Tag Archives: Family

My Greatest Achievement of 2026 So Far .... 1

My Greatest Achievement of 2026 So Far ….

4 Replies

These past two weeks have been momentous for me. Thanks to my mom, I’ve now visited all 50 states.

Yes, that’s right – I visited Alaska!

The words "Love Alaska" are in white block letters on a riverbank with foliage in the background.

It was not on my list of places to visit this year, which includes Connecticut, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, but it was next and last on my list of 50 states to visit.

Now, while you may think that the trip to Alaska itself was my greatest achievement thus far in 2026, I’m delighted to report that the trip was only a contributing factor.

We had such a fun time, with 5 days on land and 7 days at sea. We saw so much wildlife – whales, harbor seals, stellar seals, mama and baby caribou, mama and baby grizzlies, mama and baby black bears, one coastal brown bear, ptarmigans all over Denali, eagles all over the coast, snowshoe hare, and moose – and we even got a glimpse of the elusive peak of Denali, which is a mountain so massive that it creates its own weather system and only 30% of visitors ever see it.

A photo collage. From top right: a block of glacier ice, a moose laying down among trees, stellar seals on a green buoy, a juvenile male coastal brown bear, a humpback whale breeching the water, the Hubbard Glacier, and Denali National Park.

Then there was the cruise itself. As someone who works hard against overconsumption both on an individual and societal level, it was hard to witness such excess. However, being on a cruise with my mom, husband, and niece was also a delightful way to spend time with family where we didn’t have to worry about how we were going to get somewhere, what we were going to eat, what we were going to do, and who was going to clean up after us. So there will be some cognitive dissonance to unpack in the coming days, which means I will likely justify the trip to myself as a way to spend time with my family that I only see a handful of times a year in a stress-free way.

While we loved getting off the cruise ship for our excursions, such as whale watching in Icy Strait Point

A humpback whale breeching the water with a snow-capped mountain in the background

Photo courtesy of Macy Sherrill, one of the naturalists guiding our whale watching tour. The whale in the photo is named Heavy Dave.

or taking the White Pass into the Yukon on a historic train,

A historic train riding on tracks on a snowcapped mountain

I took this picture from the outdoor viewing area from the last train car.

we also loved the activities on board the cruise ship, such as watching musical variety shows and playing games, including The Price Is Right.

The leaderboard of a gameshow listing names and ranks

It is in this latter category of entertainment where I accomplished my greatest achievement of 2026 (so far). Friends, you are now reading the words of the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas Twilight Trivia Champion, a feat I won single-handedly.

This is now my second Twilight trivia championship, the first being from the Odd 13 Brewery Trivia Night in Lafayette, CO. However, the Odd 13 championship was a group effort with a few other women from the Romancing the Tropes book club I belong to at the Westminster Library, and this championship was truly just me and my brain.

I won with 16/20 points, and for a few minutes during the questions round, I felt convinced I would not win because some of them were hard, such as what is Bella’s mother’s full name, how many chromosomes does a vampire have, and what song plays during the iconic baseball scene in the Twilight movie. While I could tell you the mother’s first name (Renee; turns out her last name is Dwyer), and that they discussed the chromosome count in Breaking Dawn, I couldn’t even hear the song from the baseball scene in my head enough to formulate a guess.

The other question I got wrong was which Jane Austen book Bella reads in Twilight, and I said Mansfield Park. While it is mentioned in the book, Bella decides not to read that one because the main character, Edmund, is too close to her love interest, Edward.

I will never get these questions wrong again!

Another question I’ll never get wrong again is what address did Chandler tell Janice he was moving to on Friends?

Wait. What? Wasn’t I writing about Twilight?

Yes, I was. But surprise! I’m also the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas Friends Trivia Champion, with a one-question assist from my mom.

The answer to the above address question is 15 Yemen Road, Yemen. My answer had been 1 Yemen Road, Yemen. Dang it! I was so close on that one.

Thankfully, my mom knew the answer to the one question I truly guessed for the answer: What was the brand of lipstick Joey advertised in Japan?

I wrote down konnichiwa, however, my mom knew the answer was ichiban. That correct answer got me to a tie-breaker round with another cruise goer who also scored 19/20.

