Long before I knew what tangled-up spaghetti really was, I loved this quote: “Life is like a bowl of spaghetti; it’s good even when it’s all tangled up.” –Anonymous It’s been on my counter or a shelf for what, thirty years, maybe? Forty? Packed into a box through how many moves? I don’t know. But … Read more

Yesterday I headed to the cheap massage because, as a rule, this day spa is a good bang for the buck. I typically like a deep tissue massage. My normal therapist was off, so I tried someone new. I chose her because when the receptionist listed the names of available massage therapists, I chose Grace … Read more

My understanding is that the voice saying “Some things can only be seen through eyes that are crying” during the emotional Knicks’ celebration at the end of last night’s game was ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson. The words sounded familiar, so I jotted them down. The original quote is attributed to Oscar A. Romero: “There are … Read more

Heading northwest along the winds and twists of Santiago Canyon Road, I was less than a quarter mile from the trailhead when I noticed a man on the opposite side of the street, wielding a hoe and clearing an area around what looked like a wooden cross. I saw tools, supplies, and flowers. I stopped … Read more

I’ve been getting religious about starting my day with twenty minutes in the hot tub ‘cause these here bones are getting creaky. I’ve self-prescribed this routine, an early-morning soak, as self-care and a bubbly PT session for my ever-stiffening muscles. Maybe I’ve heeded too much of Hunter S. Thompson’s advice to squeeze as much juice … Read more

My vantage point was from the backseat of an Uber: Ahead, a tiny 8 in. by 2 in. frame of Joey’s “mind.” This rearview mirror captured only the driver’s forehead—one that looked like my son’s. The missing detail was the faint scar Joey earned while trying to walk before he could talk. The trip to … Read more

  “Never compare your insides to everyone else’s outsides.” ― Anne Lamott “I know that.”—Nathan Thurm     A few weeks ago, a beautiful, present, insightful friend sent me this podcast episode. I forgot about it until a few minutes ago, when I finally listened. Interesting timing, because I watched the Martin Short documentary, “Marty, Life … Read more

  There’s a tectonic shift within your very being when your worst fears come true. When more than one of those worst fears comes true, it’s called a “megathrust.” Can anything remain intact after such a Great Earthquake? April 27, 2026: Cassie and Pam are on a hike. Pam spots a “piano” in the raging … Read more

Yesterday, at the freeway off-ramp that leads to our neighborhood, I “saw” Joey. I saw his little, humble, hand-me-down oxidized green car with the surfboard rack on top, and through the windshield, I saw his wild curls atop his beautiful head. Many years ago, I was on the other side of that intersection when I … Read more

We happened upon a cold plunge. As I got closer, I saw a group of Native Americans in a ziggy-zag single file line, laughing as they joyfully dipped into the cold river, with icy water coming from the glaciers and snow on Mt. Hood. (I’ve previously toyed with the idea of cold plunge therapy, mostly … Read more