Favorite Fives

Favorite Fives

Long ago, the private high school my daughter attended had a wonderful yearly tradition. At the beginning of summer, they’d mail a reading list–a compilation of each teacher’s favorite books–to the house. Now, I’m sure the design was to...
Cat shit in the litter box

Cat shit in the litter box

Everybody fears that they’re not enough.  Everybody. My father used to say that intimacy breeds contempt.  This was his favorite motto, something he repeated every day So, I grew up believing that if someone got the chance to know the real me, they would hate my...
You are worth the risk

You are worth the risk

While I sat on a patio overlooking Phoenix surrounded by a swarm of buzzing people, I spotted a fellow introvert. In case you didn’t know, we’re the folks lining the perimeters with a cocktail glass in hand, doing our damndest to blend in with the wood...
Killing birds with one stone

Killing birds with one stone

I think about my arch nemesis–efficiency–a lot when I’m on a mountain.  Day in and day out, carrying one load up to a higher camp, going back down for another.  Breaking camp in the morning, setting it back up all over again at night....

The silliest thing that changed my life

I got to thinking about this bike rack I refused to buy because it looked like way too much bother. Anything that requires me to read a user’s manual, well, I I just don’t need it badly enough.  Yet, if I hadn’t been nagged to death to buy the...