It all came down to one final question – how many episodes was Gunther in? I guessed 200 and the other competitor guessed 215. The correct answer given was 145, but as I’m fact-checking that number on Google, Wikipedia says 148 and the BBC says 185 and IMDB says 164.

So even though I am thrilled to have spent quality time in all 50 states, and time with my family in Alaska, I am ecstatic to be a twice-crowned trivia champion on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The fact that it’s Twilight and Friends really does make me feel proud because of how much I loved the books and show.

Will this feat end up being my greatest achievement in all of 2026? Only time will tell! On Tuesday, I’m giving the keynote address at the Recycle Colorado Summit, and my agent is diligently at work on another of my manuscripts that will hopefully go on submission soon.

Let’s see what else the summer has in store for us ….

Three people sitting under the Denali National park sign in Alaska

I had to use magic eraser to remove other people from this photo, which resulted in a bit of editing slop where interior is now misspelled!

Wading birds in a pond with green mountains in the background.

Fun With Family and Friends

2 Replies

This year, as part of my 25 in 25 list, I made a goal to visit Connecticut, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Although it’s an ambitious goal, given that I can’t take long trips during the academic year, I felt confident that I could achieve it.

Why these particular states? Well, PA and TN are where my family and Heath’s family live. CT and NC are where friends who are like family live. Nebraska and Oklahoma are the two remaining continental US states I have yet to visit.

We’re almost halfway through 2025, and I am crushing this goal! I spent Spring Break in Connecticut meeting Lucy Honey Bee and reminding Annie I’m her #1 fan.

A golden retriever puppy on the left and an adult golden retriever on the right share a stick while out in the woods.

Lucy Honey Bee (left) and Annie (right).

An adult golden retriever walks down a hill in the Norfolk, CT, woods.

Despite Lucy being ridiculously cute, I made sure Annie and I went on special “No Puppies Allowed” walks.

Heath and I took a weekend jaunt to Scott’s Bluff, NE, and found ourselves marveling over the rugged beauty and delicious food.

Badlands rock formations against a blue sky

Scotts Bluff National Monument

At the end of May, I headed to PA for a somewhat impromptu visit to my family. When I looked at my calendar and considered my summer teaching schedule from July 8-August 8 and how quickly the fall semester would start after that, I realized I might not get the opportunity to visit later in the summer.

Highlights from that visit include going to the Hershey Gardens with my mom and niece, playing games, birdwatching at Wildwood Lake, visiting with my mentors from college, eating the below birthday cake cinnamon roll at the Hershey Pantry, and then enjoying the experience so much, that we returned to the Hershey Pantry with even more people for their afternoon tea.

Collage of photos - clockwise from upper right is a snowy egret in a pond, a close up of a yellowish orange rose, an old fashioned carousel horse pulling a carriage of flowers, three cinnamon rolls covered in birthday sprinkles, a three-tiered serving tray with sandwiches and pastries, an expansive stone building with green roof with a fountain, tiles from a memory game that all say the word "honey," butterflies sitting on a green leaf, and a young woman facing away from the camera and sitting on a beam while looking through binoculars.
And last weekend I was in NC for a teaching conference at Duke University in Durham, NC. With the conference schedule, I was able to squeeze in visits with many of my friends and it was so much fun to see them again.

I also received a delightful perspective shift. On Saturday morning, when I walked around Duke’s campus on my way to the conference center, it was nearly empty. I saw its beauty in a way that I had never appreciated before, having walked across the campus at least a dozen or so times during grad school and my sabbatical.

Fun With Family and Friends 2

I don’t know if I would have prioritized any of these trips if I hadn’t set such an ambitious travel goal. These visits may have been more of a back-burner idea, and without conscious effort, it’s likely they would have stayed simmering as desires rather than concrete plans. Which goes to show that setting intentions can make a difference!

Up next on the list is Oklahoma. Heath and I have a trip planned for August to see a meteor shower at one of their state parks. I’m sure August will be here before we know it.

In the meantime, stay cool during these hot summer days, and if you have a travel goal this summer, I hope you get there!

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 3

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog

8 Replies

I’ve been a little light on posting this summer, and it’s not because I haven’t had anything to write about. On the contrary, I’ve had so many things to write about, some life-changing, that overwhelm has been a near-constant companion since May.

