“Live for yourself, you live in vain; live for others, you live again.” –Bob Marley The early buds of fuchsia and blush are blooming in the front courtyard at my home. Soon, the brick walkway will be covered like a floral carpet. Last year I reminded my husband, John, to remind the gardeners, … Read more
Water’s Falling from the Sky (Thoughts as Another Holiday Season Begins) Water’s falling from the sky; the tree is up, and there’s a roaring fire in the fireplace . . . Yesterday, just after my husband got the tree upright, I heard him put on Christmas music and start hanging ornaments. All on his … Read more
I admit it. I play the orphan card to get a foot massage. If he balks at all, I ratchet things up and mention that I also have been plagued with eczema. My. Entire. Life. We’ll be on the couch watching a movie, John’s hands entirely non-productive, and it’ll go something like this: “I … Read more
I had lunch today with my friend who’s a tender ninety-three. We sat at a round table in the corner of her new assisted living residence dining room, a community that assists the sweet, memory-impaired. It’s a beautiful place. It really is. The staff is friendly, respectful, dignity-givers. Up until this move a few … Read more
Rifling through a junk drawer this morning looking for a receipt, I came across this scrawled note, along with the photo booth pic on top—as if they were just hanging out together in the drawer. And so not junk. Here’s the back story, and for the record, I was a witness to one phenomenal … Read more
Yesterday I was riding my bike, and stopped to chug some water. I looked down and saw a squashed grapefruit in the gutter. Ah, the sweet tangy/smell of grapefruit metaphor. I had been struggling with some stress, worry, fear. And the thought emerged, Pammy, don’t live like a sunken in, gutter grapefruit. … Read more
I’ve always found the story of the man, Job (“Jobe”), to be altogether interesting and horrifying. Through no fault of his own, he was the unwitting character in a cosmic experiment slash tragedy slash faith story. What a job for Job. He has a series of worst-day-evers and then three friends come a-callin’ to … Read more
On my bike ride this morning, I saw a woman wearing the same shoes as sweet Kamill pictured here. The flash of bright tangerine and royal blue brought me back to that day in Guatemala this past March when Tiffany and Jeni and their teams of lovers came to the IMA school and gave … Read more
I love the quote, “Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie, don’t save it for a special occasion; today is special.”—Regina Brett In honor of my fun-living, big-loving, carpe diem cousin who passed onto his next adventure yesterday, I dedicate this post. John Genaro lived the way I try to live. … Read more
