News — Character

  This is the first in a series of blogs about strong women I know personally, and today’s obvious choice is Heather, a friend and fellow turbo sweatie.   When I first started classes at the Y, I myself was going through a lot of personal trauma in the wake of my son’s best friend’s suicide, and some severe marital issues.  While normally I am quick to make friends, months passed with only a casual greeting between myself and fellow gym mates. Heather was and remains the friendliest girl in our classes, and was one of the first people I...

Like everything unknown and in the future, I had romantic visions of parenthood.  Having traveled all over the world, experienced all sorts of people, culture, and heartbreak by the time I was 22, I envisioned the awesomeness of sharing my life experiences with my daughter and son.  I had really lived my life, gathered wisdom beyond my years, and was ready to be a parent.  I had so much to share with these future children of mine, and would be better than most at making sure they were happy, and was sure I could somehow prevent them from experiencing some of the more...

I read constantly, and am one of those people that can’t even eat alone without a book in front of me.  I have books on my night table, in the dining room, on the front seat of the car for when I wait at traffic lights, and even in the bathroom, so I can get at least four minutes per day while using my toothbrush timer. The last “bathroom” book I read was Part Swan, Part Goose, a memoir by actress Swoosie Kurtz, which was an easy and quick read.  For a little while, I got a copy of the Mike and...

I have to say the following is a guest blog from my son, who has amassed a huge amount of t-shirts.  He has never been into "brands," and instead, like me, chooses what to wear based on how fashion reflects who he is as an individual, and whether the item has a story behind it.  Here, he talks about which of his t-shirts he enjoys wearing the most, and why: I love t-shirts.  My obsession started when I was 7 years old, as a relatively normal child who saw the most majestic t-shirt:  “This is what cool looks like!” it said, which...

When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time in my head, making up all kinds of stories.  There was one character who was not fleeting, and whose presence became part of a series of stories I told my sisters, and then my campers at sleepaway camp, and then my children, who are now teenagers. My niece just turned seven yesterday, and her mother asked that for her birthday present, I write something for her.  Exactly the sort of personalized and difficult request I would make on another, it was quite daunting to have the same assignment.  It's...