In the past three months, CU Boulder hired me as a full-time teaching faculty member in the psychology and neuroscience department (I start August 19), I said goodbye to our life as housesitters, Heath and I moved into a single-family home in Lafayette, CO, we finalized our move from Norfolk (ie., last week we packed up in a U-haul our remaining stuff stored in our friends’ basement and then drove from Norfolk to Lafayette by way of Harrisburg, PA, and Murfreesboro, TN, and my beloved buddy, Dodger, died in my arms.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 4

The first photo I ever took of Dodger and the last photo I ever took of Dodger.

I’ll write about all these events soon, but today I honor Dodger, a dog unlike any other with his sassy attitude, envelope ears, and butterscotch heart.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 5

Barbour Woods, 2018

Dodger and his mama Cecily were a huge part of my life in Norfolk. I wrote about them on this blog multiple times (see here, here and here for examples). The world lost Cecily in June 2022, and a little over two years later, Dodger joined her. Dodger’s adoptive parents knew his end was coming. Throughout the spring, they had kept me updated on his declining health. I asked them to tell Dodger he didn’t have to wait for me to come back to Norfolk this summer and that if he needed to go, he should go. We knew we loved each other.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 6

Cecily’s Porch, July 2022

He held on. My flight to Norfolk landed at Bradley-International Airport on Thursday, July 11th. After a good friend picked me up and dropped me off at Annie and her human’s house, and a quick hello and hugs to them, I headed over to see Dodger.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 7

Barbour Woods, February 2018

Although it was heartbreaking to see such a commanding and agile dog as Dodger hobbling around, his face retained every inch of his Dodgerness. I understood exactly what his adoptive parents meant by his “mixed signals” when having to make the hardest decision in Dodger’s life.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 8

Barbour Woods, October 2020

I spent that night with him and then went over again to spend hours with him on Friday night. I was told the plan had been set. A vet would come to the house on Monday.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 9

Barbour Woods, June 2020

But Dodger never did anything according to what we planned, and Friday night, he took a turn for the worse. The vet was able to fit him in on Saturday, and his adoptive parents generously and graciously offered me to go with them.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 10

Eve, Cecily, and Dodger in Cecily’s Living Room, February 2019

The moment I walked in and saw him on Saturday afternoon, I knew they were making the right decision. It was time. Well, it was time for Dodger. There would never be enough time for me to get in all the walks, belly rubs, and reminisces of our time together.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 11

Dodger with mini-Dodger, a stuffed dog made by Eve Thew, August 2019

We spent our final hours together, and then suddenly, we were in the car going to the vet. Along the way, Dodger became a little agitated. The idea occurred to me that I had many videos of Cecily in my cloud storage, so I quickly found one of the longer videos (I knew where to look) and played the video on a loop. Dodger immediately settled down at the sound of Cecily’s voice.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 12

Halloween, 2019 (I carved the pumpkin to look like Dodger)

Cecily’s name became a refrain we all echoed at some point during Dodger’s final hour – just a little bit longer, and you’ll be with Cecily again.  

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 13

Christmas, 2020

Dodger’s death hits particularly hard because I truly feel it’s the end of an era. I met Cecily and Dodger early during our time in Norfolk and I spent countless hours over there every week. For over two years, Heath worked as one of Cecily’s caregivers. So many times, I tagged along on their outings. We always had such a splendid time.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 14

Cecily, Heath, and Dodger, Harney & Sons, Millerton, NY, October 2019

There were so many small, joyful moments with Cecily and Dodger – dinners, birthdays, Super Bowl parties, Christmases, and the most spectacular sunsets viewed off of Cecily’s side porch. She had, arguably, the best sunset view in Norfolk.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 15

July 2019, Cecily’s Porch

Cecily’s family sold her house last year so I’ll never again be able to watch one of those porch sunsets. When I drove by her house the day after Dodger died, I felt empty with loss. I no longer have any direct connection to Cecily, just my memories. Some I’ll never forget, like how I was driving Dodger home from the vet in Cecily’s car when I finally saw my first black bear in Norfolk after three years, and some are gone forever, thanks to my journal being stolen last year.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 16

On the way back from Sand Road Vet, May 2020; Dodger could not care less we saw a bear

Thankfully, I am good friends with Dodger’s adoptive parents so that connection remains alive and well. We marveled over the idea that when we met eight years ago, we never could have guessed that someday we’d be sharing profound grief together over someone else’s dog in a veterinary exam room. We all had Dodger in our arms for those last few minutes.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 17

Goodbye, my sweet and sassy Dodge Podge. It was a great honor to know and love you.

