When our cultural icons die

September 7, 2026
As I write this we’ve just lost both Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem, two women who helped shape our generation. Why do I feel such grief? It hits differently when a cultural icon dies. The grief can seem strangely disproportionate to the relationship we actually had with them. We had...

Life is unfair

August 23, 2015
This is fried macaroni and cheese, an appetizer at an incredible farm-to-table restaurant we went to in Santa Rosa, Calif.  It was so unearthly scrumptious that I'd...

5 ways to make houseguests feel more welcome

August 22, 2015
When someone comes to visit, I love going the extra mile to make them feel welcome. This past year, sister-in-love did the same thing for us, with all sorts of little...

Phallic symbols & other San Francisco treats

August 21, 2015
Wandering around San Francisco one day we saw constant reminders that it pays to keep your eyes open and pay attention to your surroundings. When we saw this sidewalk...

The brain! The brain!

August 20, 2015
This is my father. He was...quite a character. Every day of his life he was quite a character. I can't say that we had a close relationship growing up--I was "yes" and...

Balsamic-garlic chard recipe

August 19, 2015
My first experience with chard was about 15 years ago, when someone cooked it for me with marsala wine. I can't remember that chard recipe, but I fell in love with the...

Moving West: exiled to Pacific Hell

August 18, 2015
Chapter 3 Our first taste of Pacific Hell I really don't remember much more about Texas, just that the wheels of the car droned on and on until we stopped in El Paso...

Tips for traveling with your dog

August 17, 2015
It's been more than five years since we've taken Riley on a long road trip. That time, he rode shotgun as we moved from Tampa, Fla, to the San Francisco Bay area. He...

How to fall in love with fog

August 16, 2015
The thing about San Francisco is that it has countless faces ... and many moods. I've been there innumerable times when the sky was inescapably blue and the sunshine...

Simple summer salad

August 15, 2015
Sometimes, the most simple summer salad is the most delicious dish in the world. That was the case the other day, when I got a whole heap of fresh green beans in...

Moving west: the adaptability of cats

August 14, 2015
Chapter 2 Cats are really more adaptable than you think. You can catch up with the preface and Ch. 1 on my home page ... scroll down to the Trippin' category. We...

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Here you’ll find my blog, some of my essays, published writing, and my solo performances. There’s also a link to my Etsy shop for healing and grief tools offered through A Healing Spirit.

 

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