When our daughters were about three and five, my husband started a birthday appreciation tradition. After dinner, we go around the table and each person shares something they appreciate about the birthday girl or guy—their courage, humor, generosity, spark, a meaningful memory, etc. As the precious words…
I have an embarrassing Thanksgiving Day confession. My daughter, husband, and I were heading to a dear friend’s home to join her family for the Thanksgiving feast. I felt relaxed from a long morning hike, grateful (more accurately thrilled) that I did not have to cook…
Perhaps this news isn’t as juicy as you were hoping but it’s still big news – for us all. Embrace the Middle is “our” book with “our” stories. Forget about being invisible, whispering about menopausal woes, and all the other bullshit associated with being a…
When my mother Jackie started developing dementia, I did not want to accept that this was her reality. She was a tireless leader, wife, mother, grandmother, and beacon of her community. I was pained even thinking about my mother being confused, uncertain, or dependent….
Living and grieving co-exist. I was reminded of this yet again, in a palpable way, while on a recent trip to Scotland. I was visiting my daughter, Maya, who is studying in Glasgow for the semester. It was the second morning of my trip. I awoke…
It was the night before our long-awaited 25th anniversary trip to Costa Rica. I left an acupuncture appointment with eight sexy (not!) cupping marks on my back, which would be in full display on my bathing-suit-laden vacation. I didn’t care. I finally felt well after two weeks…
Tomorrow, March 3rd, I turn 59. It is mostly significant because it is the eve of 60. Now that’s a wow number. Me? 60? But, I’m not there yet. I am grateful for every year around the sun, despite the larger numbers. It is a gift…
I’m answering emails and half watching the 2024 Emmy Awards on TV, mostly to see the fancy dresses and gorgeous humans. I gaze up from my laptop as Niecy Nash-Betts accepts her trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actress, proudly raises it to the sky, and yells “I’m…
Tis the season of gifts and yummies! Harry and David stacked boxes of juicy pears and moose munch, homemade holiday cookies, eggnog, latkes with applesauce, etc. I love receiving (and eating!) these gifts as much as the next person; and I love giving gifts too. It’s…
At my recent “Day of Embracing the Middle,” I asked the participants to bring along symbols of their current midlife experience. You know, things like reading glasses, wrinkle cream, or an empty nest image. When the women arrived, I had them place their objects on…