The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 18 The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 19 The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 20 The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 21 The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 22 The End of an Era: Goodbye Dodger Dog 23

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 24

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List

2 Replies

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! This has been a rocky year for me with so many changes, uncertainties, and ups and downs, and I wouldn’t have gotten through it so comfortably without the help of my mom. Thanks, Mom! She prefers to take photos instead of being in them, so I improvised.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 25

Improvised photo of my Great Mom

That’s Stella in the window, by the way. She’s a half-coyote, half-Australian Cattle dog I took care of the first week of May. She’s super sweet and the most hilarious sleeper I know. I took approximately 40 pictures of her just sleeping on the couch.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 26
In addition to my mom, there are other Great Moms out there that I admire. This list is by no means exhaustive, but when I think about this last year in particular and leaving Norfolk (it will be one year since we left on May 14), these women are of special note.

First is Heath’s mom, who made it a point to teach her sons to cook and clean. When it comes to domestic skills, Heath is far and away the champion in our household, and I, unfortunately, am the weakest link. I am incredibly grateful Heath’s mom prioritized these skills in her children.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 27
Next is Annie’s human mom, who may be my greatest cheerleader for new endeavors and experiences. She is always enthusiastic about my choices, even though a lot of them mean we don’t get to spend that much time in person for the foreseeable future.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 28
There’s also Fergus’s human mom, who has a special place in my heart for giving me so many opportunities to take care of Fergus and even paying me to do it! She’s been rooting for me to find my place in this world and I am so grateful for her love and support.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 29

Photo by Sonja Zinke from the Norfolk Library 2nd Annual Pet Parade

Up next on my Great Moms list is Dottie, who will be turning 101 this year! A hug from Dottie can turn your whole day around. She is a bright and shiny beacon of light in this world, and I miss seeing her smiling face. She also hosts one heck of a tea party!

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 30
My friend, Barbara, is also on my Great Mom’s list. Barbara and I would listen to music nearly every week I lived in Norfolk. It’s because of Barbara that I can identify Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream within one second of hearing the first note.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 31
Cecily may not be of this world anymore, but she’ll always be on my Great Moms list. Cecily had a true zest for life, and we bonded every day over our love of Dodger. Cecily also loved going out and about with Heath on her arm, and I found her endearment towards Heath so charming.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 32
Speaking of Cecily and Dodger, I’m including Dodger’s new mom on my list of Great Moms because I can’t imagine a better home for him. Dodger turned 15 on April 19th, and he’s doing remarkably well for his age. He is loved, adored, and well-cared for, and that’s all anyone could ask for in a second dog mom.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 33
Last but not least on my Great Moms list is my 86-year-old best friend, Arlene, who lives in North Carolina. We recently celebrated nine years of friendship in February. I admire Arlene’s wit and wisdom. Her penmanship is practically perfect. She loves dogs, horses, and writing. It’s because of Arlene that I know and love Rilke and that I had the courage to find my own writing voice. Arlene once wrote an essay years ago about how “the truth will set you free.” I think about her essay often and how her writing has such a profound effect on my life. Although I don’t have a photo of Arlene readily accessible, I do have this photo of her penmanship to share. When Heath and I eloped, I carried photos of my loved ones in my pocket. I also didn’t have a photo of Arlene then, but I did have one of her letters.

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 34

So that’s my (non-exhaustive) list of Great Moms. Although I am not a mom and much prefer to be the “fun Aunt Kelly” to children and animals, maybe that will change in the future. When I went to the Boulder Farmer’s Market yesterday, I took this picture and sent it to Heath:

My (Non-Exhaustive) Great Moms List 35

Have a great day, everyone!

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears 36

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears

Leave a reply

This year, I’m celebrating Easter with dogs and cats in bunny ears.

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears 37

These photos bring me joy, and I like to think that the time I spend creating them is one way I demonstrate my love and affection for the animals involved and their associated people.

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears 38

Now that it’s almost April, I only have a few more days with Basil and Irving. This month with them has gone by way too quickly. I’m no longer convinced they’re cats. After careful consideration, I believe they’re wizards and that they’ve cast a love spell on me.

