I’m going to tell a less-than-flattering story about myself. A reminder to anyone who thinks life with Vicki might be all sunshine and rainbows. Oh, good gosh, no. Whether it’s control related or my potent ego, always thinking I know best, I can be a real pain in the posterior (and isn’t THAT a fine … More Mum About Mums
I told a rather light-hearted tale on my personal blog this morning. A brief glimpse into what I remember as a rather courageous act for someone who was not often willing to stand up, or stand out. I remember it mostly as a first glimpse into what being bold and brave might feel like. At … More Defeating Trauma With Courage
I carried unnecessary heartache, and I’ll admit, a few grudges for years. Once upon a time, as an ultra-ambitious young professional, I got caught in a snare. Thinking I was being groomed and trained as an apprentice and “next in line” for a plum position, I fell headlong into an attitude of servitude. Jumping at … More I’ve Let You Go
About ten years ago, I was distractedly watching the local Seattle ABC news while fixing dinner and they ran a story about an attempted bank robbery. The suspects had gotten away but the police had captured the getaway driver, a 52-year-old woman. I was in my early 40’s at the time and I remember thinking, … More When Will They Learn?
I looked at the list again. On the plus side, I saw the names of a few friends who were going to be in my fifth-grade class with me. I was happy about that, but the negative side of the scale stood out in big bold face letters to me, and it spelled out the … More Tough as nails
If you read me regularly, you know that my life is full of joy. My wife, Tara, says she has never known anyone with so much joie de vivre. This French phrase means a cheerful, hearty, or carefree enjoyment of life. Yep! Totally me! I owe much of this zest for life to Tara. I … More Purple Trans Ams, White Lies & Green Cards
I am going to a darker, maudlin, more personal place today which is incongruous when our theme this month is focused on happiness and joy. I know that many will say that true happiness, even joy, comes from making others happy, from giving selflessly to ensure they are creating joy in another person’s life. For … More Reclaiming Myself
The phrase “bundles of joy” makes me think of bringing my kids home from the hospital. My mind zooms to that hot August afternoon when I walked out of the automatic doors of the hospital with Miss O strapped into the car carrier for the very first time. My mom pulled the car around and … More Bundle of Whose Joy?
I’m not looking forward to the drive. It’s a long one. We’ll be on the road for four to five hours. I wouldn’t call it dread, but I’m not jumping for joy either. My son, though, has been counting down the days. In a week and a half, my wife and I will be driving … More A different kind of joy
I was driving in my car today and caught myself thinking fondly of my ex. We’ve been broken up for one year and seven months now. And in that moment, I realized that I have only ever truly loved two men. Both of these men were long-term partners and in both relationships we lived together for a time. When you live with someone and share your life with a person for several years, you see everything about each other, no matter how well you try to hide things. And as I was thinking about my ex today, I was just remembering all of the good, all of the things I truly loved about him. In that moment, I also realized that all of the negative thoughts I’ve carried since the breakup, all of the things that were said and not said during our parting, just faded into the distance. And now, only love remains. … More After Time, Only Love Remains
The Heart of the Matter 