My book. We all use that phrase: I’ll get to the (laundry, dishes, litter box, job search) just as soon as I finish my book. My book. It doesn’t matter whose actual book it is — Patricia Cornwell, Dan Brown, Mark Twain, Jane Austen — once we pick it up…

A caregiver’s perspective — I don’t even want to think about the holidays right now. For the last four years, I’ve been the primary caregiver for my dad. “Good for you!” they say…they being the people who have never taken in an aging parent and changed their entire life around his or her needs. …

You know how ancient cave paintings are assumed to be some meaningful representation of Neanderthal life? A symbolic, historic creation, most likely illustrated by a caveman elder or chief? I don’t believe it. I think the artists behind all those drawings were cave women. …

There’s nothing like a pandemic to shine a bright spotlight on the challenges a caregiver faces. Any interventions or assistance one might have had in place before the quarantine and subsequent shut down probably evaporated and made the term “24/7” a living reality. I don’t know who needs to hear…

This is an old essay…from about 17 years ago. It felt appropriate to bring it back now, on Mother’s Day, because it’s still how I feel. No matter what is going on in the world to divide us, many of have a need to unite. …

I came across an article recently, but I’m not going to point out where or even identify it very much, because this isn’t about judgment. A young mom was describing her initially peaceful morning that had suddenly escalated into a realm of nightmarish proportions. Screaming, tears, storming through doors…and that…

A recent conversation between my husband and me went a little like this: Him: So, think you’ll take a shower today? Me: (annoyed) I took a shower Tuesday. Him: Today’s Tuesday. Me: Him: Me: I’m gonna just go jump in the shower… I’ve only been in isolation for a couple…

Like a baby that finally drops into your pelvis to signal impending motherhood, my wattle dropped the other day to herald impending death. Too dramatic? Maybe, but we all know there’s no coming back from a wattle drop. You can color your hair, peel your skin, lift your eyebrows or…

My god is non-binary. My god’s pronouns are they/their. When I summon my god, I don’t really pray so much as I think about the issues I’m struggling with and wish I could handle them better. But if I had to call what I’m doing praying, it mostly sounds like…