There are six women I call my best friends. I would walk through hell-fire for these women and the feelings are mutual. I am exceptionally fortunate in this regard. I love my mother, but I would not characterize her as one of my best friends although the...
A fuse that led to the fate of the rest of my life was lit and burned for five helpless minutes. In the sixty seconds that followed those five minutes, it reached its target and detonated my heart inside my chest. Now, I will never...
Seven years ago today I was looking out the window of a hotel room onto an habitually grey, Seattle sky trying not to bite my acrylic nails. I was thinking that the worst thing that could ever happen to me would be rain on my...
Right now I am on vacation with my two children, husband, my parents and in-laws. The eight of us rented a house for seven days near Mt. Rainier National Park which is roughly two hours from my house, door-to-door. Mt. Rainier is the tallest mountain...
I believe in Karma. The word Karma comes from Eastern religions such as Hindu and Buddhism. The literal translation is "action" or "deed," but it is understood as that which causes an entire cycle of cause and effect. Although its origins are ancient, it has been...
I need space to think. I know this about myself. I need time to reflect, to ponder, to remember over and over and over the reasons why what I'm doing is important. I need time to untangle the thoughts and emotions that twist like vines in my head, and to...
I'm a little embarrassed to admit this (so when has that stopped me?) but the biggest shock I received when I became a new parent was how needy newborns were. Crazy right? Like I totally should have known this going into to it. Like, of course you dumbass...
It's a rainy afternoon when the boredom gives way to silliness and Daddy wrestles with Daughter on the floor while Baby Boy claps his hands and squeals wildly making Mommy grow sudden tears. It's the recognition that Your whole world sits in front of You on a small square...
I timed the birth of my first child to coincide with the end of my company's fiscal quarter. I did this so that I would only lose one quarter's worth of commissions, instead of two. I was already using rubber bands to "button" to my work pants when I reluctantly...
I swipe a burp-clothe-gloved hand under each breast to wipe away the slick, soupy mess that has accumulated there. I have always had large breasts, but since my milk came in, they overwhelm me. It’s the hottest summer on record in the Pacific Northwest and...