My friend Keith has been counting the days to his son’s graduation for years. Michael will speak at his graduation from the College of Engineering at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. tomorrow, on Friday, May 19, 2023. On Sunday, he will graduate with the Class of 2023 in a commencement ceremony on the National … Continue reading #withkeith
In a couple weeks, my friend Christina and I will swim 11 miles, a feat neither of us has ever done. Christina named it the “Swim of Hope.” I take my inspiration for this swim from my friend Christina who created it on behalf of our friend Keith, who is living with hope and pancreatic … Continue reading Swim of Hope
My mom insisted on carrying her husband’s ashes on our United Airlines flight from Houston on Memorial Day weekend. A hard and heavy thing to carry, literally and emotionally. A sealed plastic box with the cremated remains of the man she’d married and shared her life with for 62 years. I’m sitting in the seat … Continue reading Bringing her husband home
The other day I started a message to a beloved friend. I typed “how are you feeling?” Hang on, I thought. Is this the question I really want to ask? Is this the question I want to ask to this man I love? This man does not live with me. We are separated by an … Continue reading What are you feeling?
Near the end of January, I checked the weather. It was freezing. With the ripping northeast wind, the temperature was 13 degrees. There was a small craft advisory. That wind direction meant there’d be impressive chop in the small cove. Perfect day of a swim. And not. We decided to meet at the cove and … Continue reading United We Swim
Last month, after the inauguration of our new president and vice president, I wrote President and Dr. Biden a letter. I posted it in an envelope I addressed by hand and hand-selected the stamp. I once worked as a summer congressional intern, answering constituents’ mail, so I know mailing a letter to the president and … Continue reading Dear President and Dr. Biden
The idea for Women’s Education Initiative began by accident, literally. After completing my scuba instructor training in the Philippines, I wrecked an all-terrain vehicle in the jungle: I was lucky to walk away with only a shattered wrist. I arrived alone at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Batangas City on Easter weekend 2003. “Where’s your companion?” The … Continue reading Celebrating Women’s Education Initiative
The toughest thing is that there comes a day when the loved one no longer responds. We never know when that day will be. We know it’s coming. The last time we can talk with the loved one. The last time we will hold a hand and the beloved squeezes it. We know it’s coming, … Continue reading the toughest thing
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
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