I was saddened my three friends were petrified to disclose who they were — Adri could inject laughter into almost any situation. I remember her enthusiastic personality that brightened the meetings and projects she led in Student Council as well as when she spiked the ball in volleyball! She was dynamite! Our closeness was part and parcel of our “secret.” No one knew. Adri…

Who we see lead can close or open our minds to who we can be — “Mom, Mr. John, asked me on International Woman’s Day whether my mother had an impact on my father’s career…and after thinking about it, I told him, ‘I don’t know.’” My son often will reflect upon an earlier moment he experienced in the quiet of his room. Suddenly at a random…

I can live with the answer I gave but wish I had a chance to answer that call one more time — Monday, February 27th, 2023. Peggy left this earthly place and joined her soulmate Jay. Peggy was a second mom to both my husband Anthony and me. She and Jay cared for and knew the intimate details of our lives for over 25 years. In these last few years, I shed…

Growth rates help you predict future growth — what will your future in Medium look like? — It’s the first of the month and there’s a lightness in the air and a wonderful sense of anticipation! In February 2022, Everything Fun published 48 articles. This year over 250 articles were published in February! That is over 400% growth, and I must congratulate its founder, Hollie Petit, Ph.D…

A hand and mental exercise in letting go, writing, and observing — What happens when you are in the middle of your day waiting for a loved one to complete their dental appointment and you have forgotten your phone? “Waiting” episodes are the moments when I read and write. These are typically the moments my phone comes to its best use —…

Three stories about subtle racist micro-aggressions directed at me — I began to write a comment yesterday on a published story of an author who stated he hates being “black.” That statement is quite jarring — but you should read his article for an intimate perspective on why he feels that way. My comment danced with the words of why…

Sometimes reaching out to an old friend is met with a closed door and sometimes it’s an embrace — here’s one story of an embrace — First, it was Nicole. We were best buddies in the first and second grades. We searched for tadpoles after it rained and even bathed and powdered our stick frogs as if they were our babies. We’ll never be able to ask 5-year-old Natalie and Nicole how was this even a…

Every “Regio” seems to own several dogs or cats which completely surprised me — here are other fun facts you may be surprised to know! — It’s often hard to believe that I have been living in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico now for almost three years. In all my moves in the last 30 years, I have a personal philosophy that it takes 4 years to get to the point where you finally feel at home…

What do your guests remember when they leave your home? — Bob and Mary sat there stirring their coffee over and over as the night and dinner came to a close. Dinner conversation was light and easy. We had just closed on our first home in East Amherst about a week prior. My guy and I wanted to thank Bob and…