In transit. In the past couple weeks, that’s a phrase that’s popped up often. My mail. The planets. My sister. I left Rhode Island in a hurry. My sister would be coming home from the hospital; the doctors said there was nothing more they could do. I joined my family to prepare her home for … Continue reading In Transit
I found this little card this morning. A drawing of a tiny boat being tossed on high curly waves, teetering atop the tallest crest, heading into a horizon with a low, dark cloud looming, tucked in the upper left corner of the frame. It has two simple words etched at the base of that middle, … Continue reading have faith
I have never been a fan of Thanksgiving. I know, it’s heresy, right? So many reasons. As a Mayflower descendent, I grew troubled over the years with the fairy tale that we’ve told our children about Pilgrims breaking bread with the indigenous people who saved the colonists’ bacon their first harsh winter in what’s now … Continue reading Breaking bread in this broken year
In the days and weeks since my father’s death, I go to the water to smell the salt air and taste the salt water when my own tears won’t fall. I go to the water for solace and guidance as cancer ravages my sister’s body in the heavy wake of my father’s death. I go … Continue reading I go to the water
I just spent a glorious hour via Zoom with some fabulous first-year high school journalism students talking about portraits and sharing my work–and lessons learned the hard way. I have to say, it was great to be in a classroom again–even virtually. It was also great to sort through images that I made early in … Continue reading Zoom in
“Was it COVID?” This question was hurled in a hushed voice at my mother, a wicked curve ball mere days after my dad’s death. This was before I realized that I’d need to block for my mother. Block insensitive and senseless questions. Too shell-shocked and polite, my mother answered on autopilot. “No.” And that should … Continue reading What not to say to a bereaved spouse
On a layover in BWI airport, I noticed a young couple near me, waiting for their takeout order at a restaurant. They stood facing each other, embracing. They gazed in each other’s eyes, smiled, laughed. They shared a chair when they sat down together, arms wrapped around each other. When they got their order, the … Continue reading I miss hugs
As a journalist, I have written many, many obituaries. It’s a regular task–a privilege/challenge–as a community reporter. As a journalism professor, early in a beginning news writing class, I’d assign the students an obituary to report and write. It teaches all the most critical skills; it’s vitally important to get the information accurate. Every detail. … Continue reading Writing an Obituary
When I drive over the bridge for my morning swim, I can sometimes make out the currents moving and swirling in the channel. I cast my eyes to the cove, and sometimes I can see the currents there, too. The ocean is full of currents. Along the shore, in the bay and the channel, shifting … Continue reading Put your head down and swim
“The tomato hides its griefs. Internal damage is hard to spot.”–Julia Child I revel in watching the tomatoes grow in my garden pots: cherry tomatoes, sungolds, sauce tomatoes. I delight in sharing them with my friends. I don’t like tomatoes. When I offered a bowl of the small beauties to my friend, she accepted them … Continue reading Hold the Tomato
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