We were having SO much fun! And then Funk killed it. I recently visited my Aunt Jan and Uncle Carl—the last of my elder relatives. We met at a restaurant and then followed their son’s car back to the Airbnb where they were staying. The bonfire pit in the backyard called to my cousin Chris and me, and before long, we lured everyone outside to enjoy conversation around the campfire. For the first time in ages, I was out of my head and was beginning to have a good time. It was pitch black out, with thousands of stars poking […]

Unnecessary meanness. Born, I believe, of the great change that’s taking place on the planet. The paradigm shift. That’s bringing with it all the intensity, fear and violence that occurred in the 60s—the last time the collective underwent a revolution. At 63 years old, I’ve learned a few things about myself. I am introspective, sensitive, and shy. My first instinct when impacted by hurtful words is to crush back. Despite my nature, I try to be respectful when speaking up and my posts are full-frontal. I feel compelled to reach for kindness and to provide an alternative viewpoint rather than […]

Weird-ass sign. The notice was posted on the wall to the left of the toilet, “Please refrain from flushing feminine products, personal/baby wipes, or other foreign objects down toilets.” Upon the first read, the sign seemed innocuous enough. Who wants to pay money to fix a clogged toilet? But each time I read it, the wording nagged at me. I mean, WTH did the campground mean by “foreign objects?” And then I got it. Condoms. Which is precisely why the message irritated me. Women and children were called out by name and deed, but not men—the users of said “foreign […]

Camping in a hurricane. Our trip to Maine was planned last Spring, long before there was a glimmer of the hurricane to come that August. My friends of 50 years—who basically have the same personalities dating back to when I was 12 years old—decided to proceed with the trip anyways. I mean, die here, die there, what does it matter? If Hurricane Henri was gonna take us out, might as well go together. I can’t even call these people friends anymore. They’re just part of my topography, and there’s great comfort in that. With them, I can be who I […]

In town for another Grateful Dead show! And yeah-yeah. I know it’s not the EXACT same band members, so don’t even!

Grief can turn into poison. “We grieve the loves we’ve lost. We grieve our abilities vanishing through age. We grieve our children leaving home. We grieve the paths we didn’t walk. We grieve the family we never had. [We grieve what could’ve been.] In our culture, we are deeply unskilled with grief. It can feel dangerous and weak. Perhaps because we fear we’ll drown in our despair. But grief plays an essential role in our coming undone from previous attachments. It is the necessary current we need to carry us into our next becoming.”* Poison kills. Or, better said, grief […]

She slipped her hand in mine On my left I looked down To innocence That face Sun-filled Smiling up at me I died to be living Couldn’t resist but bend, pull her into my side To laugh While hugging her And kissing her on the forehead Thrilled Her being That slight hand embraced with mine Secure The two of us The waves Crashing at my knees, her chest People screaming In delight To be free It’s the ocean It’s summertime Again! Peering behind me for her mother To see if it’s okay Me, with her daughter A stranger Who steals […]

Words to ease the soul as we spin towards whatever change is happening to us on the planet. “You went to a strange land searching For a truth you felt was wrong That’s when the heartaches started Though you’re where you want to be You’re not where you belong When your love has moved away You must face yourself and you must say I remember better days” —Graham Nash We need to lift each other up. Here’s to those who are doing the heavy lifting. As you do, may you gain comfort and strength from long-ago words. “As long as […]

Crowing comes from the rooster Morning comes from God. I wish I said that. But I didn’t. That’s Shams Tabriz’s astuteness. I recently discovered Rumi—that bigness brought to me by spiritual helper and new friend—and so it is apropos that Shams is Rumi’s friend. Coleman Barks’ Soul Fury, says, “Love, together with kindness … are the book that we delight in studying, this shared experience of being alive. The excitement and the depth of sharing—that friendship—are some of what Rumi and Shams are teaching.” My greatest joy and delight has always come from being with others. Witnessing and expressing the […]