The word "gratitude" shares its root with the word for "thanks" in Spanish and Italian (gracias, grazie) and with "grace" in English. In what ways are the graceful dancer and the person who gives thanks, the same? They both know the value of the gifts they have received. To know what you have is to appreciate it, and to appreciate is to enjoy and ( Read more... )

I thought I should read this book before writing my own story of love in the time of cholera. As it turns out, they're very different stories. This one had some interesting things to say: on the subject of love, on the devastations of doubt and the passage of time. I was bothered by one of the love affairs, and if affected my willingness to feel ( Read more... )

A writer friend who just finished his own memoir gave me this gem (among other solid advice) on completing a writing project: "Once finished, print it out. Fuck the trees. Your book exists ( Read more... )

I have at least four blogs that I update regularly, including this one. This is by far the oldest. Most of my posts are private, filtered, somehow, because I am paranoid. I've had my blog presented in family court as evidence of my unfitness to parent, a grudge I still hold, and so I shut these posts down every time. I start off writing a post that ( Read more... )

Deep at my core, I'm a puritan. I believe that if I just work hard enough, if I take nothing for granted and build everything I have from nothing, then I will be deserving of what I have got, and it won't be taken from me. Of course, this does not work in real life, which is what makes it a faith and a value system, and which have probably ( Read more... )

I think we got over the hump of something this weekend. It annoys me, and probably those of you who read along, that when I reach periods where a lot of change is happening, that I can't always get it out. I am too absorbed in doing change to also document it ( Read more... )

You know how you get songs stuck in your head? For the past few days, it's songs I sang as a kid. One is a cheesy one from chorus. Now it's "Found a Peanut ( Read more... )

A couple of things Kevin and I do to each other that we dislike ( Read more... )

Kevin and I took a trip to Turners Falls today. I can't remember if I've ever been there, or just rarely. I'm so glad we made these plans today. The weather was perfect late fall: clear and cool and not too windy. Most of the leaves are down, but the vistas are still fantastic.

Today was the last day to experience Sun Boxes in the park in Turners ( Read more... )