Today I woke up quite tired with a headache, dragging. It wasn’t a holiday party the night before or a Christmas virus. I was just tired. I have a friend who believes strongly in naps, arguing that the body sometimes just needs to rest and listening to it is a true gift. I thought about... Continue Reading →
I woke up yesterday missing everyone who is gone. Once when I was young, my dad took us out to a sandbar with our boogie boards. The ocean was rougher that day than usual, and even though we were strong swimmers, I was tired by the time my feet hit sand after the gap. Once... Continue Reading →
Hands might be the answer. Busy hands, but not the kind of busy that means answering emails or important spreadsheets or to do lists. The kind of busy that can be put off and lasts more than a minute and takes just enough space in your brain to squish out all the other junk. If... Continue Reading →
It was odd, to be in a place so beautiful, clouds draped between crooks of the rolling mountains, like soft smoke, and I expected stress to melt off my shoulders but it stubbornly lingered. Like a cat brushing up against them, reminding of its indifferent presence. It wasn’t the setting that had me off-kilter. I... Continue Reading →
In my mid-thirties, I learned that not everyone worries. Anxiety isn’t a thing for many people. What?? [insert mind-blown emoji here] Stress, yes. Chronic anxiety? Not so much. For some of us who live with internal anxiety (or other struggles like depression) all the time, it’s hard to fathom just going about your day without... Continue Reading →
Elephant, she named it,Subtly has never been hers to claim.It wears a small bandaid, mostly worn awayon its left front legfrom her Doc McStuffins phase,And its tailbarely hangs on,having been heldfor years. We’ve found it under pillowswedged between cushionshiding cleverly in a desk cabinet(“Oh yes, she said upon finding it.“We were playing!”),dashing through the rain toretrieve... Continue Reading →
I haven’t been feeling super grounded lately.Or motivated.Or energized.Or ready.Or hopeful. I’ve felt like my fuel tank ticker has been holding steady on the “E” lately. A disappointing E. A redundantly empty E. In broad perspective, this seems ridiculous. Insert any cliché about how grateful I am for our life, because they all apply. In... Continue Reading →
2016/2024 I thought the tragedy-the shock of a thousand-foot drop-of losing Abramwould come rushing back,And it didfor a momentin the midnight blacklast night, when hope was lostand I remembered the feel ofunderstanding thatit would not be okay. Last time,days after being blindsidedby bullies and hatred,we found outour baby couldn’t live. Over and over,they had to... Continue Reading →
Parents, teachers/staff, families, students, and the community are exhausted. We’ve been fighting for our schools, fighting for our teachers and staff, fighting for our marginalized students. It's been a rollercoaster. After the School Board decided to close two amazing schools last year, I (with the most incredible group of Save Our Schools Warriors) showed up to... Continue Reading →
People ask what it’s like writing a novel. I’ve only written one ‘real’ novel, but I have been writing stories my entire life. Some short. Some long. Some for years. But to answer what it’s like to write a book? Well. It’s kind of fascinating getting to know your characters. We write them, yes. Write... Continue Reading →
