Bringing Bangkok Home
Today I should be in Thailand. Last year, my husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary in Bangkok. We immediately booked flights and hotel reservations, eager to return this year. Covid-19, Korean Air, and Delta cancelled our flights. I started reading a book...
Joy to the World
On the internet, I heard someone say, “Covid-19 robbed me of joy.” They were not sick and didn’t know anyone who was infected. They were upset about the closure of their favorite restaurant. If the coronavirus truly robs joy, then political uncertainty, racial...
Going Solo
The term going solo has a ring of adventure to it. Roald Dahl’s autobiography tells of his days as a fighter pilot during WWII. Schlossbergturm or Castle Hill Tower (I made it to the top!) In 2008, I journeyed solo to Northern Germany. I stayed with...
Reflections
Yesterday, I read an old article in Glamour magazine titled “Could You Live Without A Mirror for One Week?” Glamour regularly runs challenges such as wearing a pillow as a fashion statement. I kept the 2001 article fully intending to accept the challenge. ...
Grounded
Six weeks ago, while visiting Seattle, I watched as the news reported the spread of a novel virus named COVID-19. The hotel was full. People congregated in the lobby, ate from the complimentary buffet, and swam in the pool. I saw a little girl lick spilled CocaCola...
Curious Paper Clips
Back in the Stone Age. When I first started writing, sending manuscript submissions via snail mail was the norm. Very few agents or publishers accepted communications through email. Preparing the documents required manila envelopes, the lives of several trees, and...
Happy Heart Day!
Valentine’s Day can be fraught with expectations—hoping for a Valentine from everyone in the class or from just one special person. Proposals and engagement rings are not always received or accepted. When I met the Valentine of my dreams ❤️ I didn’t wait for a...
The Body Beautiful
January is a popular month for joining a gym and focusing on our health. The human body is complex. Often, no matter what we do, life doesn’t go as planned. Here are some books on the subject. A Different Beautiful by Courtney Westlake—daughter born with a...