And to think I almost didn’t go — When the invitation to my 25-year law school reunion arrived in the mail, I had no intention of attending. I had a gazillion excuses to let it pass me by — some more compelling than others. It’s a 200-mile drive and the price of gas is too high. Who will…

Thanks to our favorite travel buddies. — I had dreamt about a trip to Hawaii since I was a kid. My husband and I started a vacation fund several years ago and hoarded our frequent flyer miles until we had enough to book a ten-day stay in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Paradise did…

Why can’t we get a handle on this? — I know I wasn’t alone in my insomnia last night. I’m sure that countless Americans felt the full gamut of emotions that I did after learning about yet another school shooting in this country. Shock. Sadness. Confusion. Anger. Disgust. Helplessness. 19 children and two teachers dead. Why? How has our…

Even if you’ve heard them before. — I was prepared to submit a different version of this article for publication as soon as I heard back from the literary agent who requested my full manuscript. Yes! You read that right. In response to a query, someone requested to read my full manuscript — all 86,000 words of…

Finding the upside to a change I’ve been dreading for years — You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive E-lim-i-nate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess with Mr. In-between - Lyrics by Johnny Mercer The message of that song — released by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters in 1944 — rings true for me loud and clear today…

The continued quest for a universal guidebook on parenting — one with more answers than questions. — Parenting keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, life throws you another curveball. Like when your six-month-old son is finally sleeping through the night and then he cuts his first tooth. …

Thank You Notes #52 — Not all anniversaries call for a greeting card, a flower delivery, or a candlelight dinner. And just because you might be the only person who remembers a particular anniversary date doesn’t mean it’s insignificant. Each year when December 26th rolls around, I think back to the day on which one…

As a memory keeper, an educator, a motivator, and a community-builder. — “Music can change the world because it can change people.”— Bono Last weekend, I went to a small club to see a Santana tribute band. Everything about it was awesome! The vocals. The bass. The guy on the keyboard. …

Celebrating National Library Week — I graduated from law school 25 years ago. For three long years, I spent countless hours at the law library, yet the details of its sights and smells are fuzzy in my mind. I remember its vastness. …and how intimidated I frequently felt in having to take a trip to the six-story building centered…