I wonder how many other people have experienced or have inherently known all along - joy can exist beside pain. That was the year I lost my mother and met my husband. I was in my own year of magical thinking. Profound… Continue reading The Coexistence of Joy and Pain
Category: Empty Nest Life
Life Isn’t Fair – But It’s Still Worth Living
From childhood, when I began to have agency, I was strident about the wrongs I saw in life, from the small things to the big things. Hypocrisy and deliberate wrongdoing grated me to my bones. And I saw it everywhere. Over time I got used to seeing people succeeding who cheated or people who hurt… Continue reading Life Isn’t Fair – But It’s Still Worth Living
Home Security Upgrades in Our 1914 Bungalow
Since we have lived in our little house, we have been making updates as problems have arisen. I bought this house in 2018 and within weeks had a furnace that didn't work when the first cold snap appeared. Thankfully that was just a repair. Since then we've had to replace the hot water heater, repair… Continue reading Home Security Upgrades in Our 1914 Bungalow
Finding Peace in Everyday Moments
There’s a moment, usually sometime between the end of the day and the beginning of the evening, when everything finally goes quiet. Not the kind of quiet you get from shutting a door or turning off a TV — the deeper kind, the one that shows up when your mind stops sprinting and your heart… Continue reading Finding Peace in Everyday Moments
Fireworks, Sirens, That Was Us, and Where is my Senator…
It’s been eventful since my last blog post over the ensuing months. I’ve been meaning to write but things have been happening that have prevented me from it. There is much to catch up on, friends. So, this is a bit of a long read. Happy 250th birthday United States of America… Friends in Cleveland,… Continue reading Fireworks, Sirens, That Was Us, and Where is my Senator…
Friendship and Health During Cancer Recovery
A curious thing happened this past week. An old friend popped up in Messenger on a grade school thread with random comments and photos. After days of this, I realized I started the thread a few years ago. It has been dormant for a while. I have been acutely aware of the people who have… Continue reading Friendship and Health During Cancer Recovery
Surviving January: Tales from a Cold and Challenging Month
“A raw, honest look at surviving a brutally hard January—old house problems, chronic pain, financial strain, and the grit it takes to keep going. A GenX story of resilience, community, and finding hope in the mess.”
Unplugging and Recharging: Finding Solace in Simplicity
Recognizing When It's Time to Step Back and Rediscover Balance On the heels of a busy holiday season, I transition into my busiest season at work - Q1. From November through April the rhythm of daily life beats relentlessly on and demands seem ceaseless. With my new normal, living with the side effects of cancer… Continue reading Unplugging and Recharging: Finding Solace in Simplicity
Embracing the Winter Solstice: A Time for Reflection
The winter solstice is here, December 21, 2025. It's what I like to call the long winter's night. The nadir of the natural world. I once read, to paraphrase, that it's the ending, the death, of the cycle of life. Celebrating solstices is among the oldest traditions and rituals known to humans, along with storytelling… Continue reading Embracing the Winter Solstice: A Time for Reflection
What Are the Algorithims Trying to Tell Me?
What is the world trying to tell me? Robert Frost is popping into my scroll today. Maybe the algorithm is saying, hey you, yeah you, you are not going to ignore feelings. And I'm just - I can't. But that f&*(er is being persistent, and he is all about deep diving into the ethos of… Continue reading What Are the Algorithims Trying to Tell Me?
Facing Cancer and Loss: Reflections on Family Bonds
Since March of 2022 I have lost two siblings, Larry to Covid-19 and Becky to pancreatic cancer, and now within this past month two brothers have become gravely ill. And others have serious health issues that they live with on the daily. This is life in middle age. I love being from a big family… Continue reading Facing Cancer and Loss: Reflections on Family Bonds
When Others Make You Feel Not Good Enough
We've all had those moments - sometimes fleeting, other times painfully persistent - when someone's words or actions make us doubt our own value. It can come from a seemingly innocuous comment, a comparison to someone else, or an outright criticism. Suddenly, it leaves you questioning if you measure up, if you're worthy, if you… Continue reading When Others Make You Feel Not Good Enough
Gratitude Month: Welcoming November’s Thankfulness
November marks Gratitude Month, a time for reflection and appreciation in the cozy atmosphere of autumn. Emphasizing gratitude's significance, the writer shares personal goals like keeping a gratitude journal, expressing thanks, and fostering community gratitude. They suggest various practices to deepen gratitude, encouraging a culture of kindness and connection.
Older Siblings: The Unsung Role Models in Our Lives
How Big Brothers and Sisters Shape Who We Become I was having a conversation with my younger sister Angie last week about something my oldest brother said off-handed to me a few years ago - that we did not grow up together. It seemed important to him that my husband understood this. It is a… Continue reading Older Siblings: The Unsung Role Models in Our Lives
Life Hacks for Tackling Aromatase Inhibitor Side Effects
My Attempts to Outsmart My Breast Cancer Meds I'm sharing the real real of what it takes to try to mitigate daily side effects because of a comment on my last post. If there is some way I may possibly pay it forward from my experience, I am humbled by the opportunity. Let's be honest:… Continue reading Life Hacks for Tackling Aromatase Inhibitor Side Effects
Living Through Layers: My Journey with Hidradenitis Suppurativa After Cancer, Covid, and More
The author reflects on their difficult health journey from 2020 to 2025, marked by diagnoses including diabetes, COVID-19, and breast cancer. Following grief and physical challenges, they also confront Hidradenitis Suppurativa, an incurable autoimmune disease. Despite struggles, they emphasize resilience, self-compassion, and the importance of community support through chronic illness.
The Curious Case of the Vanishing Steak Knives
Ghosts Have a Thing About Serrated Edges? Before you roll your eyes, please hear me out. I live in a 111-year-old house, with all the quirks that come with it. When unloading the dishwasher recently with my husband, we noticed that two of our steak knives are missing. Over the past few years, it's losing… Continue reading The Curious Case of the Vanishing Steak Knives
Tea Time Reflections: Finding Strength in Community and Renewal
This week, the author reflects on the comforting ritual of tea as fall approaches, symbolizing renewal after treatment for cancer. They express gratitude for community support, including a touching encounter with a young girl at a church festival who offered a prayer. Amidst exploring gardening and local living, they seek new tea suggestions.
Silent Threads: Cancerversary, Breast Cancer, Trauma, and Healing
Hey everyone, it’s my cancerversary. I’m officially a two-year breast cancer survivor today. This warrior is still fighting the good fight but today is a day to celebrate. Health update (for those who’ve asked, skip if TMI for you): I’ve had laser surgery on my right eye, and the left one will be done early… Continue reading Silent Threads: Cancerversary, Breast Cancer, Trauma, and Healing
Ozzy’s Passing: The Unexpected Weight of Loss
Reflections on GenX Apathy, Nihilism, and the Outsider's Truth I've tried writing about Ozzy Osbourne's passing multiple times in the past few weeks. The words and feelings have been swirling around me. His songs have been time traveling earworms. I've been transported back to the 70s as an elementary school student with an older brother… Continue reading Ozzy’s Passing: The Unexpected Weight of Loss
Our Humble Road 