The site of the brick Pain Clinic building causes my stomach to turn. I’ve been a patient in this place for years and while the people inside are kind and lovely, my reasons for coming to this venue do not bring joy. I suppose folks who receive chemo, radiation, addiction treatments or any other type… Read More It’s Okay to Struggle

An elderly gentleman held the door as I gingerly balanced my son’s breakfast in one hand and my hot coffee in the other. We were both clad in full face masks but I could see his kind heart through this thoughtful gesture. It had been a hectic morning with the builders arriving just after dawn… Read More Let It Out

She stood tall and bright in the early morning sun. Gazing at her from the dock, it was hard to believe that just a few hours earlier she was overturned in the tumultuous waters of a fierce summer storm. Today, she bobbed happily upon peaceful waters as if nothing had happened during the night. The… Read More Still Standing

The humidity and heat of the past week brought back fond memories of lazy summer days on the beaches of Cape Cod. In a recent garage clean out, I caught a glimpse of my favorite beach chair which has gone unused for far too long. The sight of this happy item returned my mind to… Read More Beach Chair

The knock on my car window was swift. I turned my head in surprise to see a woman anxiously trying to get my attention. Like me, her hair and face mask were dripping wet due to the deluge of rain hitting the Boston area for the first time in weeks. For a brief second, I… Read More Poland Springs

The ground was surprisingly unyielding. As we thrust our heavy shovels into the soil, it took many efforts to break through the layers of grass and dirt. Finally, after numerous attempts – success! We could see the brown earth which served as the planting ground for our first ever backyard garden. At this point, we… Read More Garden of Life

Like most quarantined folks, I enjoy regular FaceTime chats with family and friends. In these moments of unity, we seem to forget about the crisis swirling around us and take comfort in each other’s company. For a brief moment in time, we are transported back to the days when face to face visits were common… Read More The Yellow Flower

My dear husband has been doing the grocery shopping since the coronavirus pandemic began but a recent injury during a run has left him unable to walk comfortably, much less shop. In an effort to restock our fridge with fresh vegetables and fruit, I suited up in mask and gloves and ventured out early one… Read More Order of the Day

It was a cool spring day. A seemingly good day for walking. I left my home with confidence, intending to return before the forecasted evening rain. But when the drops began to fall steadily upon my hooded head, I knew it would be a difficult trek back home. The chilly, wet air created a thick… Read More Walking Without Sight

The overcast sky descended upon me like rainfall. My intent to enjoy a hearty walk was not deterred. It had been a few days of poor weather and I was longing to get outside and exercise. As I strolled through the picturesque village of my dad’s neighborhood on Cape Cod, I came upon a hidden… Read More Grace not Fear

We were walking in silence together on a familiar wooded trail lined with frozen pine trees and bare oaks whose branches reached out toward the cold winter sky. She turned to me and said, “I was wondering, how can you write about joy when you rarely experience it?” Confused I asked her to clarify the… Read More It’s All how You Look at It

After the last prayer, she turned to me and boldly asked, “Where does it say, To whom much is given, much is expected?” I awkwardly stuttered something insufficient, “Well, um, I am not sure but I think Jesus said something like that in one of the gospels. Why do you ask?” She paused for what… Read More Much Is Given

Watching the neighborhood kids play merrily in a mid-winter rain delighted my weary soul. Inclement weather does not seem to spoil their resilience or outdoor fun. Have you ever noticed that children seem to easily discover their daily purpose? Their imaginations lead them confidently in the right direction every time. Kids don’t waste a moment… Read More Play in the Rain

The snow fell out of a dark, cold December sky and settled quietly onto the frozen ground. It continued in earnest throughout the frigid night turning the brown Maine landscape into a snowy winter wonderland. We awoke to the raw beauty of a pure white panorama – untouched and awaiting our imprint – much like… Read More Pause Awhile…

“I’m not in any pain – you are. That is why I worry about you.” These words echo through my heart almost daily. I think of her selfless disposition, especially later in life, in the midst of her heroic battle with cancer. She rarely put herself first, if ever, always thinking of the needs of… Read More For the Others

His greeting was like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night. It put an instant smile on everyone’s face. I could be having a tough morning but the moment I saw him near my office behind Mrs. Howard’s desk, clad in his signature red Montrose jacket and cap, my day would become instantly better.… Read More Like A Million

“I don’t want any Christmas or birthday presents this year…please. Just take me out to dinner and let’s be together. Not to be so introspective but today made me truly realize that things are really useless and we just need each other and I really don’t want you to get me stuff. I just want… Read More The empty ballet shoe

I hesitated to embark on my daily walk with the temperatures reaching a chilly 27 degrees. But something inside pushed me to bundle up and take the dog for her much needed walk. As I emerged from the warmth of my cozy home, ready to take on the first real cold day of the season,… Read More We are All in this Together

She loved this time of year – the smell of cinnamon and apples, the brightly colored leaves falling from tall trees and the lazy Sunday afternoons watching football. Despite the impending cold, there was something magical about autumn weather. It was palpable – almost like you could reach out and grab the crispness and sunshine… Read More Who’s in your Gang?

The car pulled up to the curb just at the prescribed time. We scrambled to move our huge bags down from Grace’s upstairs apartment, but dawdled due to exhaustion from the weekend’s amazing festivities. It had been a magical wedding celebration between two people who were deeply in love. Watching them joyfully make a lifetime… Read More Through the Red Door