My son said, "If your happiness depends on their happiness, you will never be happy". Yes, I had read or heard that quote before but this morning, it hit home. I have been keeping my grandchildren for the last week and candidly, these kids aren't happy people. Since their parent's divorce food, clothes, bedtime, getting into the car, playtime and TV viewing are all fraught with danger and the danger increases exponentially as each child weights in on the discussion. My grandchildren lost the...

I remember the first Thanksgiving after my father died, my mother sat in the seat that had traditionally been his seat at the dining room table. After saying grace, Mom gently laid her head on the table. Everyone seated at the table was stunned into silence. Time slowed as we tried to wrap our minds around what was happening. Finally, my son, Matthew said, "Grandmother are you oka...

I've mentioned hospice in some of my previous post so you know I am a supporter of the program As more of my friends are helping a loved one during their end of life journey, I've been asked about my experiences with hospice as a volunteer and as a one who asked for their assistance during my mother's end of life journey. I am glad to share my observations about this organization....

Two years ago my family was struggling with my mother's end of life journey. At the time I thought we were "living" but actually we were just managing to get through each medical crisis that mom suffered while precariously balancing caring for our own homes, work and personal relationships. Today I visualize the plate spinner

At the risk of speaking in clichés, I can't believe how fast this year has gone. Time is no longer a lazy river; it's now a fast-flowing and sometimes turbulent rapid. This time of the year I start thinking about my annual gift giving. Before starting my own company, I would give a little out of my regular paycheck but now; my giving is a one-time gift at the end of the year. Fa...

Several weeks ago some dear friends took us to a wonderful place that is all about food from Italy. Eataly, a little play on word(s) there, consists of a market, restaurants and a cooking school. The design of the space is engaging and welcoming even though it is wall-to-wall people at all hours of operation. Since the moment we left Eataly, I w...

Have you heard of Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants lawsuit or as popularly known the "McDonalds' Coffee" case? In 1994, Stella Liebeck sued and won from McDonald's damages after spilling a cup of its coffee in her lap. Ms. Liebeck suffered third-degree burns and had to have skin grafts to heal. This case became the poster child for an out of control legal system where frivolous l...

{What story would you tell?}I love a good story. One of the reasons I am engaged to Marty is that he is a good, no, a great story teller. He tells the most fantastical and amusing stories about the people in his life. During his storytelling sessions he will   humorously describes in detail his grandfather's "square head". Or h...

I love to read. Being curled up with a good book on a rainy day is almost perfection. Better yet, reading a good book to my grandchildren is perfection. The last time I finished reading a book to my #1 granddaughter, she said unsolicited, "I love you", as she ran out to play with her friends. My heart almost stopped as I thought, "she loves a good book as much I do". ...

I was talking with my friend and fellow writer Kristin yesterday. (More accurately we were texting, young people including my children and grandchildren have whole conversations through texting. I've learned to converse this way and now know more about my kids than when talking was our primary method of communication.) Some of you may