Last week, I went to visit my parents in Florida. We took a side trip down to Key West for two days. We spent our time exploring all the restaurants, art galleries, and shops Duval Street has to offer. In a tourist heavy city like Key West, you always end talking to a few strangers […]
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Words That Heal
I love words. I love the way they sound, what they mean, how they are said, all of it. When Don Shepherd died suddenly, it was words that saved me. Words that kept me going. Words that gave me pause to think and to reflect, and words written or said by others who had been […]
Welcome, Jackson!
On Valentine’s Day, a sweet black and white border collie-mix puppy found a new home! Lot’s of love…but not much sleep as to which any puppy raiser can attest. Some asked when they heard of this pending news, “Why do you need another dog?” I don’t think we need them, but rather they need us. […]
Eras, Part II
A chunk of my friend circle at UCLA were not only artists, but also musicians or otherwise involved in music. One of my friends was a DJ and not long after I’d met Mario, I found out he was a DJ as well. I don’t mean disk jockey like on the radio, but DJ like […]
Valentine Hugs and Kisses
Robyn arrived on Super Bowl Sunday, fresh off visiting her son, her brother, and one of the grandkids in southern California. Robyn was greeted by a small earthquake upon her arrival there, but I would like to think that the Tucson leg of her trip, featuring me and Lola the pup, along with many fun […]
(Leaving You) On The Hook
Do you ever have such a busy week that you forget what day it is? This is me. This week. Forgetting what day it is (Blog Day) and scrambling to say something meaningful about a concept that is a treasure in my life and one of my highest values: Community But guess what!?!? […]
Another New Year
This past weekend our family celebrated Lunar New Year, as we do every year, but our second without Erik. For the first time since his passing, I wasn’t truly dreading a holiday. It was one of Erik’s favorite holidays since he met me and this year leading up to it I felt hopeful. I wasn’t […]
Dreaming of Him
Even after almost three years, I rarely dream of Tony. I would venture to guess I’ve had no more than ten dreams of him since he passed. In the beginning, I remember falling asleep hopeful he’d make an appearance. Knowing I’d never again see him in the physical world had me craving a visit of […]
Enter the Wood Dragon!
Happy Lunar New Year. This weekend, as millions mingle in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, another event will be celebrated across the world on an even larger platform! At this moment, millions of people around the world are celebrating one of the year’s biggest festivals – Lunar New Year, which marks the first new moon […]
The Fool
Mario was a very talented and highly creative artist. Out of all of the visual art he created in his lifetime, none was such an undertaking and reached as many people as his tarot deck. It started like many of his personal illustration projects, as a stand alone “character” that came straight from his imagination […]
A Cloudy Interlude
Yesterday started grey and stayed that way. Angry clouds enveloped the high peaks of the Catalina range like thick smoke, making daytime darker than it ought to be. I waited for a rainstorm that never materialized. The cool morning breeze that typically favors Tucson originates somewhere southeast of town, but by afternoon it has shifted […]
A Community of Widowed People
Powerful Medicine for Broken Hearts [COMMUNITY: Part 5] “What are you seeking?” they asked. “I just want to find normal again,” they answered. To survive the loss of the person with whom we thought, hoped, and planned to grow old with is the challenge of widowed people. Whether we were partnered […]