11.12.2025 When I bought my condo in 2012, it was clear the place had seen better days — flimsy curtains, faded carpeting, a pink bathroom sink, and wallpaper borders straight out of 1992. It had been maintained, but it hadn't been loved and cared for in a long time. Still, I saw potential. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the condo’s state mirrored my own. Recently divorced and forced to give up nearly all my possessions, I too felt faded around the edges — intact,

Some families pass down recipes. Others pass down drama. This essay is for everyone who’s ever survived the holidays by smiling through gritted teeth and counting the hours until they can take home some leftovers. 🍗 #humorwriting #holidayfamilydynamics #writingcommunity #blogessay

Preparedness, it turns out, is less about surviving the weirdest stories and more about making sure you have small comforts and friends to call on when you need them.

A frequent topic of conversation among my boomer friends is what to do with all the things we’ve accumulated over a lifetime. Those with children or grandchildren worry that no one wants their belongings. Those without kids already see their treasures ending up in a dumpster. The generations that follow don't want these items either. What do we do with these items and the memories that go with them?

WHEN THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH IN YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.

What started as a leaf-peeping adventure turned into something richer. Join me on a ten-day journey through New England where strangers from every corner of the country find common ground—and maybe a little magic—in unexpected places.

Do you solemnly swear to eat that salad you just bought? Same. This essay is about grocery store delusions, lettuce guilt, and the everyday optimism that keeps us believing… next week will be different.

It started with expired meds and a Knife Skills class. It ended with a car accident, a police report, and a suspiciously well-armed SUV. Some stories you just can’t make up.

From awkward gifts and impossible-to-shop-for friends to a heartfelt text about a simple cup of tea, this is an essay on the unexpected ways we show up in someone’s life — and how being remembered might be the best gift of all.

A walk, a workout, a slice of pie — small, everyday moments that reveal the quiet grace of people who show up, again and again, for someone else.

What happens when good intentions meet free samples and towering shelves of temptation? Join me at the warehouse store where you, too, can walk away with a cart full of buyer’s remorse.

I had no idea that when I decided to resurrect one of my mom's recipes, it would take a deli whisperer named Bruno to help me bring that tradition to life.

After my mother’s death, I thought I had heard it all — from awkward overshares to eyebrow critiques. This honest, funny, and deeply human essay explores the strange things people say during grief… and the legacy that matters most.

From weddings to workout classes, Proud Mary keeps showing up — and so do we. In this joyful, memory-soaked reflection, I’m thinking about life lessons that live in dance floors, disco lights, and one unstoppable woman named Betty.

The quiet power of letters and the way art — even in miniature — can carry messages of trust, balance, and open-heartedness. A gentle reminder of what still matters most.

When your travel dreams come with a schedule, a soup standoff, and a tour guide named Natalie, it’s best to stay on your toes — and near the bus. Reflections on the comedy and chaos of structured group travel.

When two trees fall, the garage door dies, and even the holiday decorations turn on you — all you can do is laugh, call a locksmith, and ask the question, Is the Universe bored, or just messing with me?

From a teenage fashion faux pas to a surprising source of connection across generations, this is story about belonging, growing up, and the unlikely power of shoes.

What started as a file purge turned into a rediscovery of my dad’s one-of-a-kind logic. Unpacking the mysteries of an old family phone book — and finding comfort tucked between the chaos.

Before Zillow and Instagram listings, real estate dreams were sold one mysterious code at a time. One of my earliest freelance jobs involved decoding cryptic listings and turning them into storybook homes—without ever seeing a single one. That $3 gig taught me the most valuable lesson of all: show up, write anyway, and trust that words can build something real—even when you’re working with an empty lot.