“How are you doing down there all by yourself?” ask members of my family and close friends. I do a lot of thinking about what’s keeping me sane — and what could make it worse. So far so good. The day is marked by dog walks. One hour, one day, one week bleeds into the […]
Unexpected Effect of the Pandemic #2: Housecleaning
When news of the pandemic sunk in, I didn’t immediately think, “Oh, no! That means I’ll be mopping the floor and cleaning my own toilets. But in the post-apocalyptic world, house cleaning is part of the Zeitgeist. “I’m trying to figure out how clean the toilet without sticking my hand in,” Marge says today, when […]
Even in a Pandemic, “Look for the good”
How do we get through this? Zelda* believed in the healing power of laughter. But I’m also sure she would have told us: Look for the good. “It’s always there, honey — something.” She reminded me often and had lots of examples: “When I spoke to my son-in-law after his stroke, and he said, ‘Mom, […]
Make America Capable Again
When my youngest grandson was 3, he moved a chair to the sink, climbed up, and started washing his dish. He did it mindfully, not like some kid splashing for the fun of it. Watching him, I remarked at how “capable” he was. I explained that being capable meant he could handle stuff. Someone […]
On the Death of an Ex: Grief Isn’t Just “for” the Kids
This post was inspired by a conversation with the woman I call my “wife-in-law.” She is married to my ex-husband. I thank her for her first read of this piece and for allowing me to share her story beyond the boundaries of our family. My wife-in-law’s ex-husband died last week. They were married […]