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears 39

The level of ardor and devotion I have for these two is unprecedented because they’re, well, not dogs. I’m as surprised as anyone!

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears 40

I did put in an offer to be added to the list of people called if there’s ever a catastrophe and their humans need to find them a new home. I’ve been fantasizing about packing them up and taking them with me, so I’m pleased my offer was accepted. Maybe someday we’ll be together again; of course, I don’t actually hope for this outcome to happen. But it’s nice to know that I can now count wizards in my extended family.

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears 41

Happy Easter to all who celebrate! For those who don’t, Happy Sunday!

Dogs and Cats in Bunny Ears 42

Thanksgiving 2021 43

Thanksgiving 2021

2 Replies

I’m glad it’s Thanksgiving this week, because it gives me a ready-made topic to write about: Top 10 Things I’m Grateful for This Year.

  1. My husband, Heath. This year has been another challenging one, particularly with sleep issues. Heath is a constant source of unconditional love and support. The last time I struggled this much with my sleep, I was single. I eventually improved, so I know I have it in me to stay the course with my health as a single person. But I’m incredibly grateful I don’t have to.
  2. DOGS! Speaking of unconditional love and support, dogs are also up there at the top of my list. Dogs bring me such joy! I can’t imagine my life without them. This point leads me to …
  3. The people who let me love their dogs. This will be my first full year since 2013 that I did not live with one or more dogs. It’s been an adjustment to say the least, and I still find myself tearing up every now and again when I think of my furry friends I’ve lost along the way. So an extra special thank you to those people who ask me to take care of their dogs and love them like they’re my own.
  4. My mom. She is one of the most generous people I know. The only way my mom could get even better is if she got a dog.
  5. My best friend, Arlene. I met Arlene while on sabbatical in Chapel Hill, NC, in 2014. Arlene is almost 40 years older than me, and that doesn’t matter in the slightest. We understand each other, and every Thursday I call her. Sometimes we don’t chat, and I just leave a message. But we always know to expect a phone call on Thursdays at 11:30am.
  6. My BFF Michelle. Michelle and I have been friends for maybe 17 years now. We can’t really nail down the date of when we went from being grad school acquaintances to good friends. The pandemic, however, changed everything. We experienced a Frien-essance (the friend version of a Renaissance) this year through Zoom and that’s one of my silver linings of the pandemic. Also shoutout to Beth, who often joins us on our Zooms. I’m grateful my friendship with her has gotten deeper this year, too.
  7. My TPEP friends. These are the friends I made when working for the Tobacco, Prevention, and Evaluation Program way back in the mid 00s when I worked in the Department of Family Medicine, UNC School of Medicine as a research assistant. I doubt I will ever have such a dynamic and fun group of friends at work. We stay in touch a few times a year and I love them all SO MUCH!
  8. My imagination and creativity. These are my two greatest natural gifts. Because of my imagination and creativity, I am never at a loss when writing a story. In fact, I often have too many stories to write, and then have to choose which ones to write and which ones to let go. As a first world problem, I’ll take it!
  9. My mentors. There are some people in this world, such as Dr. Al Forsyth and his wife Peggy, and Dr. Adam O. Goldstein, who believe in me no matter. They’ve each contributed their own way to the person I am today.
  10. My improving sleep. Friends, I am cautiously optimistic in telling you that my narcolepsy medicine is working. I am no longer waking up every morning experiencing post-traumatic stress from my dreams. I no longer need a nap at 8:30am and again at 4:00pm. I am not heading straight to the couch after I wake up. I feel so different these mornings as of late, that sometimes I don’t even know what to do with myself.

As I was writing this list, I realized that Top 10 is too limiting. I immediately wanted to make it a Top 20, then Top 50. For brevity’s sake, I’ll stop here. Kinda. Because now I’m going to give a few honorable mentions: My niece, who is brilliant and creative, my writing group, who is AWESOME, the Norfolk Library, who provides AMAZING health insurance even though I only work part-time, my productivity club, where we provide unconditional support to each other, Ruth, who reads my blog regularly and is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, Dottie, who gives the best hugs in Norfolk, and Jeannine and Jeff, who continue to make me laugh.

