A drab, emotionless couple sat across from each other eating in silence.  Bite after bite of food was consumed, but no conversation or eye contact spiced up the meal.  Audrey Hepburn’s character, Joanna, looks at Albert Finney’s character, Mark, and says, “What kind of people just sit like that without a word to say to each other?”  He replies,  “Married… Read More

About two years ago a teacher at my college seemed distracted, but was trying her best to be present as our three hour class wore on. During the break I asked if there was something troubling her, and she shared that her mother was near death… but in many ways had left her long ago. Her mother had Alzheimer’s disease…. Read More

There was one parking spot left, and it wasn’t a good one.  I edged my car next to the mega-sized, mega-testosteroned truck–the one with the decal of a shapely woman submissively posed on all fours–and hoped there was room to open my door without chipping paint.  Ah, January, the month of inspired resolutions, too many new members at the workout… Read More

The old van, gears grinding and tires bald, struggled through deep ruts of rain soaked clay. The serpentine line of vehicles–barely moving–suggested the road ahead would not be any easier. Five American women, of which I was one, and our Chinese driver approached the Chinese guarded checkpoint with pseudo-calm. Beneath our facades of placid disinterest, we were churning. If we… Read More

My husband begged, bribed, and cajoled. While this may sound like a typical ending to our weekly date night, :), it was actually an event that happened many years ago. We were in full dating, pre-marriage, mode at the time, and he’d asked me to accompany him to see Les Miserables.  I was iffy about going. Not because I don’t… Read More