An invitation to a neighbor’s barbecue on an early spring day in northern California might seem innocuous enough. It would be for most, but agreeing to attend the afternoon affair set in motion a challenge for me that was the emotional equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. That’s because the barbecue for an assortment of family…
Spring Break, Spring Cleaning and Springing Forward
Spring is almost here! What does that mean for you? Me? I’m counting the days until we leave for Ireland where the hills are always gloriously green. (Yes, there will be rain so I’ve picked up a new water-repellent, hooded jacket to keep me from getting soaked to the skin). Most of all I’m looking…
Good Skin, Bad Eyes, Worse Eggs, Fitness … Improving!
One of the most gratifying aspects of blogging is the ability to share perspectives on topics that rarely (if ever) get discussed at work or socially or, well, anywhere in real life. Better still, our online conversations reach across continents, oceans and time zones. The fourth guest post in our Tapestry of Voices originates in…
We Have to Believe It to See It
Editor’s Note: In the days following The New York Times profile about my experience “Facing a Life Without Children When it Isn’t by Choice,” I heard from women and men from around the world. Among those who reached out to me was Dr. Wendy Rogers who, it turned out, lived just a few miles away….
Seriously? I’m Trying to be Entertained Here!
“Just when I thought I was out … they pull me back in.” This past weekend I was clearly channeling Michael Corleone from The GodFather: Part II. Hey, I love a good flick or TV show as much as the next girl or guy but I usually know what I’m getting. Some days I’m in…
The Powerful Effect of Simplicity
What’s better than a great haircut and color? That would be a great haircut and color on a late Friday afternoon of a long weekend in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Ah….women may be many layers deep and complex but there are some simple pleasures that this particular woman sees as worth savoring for the pure…
When It’s Not The Ending They Expected
Friday 2/5 – Unexpected Ending Drama “How’s the baby….?” The question hung in the air Friday afternoon. My stomach clenched. “There was no baby…” I said quietly. “No baby?? That can’t be…the response, it was so good. I didn’t see you again…” Tears burned in my eyes. I shook my head hard. I forced myself…
Curing My Tunnel Vision
This guest post comes from Christina Gombar, a prize-winning author of fiction, memoir and literary criticism. Her voice is one in a rich tapestry of voices belonging to women who have found themselves in the clutches of the fertility industry, as well as in the unhappy position of being made to feel a “dud” for…
Permission Granted: Happiness Restored
Saturday started with an endorphin-elevating exercise session. By mid-day we were engaged in a spontaneous visit with friends. Later, an afternoon errand to the mall ended with me loading a treasure trove of deeply marked down stylish tops into the trunk, and the evening brought margaritas and carnitas in the cocktail lounge of a boisterous,…
Thriving After the Storm Passes
When you’re in the middle of a vicious storm, survival is all you can think about. It’s only when the seas are calm and the clouds break that we learn what we’re really made of… As Emily writes in her latest post, Storm Clouds and Strength: “It’s amazing how much one could draw strength at…