There are so many more people and things I could list. I’m really going to stop now. At least for now.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Thanksgiving 2021 44

 

Cool Winter Blues

Leave a reply

Our daylight hours are dwindling. With the shortest day of the year only two weeks away, here in Norfolk we’re down to about 9 hours of daylight each day.

That’s a lot of darkness we’re up against.

On the other hand, it means that when I walk Dodger on Sundays, I get to see some spectacular light displays shining through the tree branches in the Barbour Woods.

Cool Winter Blues 45

Cool Winter Blues 46

I know winter is not the favorite season for most people. I think I’m in the minority as it’s my favorite season.

At least, I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite season. I do enjoy the leaves changing in fall and the promise of new life and growth in spring. And then we have those long summer days.

Maybe my favorite season is the one I’m currently experiencing?

Anyway, I do love winter. I especially love being outside when it’s sunny and cold. With the proper equipment and clothes, the experience can be wonderful.

On my walk with Dodger this afternoon, the light cast a gentle blue tint over the woods.

Cool Winter Blues 47

It’s magical, don’t you think?

And let’s be honest — Dodger is once handsome devil!

Cool Winter Blues 48

Feeling grateful to have this experience with one of my favorite dogs! At the same time, the experience is blue in other ways. Much like I wrote about when the leaves were changing color a few weeks ago, I can’t help but think of my Dad and how he didn’t know it was his last fall in 2019, just like he didn’t know it would be his last chance to see snow fall last winter. I suppose this cycle of “lasts” will continue as I work through my grief.

The only way forward is through. It’s not easy. It’s certainly not quick. But it is good. I think I’m starting to understand the expression good grief. 

Thank goodness I have such a wonderful support system in place, with includes Heath, and Cecily and Dodger here in Norfolk.

Cool Winter Blues 49

Speaking of them, I managed to coax Heath and Cecily into participating in an Advent wreath lighting for UCC Norfolk’s online service this Sunday. You can catch us around the 11-minute mark. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1308360392861281

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Maybe it be blue in the very best ways!

 

We All Fall Down 50

We All Fall Down

1 Reply

This past week, I had to cover the Circulation Desk for the afternoon hours at the library. So, I didn’t get my usual dog/nature fix with Annie on our bi-weekly afternoon romps in the woods.

We All Fall Down 51

Annie!

Thank Dogness, I also have this guy in my life:

We All Fall Down 52

Dodger!

Just like Annie, Dodger is a spirited dog with lots of heart and personality. His sassiness level is several notches above Annie, whom I’m convinced is an actual angel in a dog costume. As such, instead of nicknames like Annie Banannie, Dodger gets nicknames like Bossy Britches and Sassafrass.

Nevertheless, I LOVE him. I’m also grateful I had an excuse to be out in the woods this last week as fall lives up to its name and our trees are starting to get a little bare.

We All Fall Down 53

That’s not the case everywhere here, as evidenced by this glorious tree I came upon on Saturday while driving back from Oblong Books in Millerton, New York.

We All Fall Down 54

When I see this kind of overwhelming beauty these days, a sense of sadness wells up in my heart and spills out as tears. It’s the same sadness that takes over me when I watch leaves swirl through the air, then tumble to the ground for their final resting place.

I can’t help but think about how last fall, my dad didn’t know that would be the last time in his life that he would get to see the leaves change to their ultimate glory. He didn’t know it would be his last Halloween. No more eating the stash of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups my mom started buying in September, just to make sure she had enough. He would never again get to wish my niece or mom a happy birthday.

He didn’t know.

Most of us don’t.

So on this cold and chilly fall day in Norfolk, I take a few moments to Thank God that I’m still here. I Thank God that I get to watch the leaves light up my drive to and from work and brighten my already delightful time in the woods with Annie and Dodger. I Thank God for my loving and supportive husband and my family and friends.

Thank you, God.

Thank you, God.

Thank you, God!

And thank you Dogs, too!

We All Fall Down 55

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to My Blog

2 Replies

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to My Blog 56

Yesterday I turned 43 and this blog turned 4. The amount of joy I feel on any given birthday can be hit or miss.

I’ve celebrated some birthdays in the most wonderful ways, surrounded by friends or family.

