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Some Weeks Just Taste Like Lemons: A Real-Life Foot Surgery Recovery Update
At 7 weeks post foot surgery, I expected progress but got a setback instead. An honest look at recovery, healing delays, and learning patience.
The People Who Knew Us Before We Became Ourselves
How lucky am I?
That was the thought running through my head a few weeks ago while I sat on a Zoom call.
On the screen were some very familiar faces.
Friends I’ve had for more than fifty years.
The Recipe That Tastes Like Home
When I think of home and childhood friendships, the first recipe that comes to mind is the humble chocolate chip cookie. In my family, baking was never just about dessert. It was about presence, comfort, and the quiet rituals that made a house feel like home.
When Imposter Syndrome Crashes Your Big Launch
When I officially launched this space on social media last week, I’ll be honest, panic set in almost immediately. That sneaky voice of imposter syndrome showed up right on cue. You know that feeling of “uh oh, I put it out into the universe… now I actually have to deliver”? Yeah, that one.
Starting Fresh at 64: Saying Yes to a Puppy
Getting a Puppy at 64. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
He is not even here yet and I am already having feelings.
I am also a retired dog trainer who specialized in complex behavior issues.
You would think that combination would make me calm and confident. Instead, Instead, I am mildly nauseous and Googling things like “normal puppy biting?” as if I have not been teaching this stuff for decades.
Living Without a Dog for the First Time in 35 Years
Living Without a Dog for the First Time in 35 Years
Seven months ago, we lost our dog.
Even typing that still feels strange. He was woven into every corner of our days. The click of nails on the floor. The rhythm of morning walks. The quiet weight beside me in the evening. When he died, the house did not just feel empty. It felt wrong. Too tidy. Too quiet. Like it was waiting for something.
Slow Travel in New Zealand: Our First Big Adventure After Retirement
This is our first extended vacation since retirement, and it has been pure joy. Instead of our usual winter escape to Florida, we chose something completely different this year: seven weeks of slow travel in New Zealand. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
Seeing the Mountains Differently- Perception and Perspective
Life really is about perception and perspective, isn’t it?
We are on vacation in New Zealand for six weeks, and I’ve been surprised by how differently I’m experiencing the mountains, streams, and rivers this time around. I’ve been here before, but this visit feels entirely new.
What the Palm Trees Know
I have been fascinated with palm trees for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Northeastern Ohio, they were purely imaginary, something I only saw in magazines or movies. I didn’t see my first real palm tree until I was sixteen, when I was an exchange student in Colombia and visited Cartagena.
Travel Day Angst: A Celiac’s Survival Guide to Eating on the Road
If you travel with Celiac Disease, you already know: airports are not exactly a gluten-free paradise. Food options are typically limited, and even when something appears gluten-free, cross-contact risks make it unsafe for anyone who has to be strictly GF.
adventures in cupcaking
I love to bake and that love gets completely supercharged during the holidays. One of my favorite things to make is cupcakes. Everyone loves a good cupcake, right? There’s just something about them that instantly lifts people’s spirits. Maybe it’s because they tap into that kid-level joy you felt when someone handed you a special treat for no reason at all.
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving: The Quest for the Perfect Dinner Roll (Finally!)
We’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, and our entire feast will be 100% gluten free. Sixteen of us will gather around the table, each person bringing a dish to share. Every year, I feel a little guilty when I send the reminder that everything needs to be gluten free—not because anyone complains, but because I know it’s a big ask.