My brother has “gratitude” tattooed on his inner wrist. The gothic script flows blue-black across his pale flesh, engraved on the pulse-point. At quick glance, the shadow on skin disturbs me– evoking numbers stamped on a concentration camp inmate. We are children of a Jewish father, so this cultural memory carries weight. My brother got [...]
Entries from November 30th, 2009
Grateful or Not?
November 30th, 2009 No Comments
Tags: gratification · gratitude · tattoos · Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Unplugged
November 29th, 2009 No Comments
I forgot my laptop and my digital camera this Thanksgiving. What sweet relief. We managed to bring both girls, the dog, our bags, a pumpkin-rum pie and a cranberry-raisin pie. A. and C. ate Grannie’s chocolate-chip cookies for snack, Redi-Whip (without pie) for the Thanksgiving feast, and vanilla ice cream cones for dessert. Then [...]
Tags: Thanksgiving
Welcome Darkness
November 19th, 2009 No Comments
Daylight Saving is over. It’s time to start spending. More electricity, more body heat, more prayer. Time to summon all my resources for the dark season ahead, the long hours indoors with small children. Soon night will begin at 4 pm, that dark like a window slamming shut. When I was in college, “falling back” [...]
Tags: antidepressants · daylight saving time · depression · SAD
Been Caught Stealing
November 12th, 2009 1 Comment
Not the Jane’s Addiction song, but a parenting experience at Whippersnappers Kids’ Consignment Shop. I’d dropped off a bag of old clothes to sell (got $11) and convinced A. to try on an adorable, red and black, red-riding-hood style, fleece coat with toggle buttons. She grudgingly put the coat on, then skipped off to the [...]
Tags: Been Caught Stealing · Jane's Addiction · Parenting · shoplifting · Whippersnappers
Inversions Yoga Workshop!
November 10th, 2009 1 Comment
Turn your world upside down in this powerful inversions workshop! Inversions calm the brain, boost metabolism, and relieve mild depression– helping us survive (and thrive) in the dark winter season. They also shift perspective and release stuck energy, freeing our natural creativity. Learn headstand, handstand, forearm stand and more in a safe, compassionate environment. Saturday, Dec [...]
Tags: forearm stand · handstand · headstand · inversions · Yoga · yoga workshop
Still Got Milk?
November 10th, 2009 3 Comments
There were certain things I thought I’d never do when I became a mother. I wouldn’t yell at my children, share my marital bed, or nurse through toddler-hood. As my husband said with authority when we first discussed breastfeeding: “If you can ask for it, then you’re too old for it.” Never say never when [...]
Tags: breastfeeding · c-section · cesarean · nursing · Parenting · toddlers
A Tale of Two Fevers
November 9th, 2009 No Comments
Last weekend I got Halloween fever and went to 4 parties and a parade. This weekend I got a real fever and stayed in bed. Last weekend I was a wood fairy, accompanied by a pink toddler fairy and a brown deer. This weekend I was a sad, sick, sneezing Mommy. Last weekend I ate [...]
I Love Kale, and other surprises
November 2nd, 2009 No Comments
Last week A. decided she liked kale. A leafy kale forest is still growing in our half-tilled vegetable garden, next to the bean tee-pee twined with dead vines. A. ran up to the kale, ripped off a leaf, and started munching it raw. ”YUM! I love kale!” she shouted. My heart swelled with joy [...]