This morning, the digital silence of a dropped internet connection felt like a minor inconvenience. A neighborhood power failure, I figured. But the reality of our fragile choreography didn’t hit me until I walked into the local grocery store. The lights were dimly humming, and a woman at the door offered a strange condition of…
Beautiful Lives
There are infinitely many kinds of beautiful lives. — Maria Popova The old phrase “great minds think alike” came to mind this morning when Popova’s words appeared in my inbox, beautifully articulating a truth I’ve long held close. Whenever I meet with book clubs or writing groups, I find myself reminding the room that every single…
Summer Begins
Today is June 1, 2026, and although the calendar says the solstice is still weeks away, the heart knows better. For those of us with a bit of silver in our hair, June 1st was always the true, unarguable inauguration of summer. By now, the heavy school doors had slammed shut, throwing open the gates…
Cloud Nine
I’m on Cloud Nine today. Last night, my granddaughter’s high school soccer team won the State Championship. It was a grueling, heart-stopping match. Tied 1–1 at the end of regulation, the teams battled through four separate overtimes before heading to penalty kicks. With my granddaughter playing goalie, the tension in our house was maxed out.…
The Breaking Point
I just read about what happened to the number-one male tennis player in the world at the French Open. He had already captured the first two sets and sat comfortably at 5-1 in the third when the oppressive Paris heat took hold of him. He stayed on the court, pushing through the haze, but the…