(If you don’t want to see a photo of an icky wound, stop scrolling when you get to the end of the post.) When I was in Tampa for my final trip for the bank, Leda was in boarding. Leda is my greyhound. She is nine-and-a-half years old and we have lived together since she …
I am no longer an employee of Fifth Third Bank. I am no longer employed anywhere. I have been earning money since I was 13, full-time since 24. The only break in being an employee was when I moved to Michigan to be with Trent and became a full-time freelancer with part-time subcontractors. It was …
I used to think that forgiving someone was an event. You forgive someone. They get a clean slate. One and done. I don’t believe that anymore. I have a deep and persistent fear of becoming a bag lady. As one of my friends asked incredulously, “Do you know how far you would have to fall …
(Some posts are harder to write than others.) My mother likes to get cards in the mail. I like to give cards. It’s a good combination. Because Valentine’s Day was coming, I stood in front of a wall of pink and red cards, needing to pick one for my mother. In prior years I have …
Last week’s question about choosing to see the world differently led to this one: What if I saw myself not as what I was, with all my stories, but without them? Who would I be if I weren’t who I was? What if I continue to see myself as a daughter, but not the daughter …
I have been gifted with wonderful teachers. Some of them were bosses, some colleagues, some friends, some authors. One of them, a boss, once taught me about blindspots. This is the gist of what she said… “Jule, there are two types of blindspots. The first type is the Total Surprise blindspot. This is when someone …
So why did it take me thirty years to be able to say “the church I belonged to for a decade was a cult”? Did I really need to read the characteristics of cults in Vogl’s book? Was I honestly unsure? Was I refraining from using the word to be kind to those who are …
I love books. I love reading them, holding them, hearing the soft opening of a new hardback. I inhale the smell of paper and the tingle of ideas. Books have been my teachers. When I was debating whether to stay with or leave my first husband, I wandered into the Barnes & Noble in downtown …
My annual check up with Dr. Heiden has brought me back to Chicago. I’m also going to close my safety deposit box, the last remnant of my 30 years in Chicago. I love Dr. Heiden. I know from working in hospitals that this is common—it is easy to love the person you believe saved your …
I paused the blog when I wasn’t sure why I was writing, or what to write about. The why and what haven’t become any clearer but I’m taking a new approach—I will write about what is on my mind and see if a why emerges. First of all, thank you to Chris and to Claire …