There comes a moment on every path when what looks less like a clear road looks more like a junk drawer mired in mess. That's what cancer side effects, brain fog, neuropathy, autoimmune, GI, and vision issues, has looked like for me - roads that are still not cleared. But doubt also shows up not… Continue reading Finding Clarity in Uncertainty: Take the Next Small Step
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
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
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
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
Daily writing promptWhat’s a song lyric that has stuck with you forever?View all responses Today's earworm is... 'Cause you had a bad day, you're taking one down, you sing a sad song just to turn it around. You say you don't know, you tell me, don't lie. You work at a smile, and you go… Continue reading So You Had a Bad Day
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…
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
“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.”
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
Exploring the Queen City's Evolution in Innovation, Sports, Music, and Cuisine ...a love letter to the city that raised me My hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, long the subject of good-natured ribbing for its supposed 20-year lag behind national trends, has in recent years become a city in the midst of a spirited renaissance. For as… Continue reading Cincinnati: Culturally Behind or Blossoming at the Forefront
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 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?
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
It's my mom's birthday. She would have been 88 today. It's strange to think how many family events she's missed in these past seven years. She was the glue that held us together. I wish I still had her counsel and support. I miss her nuggets of wisdom. I also miss her over the top… Continue reading How Old Photos Help Us Remember Loved Ones
Our Humble Road 