My 99-Year Old Grandma Saved My Life
My Grandma Ellen turned 99 Today She was born in Wakeeny, Kansas, Trego County, July 2, 1913. We celebrated with cake … a wine!
Category: Kids & Parents
Happy Father’s Day: An Image Is Worth a Thousand Words
This is what makes a father great: To my own dear dad on Father’s Day…
What’s Tearing My Relationship With My Daughters Apart
It’s 2:45 on Friday I arrive at their elementary school to pick my daughters up from 4th and 2nd grade. They approach, sluggishly, pinched
11 Wedding Anniversaries In Photos
More Than a Decade of Marriage! Sunday Henry and I celebrated eleven years of marriage by gorging on red meat and tippling mescal while
How to Throw a Greek Mythology Party For Kids!
First of all, don’t do it. Are you insane? But, if you must the very first thing you should do is to make the
The Celebration of a Life
On Saturday my mom had a celebration at her home for her passionate, intelligent, macho, intrepid, intractable, loving, Rennaisance-Man-of-a husband, Guido, who passed away last
Over The Edge, Death In Grand Canyon!
Over The Edge, Death In Grand Canyon is the title of the book I’m reading since Henry, the kids and I set off for the
Wordless Monday in Sedona, Arizona
We’re on spring break. There are no beer funnels. No calling parents from a Oaxacan jail. No tequila-induced tattoos of dancing Geishas on our
Battle of the Narcissists
I slump next to Fred, who is five, on a couch at his mom’s birthday party. Me: I can’t believe your mom is 47
I’m Pro-Choice Because I Love My Kids
I don’t consider this a political blog … But the whole Rush Limbaugh/Sandra Fluke kerfuffle and Obama’s excoriation by the religious right has me
Softball Mom
“Wow, your daughter’s got quite an arm!” says a dad sitting next to me at Little League softball tryouts. “Oh I don’t know … I
Do You Bore Your Kid?
I have two daughters who are seven and nine One needs constant conversation and connection. The other is a day-dreamer who entertains herself with
What Do You Tell Your Children About Death?
It’s been an awful year. We’ve lost three of our beloved elders. My sister-in-law’s health is precarious and we’re blazing the trail to bring
Love Is All That Matters
My father-in-law passed away Sunday night. He’d been a young stage actor in New York. He’d been one of the original writers on Captain Kangaroo. He’d
Relish The Moment. This One. Right Now.
This is not a funny one 2011 has been a difficult year for us and our extended family. Loss, diminishment, permanent change. My elegant
The Santa Con
I’ve been eating my weight in candy cane cookies and want to be in denial. Instead, I feel compelled to plumb the labyrinthine depths
Christmas Epiphany: Sit On The Couch And Drink Chardonnay
If I could control the moon, the sky, the sea, the stars and Ashton Kutcher’s wandering phallus I would. Which means, every year when
Sometimes You Just Gotta Go Sailing
The day after Thanksgiving I tried to get my daughters and my mother to help clean up. They said that they would, but
When Thanksgiving Sucks!
This was the worst Thanksgiving ever! None of the children broke any of their bones. No one got drunk and called everybody cheap bastard
What Happens When Harry Potter Is Just Too Scary!
I always forget that if my kids watch a scary movie this is where they end up! Thanks a lot Harry Potter!
Doesn’t She Know She Could Be In A Body Cast?
I lay in beside with my 9-year old Clare at bedtime. Something serious is troubling her. We’ve had several in-depth discussions about it already, but apparently
I Hate Halloween!
9:11 p.m. Halloween Night … Sugar. No more sugar. Or corn syrup. Or malto-yickitomasmazoo. I am tired of costumes that are scratchy and too tight
Why TV is Good For Kids
I Love Lucy saved my life when I was a kid. My parents divorced when I was two. Today I wouldn’t have it any
Will My Daughters Ever Love Each Other? (Sibling Rivalry)
All Hell Breaks Loose Clare and I were rolling around with our fat cat Marilyn Monroe on the bed I’ve been inhabiting with the
Requiem For a Heavyweight
September 16th, 2011 At 9 a.m. my stepfather Guido (yes, Guido, with all the ardor for life that implies) passed away due to the
