returns
There's been a lot of focus on the stock market lately. I have to confess -- I don't know much about it. I've never owned stock, and so all of the uproar goes on largely unnoticed by me, since my day is not affected whether things go up or down. Just the same, it got me to thinking. I talk…
farewells
The end of summer has always been a bit melancholy for me. Every year when I was a kid, we would rent a house on Cape Cod for vacation. Crossing the Bourne or Sagamore Bridge, or even waiting in the car for my parents to retrieve the key from the rental agency, felt like a beginning. Time went…
mind games
I have asthma. There have been times in my past when a particular attack was so sudden and severe that I wondered if I would make it out alive. Ever since, I've played a sort of "game" with breathing. Or rather, not breathing. The game is simple. I hold my breath. And I set various challenges…
young love
Yesterday, I was handed a love letter. However, the letter was not meant for me. Rather, it was written by a young teen boy, and I was asked to read it and then give my opinion of it. Oh, the pressure. And the honor. First of all, the letter was printed by hand on wide-ruled paper. In pencil.…
the other side
Today, I had a killer migraine. It was of a particular sort that I hadn't had in years. The closest I can come to describing it is that it feels as if a metal pipe has been thrust through my cheek bone at an angle and is protruding from my eye socket. As graphic as that may be for an opener,…
what lies beneath
Last night, as part of my birthday celebration, Chad planned a surprise for me. When he arrived and I opened the sliding door of his van to set down my ubiquitous black backpack, I noticed that the rear seats were draped with scuba gear. Two sets. Knowing I am always one for a new adventure,…
look who's a big boy
It is 12:01 on August 7th and that means – it's my birthday! Yay me. In keeping with my own advice, I'm taking time out today to enjoy friends and to celebrate being alive. Thanks for being part of this previous year with me. I'll see you tomorrow to start the next one together. Here's hoping…
save yourself
One of my very first posts was entitled "carlotta's wisdom." In it, I shared three of the best pieces of advice I've ever heard or given. If you have not yet read it (or haven't read it in a while), I highly recommend doing so. In response to yesterday's post, "hitting the wall," Dibby responded…
hitting the wall
No matter how determined you are to remain positive, everyone has times when we find ourselves burning the candle at both ends, running late for everything, and still feeling like we aren't getting it all done. This past week was just such a week for me. It seemed a good time to share with you…
(extra)ordinary
I live in one of the smallest states, and yet we somehow manage to cram 351 towns and cities into it. I'm no spring chicken, and I still see on the news or hear mention of some little town and say, "Really? That's in Massachusetts? Never heard of it." Then, there is the lengthy roster of…