The Spillway of Life

The early morning sun gently prods me as I snuggle in bed relishing thoughts of the day ahead. The pure, delicate air of the gentle morning whispers through the open window above my head. I slip from the warm covers slowly, for my body still aches slightly from a passing flu. Not one to be […]

A River Runs Through Me

Last evening, with the stars serenely basking on the dark backdrop of night?s cloak, I listened carefully as a friend shared his heart with me. Up too late, I was nestled in the warmth of my bed to escape the hum of activity in the living room. As I lay listening, I often felt?more than […]

Roses in the Kitchen, Seashells in the Bath

The new year is settling in around me, or it may be more the case that I am slowly settling into the embrace of the fledgling year?s ephemeral days. This first month has brought an abundance of warm, almost summery days, and these past weeks have found me savoring more than a few lunch hour […]

Aspirations All Year Long

I wake to crystal skies, thrilled that the first day of this year brings delightful sunshine to warm the chilly nip in the air. Although my head hit the pillow well after midnight, I am nudged out of sleep as glittering rays of sunlight bathe my face. My body feels the loss of my customary […]

Be Here

My yoga practice this evening was especially welcome after a series of long and intense work days. Although my Saturday and Sunday yoga sessions are a joy, I especially look forward to the two nights of the week that bring me to my yoga mat. These weeknight sessions allow me to restore myself after giving […]

Connecting the Snowflakes

This past Friday evening, my home was filled to overflowing with some of my dearest friends and neighbors. As each guest came in from the cold, I offered warm embraces and heartfelt smiles. Eyes sparkling, hands met, lips kissed, and spirits shone. The presence of each person was a gift, the greatest gift I could […]

Honey and Garlic

Ah, New Year?s Eve is nearly upon us. This evening, well after the winter sun sets, will find me dining and dancing at a club?a very different New Year?s Eve to come my way. I?m the kind of gal who often prefers spending more than a few precious holiday evenings at home with a toasty […]

The Sweetest of Mothers

Dressed in elegant black evening attire (shades of classic Audrey Hepburn in ?Breakfast at Tiffany?s?), I stopped to visit my mother on my way to a holiday event. Although her ability to communicate verbally has been diminished by a series of strokes, her eyes sparkled more brightly than the rhinestone jewels at my neck. A […]

Gratitude for Pleasures Great and Small

The house is still, and those most precious to me are sleeping soundly, nestled in the warmth of their beds. Pup, too, is fast asleep. As I move softly in the early dawn to kiss sweet foreheads, pup?s gentle snore offers reassurance that all is in its rightful place. Rain had poured through the night, […]

The Ever-learning Spirit

On three occasions yesterday, I was reminded of the importance of maintaining a studied relationship with one?s greatest student, the self. A favorite mantra of mine, adopted from Michelangelo, is ?Ancora Imparo.? Translated into English, ?I am still learning,? or ?Yet I am learning? is a phrase that often serves to remind me of the […]