Upon arriving at her 70th birthday dinner this past weekend, my Mom ordered a Ketel One on the rocks from the waitress who smiled at her and then turned to me: “I’ll have what she’s having.” If only I could stomach the vodka, I’d do the same. At 70 years old, my Mom looks better [...]
Tonight marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. I am looking forward to spending the time reflecting and renewing after an exhausting few days weeks months. Yom Kippur is a gift because we are handed this annual mandate to do better. We can confess all we did wrong, be forgiven, and [...]
Last weekend Dave and I bought a new car. In about an hour. Without any research. Or haggling with the dealer. Or fighting with each other. And remarkably, even though this car is for Dave to drive, I was permitted to pick the color, and the make, and the model. I’m not quite sure how [...]
The title of this post drew you in, didn’t it? You are wondering how this situation could possibly be? Because guys don’t have bad hair days, right? Sure there are days when their simple, cropped hair may be compromised by a cowlick or major hat head. But face it — the state of their hair [...]
Tonight marks the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Happy 5772 to everyone. The fact that the Jewish calendar is closing in on the 59th century while the secular calendar is way back at the 21st never fails to amuse my non-Jewish friends. (BTW – we aren’t suggesting that we have been here [...]
I returned from my trip to San Francisco on Wednesday just in time for the 8th grade Back to School night at the middle school. After my flight and having a hefty glass of pinot noir, I was more than a little ornery so I surrendered myself to a seat in the auditorium and waited [...]
“Always make sure the Mom looks good.” – Rebecca Murphy, photographer and life coach This strategy for taking professional family portraits was one of my first indications of how brilliant my friend and fellow Tribe member Rebecca actually is. Her recognition that it is most often the Mom who decides which and how many photos [...]
Yesterday afternoon, Chase marched into my office right after school with some urgent news. Mom! I need to make a kite for my project on Afghanistan! Great! Dad can help you. When is it due? Tomorrow. And therein lay the problem du jour. When it comes to homework assistance, the invisible hand has long been [...]
Dave and I are both looking intently at our youngest son. His condition is perplexing and finally I give life to my fears by asking aloud the question I have had for months: What do you think is WRONG with him? Dave shrugs. He shares my worry, but is equally stumped. Chase’s symptoms don’t add [...]
Maybe it was the non-stop down pour and soggy air. Or the back-to-school organizational demands that competed mightily with back-to-Congress work load. Or the relentless cough that has rendered a week’s worth of sleepless nights and has my family looking into sanatorium options for me. No matter the cause. Last night I hit the wall [...]