Four years ago, on the day this blog was born (and my first birthday married), Heath surprised me with the one thing I asked for: a birthday party with the animals wearing party hats. We were housesitting in Johnsonville, NY, for the summer and the animals included dogs, cats, and goats.

Only the dogs wore actual hats to the party. The cats and goats smiled for Heath’s camera and then Heath photoshopped the appropriate party wear onto those pictures.

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to My Blog 57

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to My Blog 58

Other years, particularly my first few in Illinois, I spent my birthday alone. On those birthdays, I sat alone on my couch. An occasional text or phone call would come in. Sometimes, I responded and sometimes I didn’t. Because in those times of loneliness it can be hard to accept long-distance birthday wishes when all you want is someone right there next to you.

This birthday, I am not alone. I am with my mom and brother. They made my favorite cake – butterscotch!

 

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to My Blog 59

Heath showered me with treats on Thursday night before I drove to Pennsylvania on Friday, including surprising me with vegan bacon cheesy fries from Arles & Boggs, my favorite restaurant, located in Wallingford, CT. Wallingford is 65-miles one way from Norfolk, so this was quite the commitment from Heath. He then made a trip to Dee’s One Smart Cookie, an allergen-free bakery in Glastonbury, to get me gluten-free chocolate chip sandwich cookies. They’re a favorite sweet indulgence of mine and I enjoyed every bite of them.

I also received multiple birthday cards in the mail. Dozens of social media birthday greetings and text messages blew up my phone. I spoke with friends and family on the phone, some for over an hour. It was a perfect birthday.

And, yet … this birthday of mine has been underscored with sadness. On July 19th, my father died of complications from Guillain-Barre syndrome. Then, on July 23rd, Smudge had to be unexpectedly put down. It is a lot of loss and grief to experience, especially during a time of pandemic when there is already so much stress and uncertainty bubbling around us.

This birthday is an excellent example of the duality of life in which my therapist has been working with me over the past few weeks. Yes, it was a perfect birthday. Yes, I feel sad. Both can be true.

I don’t really have much more to say right now.

Thank you to everyone who made this is a perfect birthday.

Dad, I love you!

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to My Blog 60

Smudge, I love you, too!

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to My Blog 61

Celebrating Father’s Day 2020

Leave a reply

Celebrating Father's Day 2020 62

I wrote a celebratory Father’s Day post in 2018. You can read it here.

This year is quite different. It’s hard to celebrate when there’s so much trauma and uncertainty in the world. It’s especially difficult for me because my dad is currently in the hospital for what appears to be normal pressure hydrocephalus. We don’t know for sure and we’re in the wait and see phase.

All the spiritual and psychological work I’ve done in the past five years suggests the following:

  • Allow myself to feel any and all feelings that come up
  • Practice gratitude, if you can, during these difficult times

Since I don’t really know what feelings I’m feeling and it’s a rickety roller coaster of an experience – and to be clear I’m talking about the 5 tickets to ride take your life in your own hands carnival type roller coaster and not the aerodynamic engineering feats at theme parks – I’m going to let that first bullet point just be.

Although, I am grateful that I recently started seeing a therapist again to help me process some of the other emotions I’ve been experiencing this last year.

Ironically, I didn’t even force myself to write that previous sentence. It just popped up in my stream of consciousness, so I guess that’s why spiritual masters often preach of the benefits of practicing gratitude.

Even when you don’t want to or don’t think you’re ready to feel grateful, it comes out anyway.

Since my heart still isn’t really into this blog post, I’m going to leave you with the best thing (so far) to happen to me today. It happened during my morning mindfulness walk. I heard some scritch scratch sounds behind me, turned around, and spotted this little critter waddling down the middle of the road.

Celebrating Father's Day 2020 63

You can watch the full 42-second video of our encounter here.

Despite having made a promise to myself that I would not whip out my phone to take pictures during my mindfulness walks in the morning, I have now epically failed two mornings in a row.

Yesterday, this little chipmunk pretty much begged me to take their picture with this stunning display of adorableness.

Celebrating Father's Day 2020 64

And, today, well … who can resist a porcupine?

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there and all the women and men who serve as a father capacity in someone’s life. Thank you for all you do, all you are, and all you strive to be.

If you are a person of prayer, please say a prayer for my parents. For my dad for healing and for my mom for strength as his caregiver. Thank you.