Around 5 years ago, we needed to put down our dog Teddy. My son just today asked me where Teddy really is. At the time we had told our son, “Teddy
Personal transformation is the only miracle recognized as such by the Buddha
Stories from mine: When I feel raw and tired, I call my Aunt BahBah - the peace wrangler of the family. Her last name is Lamb, and sheep, lambs
toney atone: my family goals
There are a few things I've been saying to my family repeatedly, hoping they'll see and change the things that stress me out. Few of my words have
unsolicited something for ya
on Vulnerablity, Shame, and Energy Exchange Dear Young Adult, Last night you said that you felt I shamed you when I pointed out bad posture,
Dear Young Fury,
You are in the hospital, intubated after your 5th attempt, and I still have yet share this truth with you. I hope it helps you know yourself and find
Dear Lovely L,
You are getting married in a couple of weeks, and this is such big milestone, but not for only the reasons we think. You are going through an ages-old
“getting it” by being grounded
Hi T & O! Hey, you totally don't want to hear a lecture from me, but I have so much to tell you before I get too old, or confused or can't
See something, say something
My mom has always been an awesome writer. She went back to school when I was 10. Her professors fawned over her writing which raised money, started
Black Hat Bots & Mad Gratitude
I have 15 minutes to write this. Black Hat Part Some hack-bot came through this website and inserted viagra ads into some of my paragraphs. It's not
Ode to my mom’s memory
"I'm living two timelines moving in different directions." I sat up in bed and said that to my husband last night. I've been plagued by night
Mothers make matter
Becoming a mother has been a ride. I’ve learned to live with less sleep, half-baked plans that fall apart the other half of the time, and constant
Rita Keintz Mullen
My stepmother Rita passed away yesterday. She had her sister by her side during a peaceful transition. Her health had declined rapidly after my Dad
make all the same mistakes I did
There's been so much discontent between us, eldest kid. Maybe this is from me trying to shield you from mistakes, preventing you from falling on your
Beyond Belief
I don't go to church, my kids don't either. The other day I realized that even though I don't engage with organized religion anymore, that there are
How to take a mental health day
skip to steps Today my 8 year old son and I took a mental health day. This was at my suggestion after he'd run into a frustration-styled brick wall.
What I know (a letter of witchy wisdom to my kid)
So, you don't seem to be interested in what I have to say. And that's natural. And that is you becoming you, so it's fine. But your mom was born a
The low road
Walking with my son in the "fairy woods," we came to an intersection in the trail we'd come to many times before. "Which way should we go?" he
Odin’s Bones
Hi Dad, It’s funny, I was out for a walk and thinking about Odin’s leg. How the one that was broken is longer than the one that didn’t get
Coping: Part II in the Working Toward Transformation series
Last post was supposed to be about forgiveness, but wound up as an angry, toxic diatribe. I'll guess I'll call that Part I. I'm okay with this,
Testimony 2019
This was originally written as testimony to RI state legislature to help pass the Reproductive Health Care Act in RI in 2019l codifying RI's citizens
I have a friend
I have a friend. She used to smoke Camel unfiltered. The first time I was to meet her, was an evening at a dusty Irish pub in Matunuck, RI. She
I am my dogs
A generation ago, I had a dream, and I told my mentor about it. Black dogs are barking at me. It is depression. It looks like this (I showed him a
Holiday Jealousy. On Making Cheer
I've got to admit, I've been feeling a little sorry for myself. I feel like I work really hard taking care of a thousand things, and yet, I can't seem
Sand art for softer heart
My heart needs softening today. I've been feeling angry at many loved ones. Those who won't go on adventures, those who choose TV. Those who choose
Dear Ms Grace
It's (one of) your middle names, and you deserve it. This morning you did something that made me so amazed, so incredibly proud and so astonished that
Right to life: MY American birthright.
This is a tough post to write, but I felt I must write it, and attempt to communicate something that is likely felt by many, but hard to
Tasslenisms – Part 3
Dog feeding time: Odin: I'm going to give the dogs a boutique! Me: Really? Tasslen: No Odin, a boutique is a bunch of flowers. You want to give
They made their bed, let ’em lie in it
This is one of those posts I didn't want to write. But this refrain keeps going through my head, so this is as good a way as any to exorcise it. They
A message to my son on Mother’s Day
Hi O! You are four now, and not one for lengthy or deep conversations, but there are so many things I want to say to you, so I'll write them now.
A Pledge of Human Decency
I'm not sure why I feel it is important to promote a pledge for human decency today. Maybe it is because I feel a little sick in my stomach, both
Farewell, Fair Man (and Family)
[first posted Dec 18, 2016] I campaigned for you, Obama, and am proud I did so. Since the time you became our president, our family has done
Aloft
This is my theme for the day. It has to be. I am exhausted from running too many things, and there is snow on the ground, and all I want to do is be