I’ve been back in Albuquerque for almost nine months now. Sometimes this realization makes me dizzy. It still feels so recent – packing up my life in Portland and preparing to drive 1,400 miles on my own in a U-Haul, with my dog as co-pilot. I turned 35 in November, and I feel like that…
Category Archives: Family
Hurting, Healing, Loving, and Living – The Struggle is Real
I’ve been navigating some difficult emotions the past few months. I’ve been struggling to find a healthy balance, and to remain functional enough to be successful at my newest job that I feel so fortunate to have been given; and where I desperately want to be the high performer my bosses need me to be…
Sweet Victor Blue Eyes
I believe some backstory is needed here, before I delve into Victor’s story. I was born and raised in a tiny Appalachian town in Western Maryland. After I graduated from high school in 2001, my mother decided to move back to Albuquerque, New Mexico so she could be close to her mother and her sister’s…
“I’m Still Here”
One of my favorite father figures in cinematic history is the late Richard Farnsworth portraying Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables. His gentle, quiet presence is reminiscent of my own father; and I love how he immediately falls in love with Anne as she chatters away incessantly, allowing him to simply be himself in silent appreciation. While Matthew is a…
Where Were You?
September 11th, 2001. Where were you? I was home alone – in my childhood home in Western Maryland – which was a quiet, secluded property several miles from town, no neighbors within shouting distance. The sun was shining, the air was a bit brisk… It was autumn in the mountains. My mother and I were…
It Comes Full Circle
When my father passed away in April of 2007, I hadn’t seen him in almost two years. I was going to college in Albuquerque, and he was in an assisted living facility outside of Washington, D.C. In addition to the geographical distance between us, I had also completely disconnected from any emotions relating to my…
From the Archives
I’ve admittedly been feeling overly stressed and anxious in recent weeks, due to life just being ‘life.’ As a result, I’ve started working on a few different posts; but my thoughts have been so scattered, I haven’t been able to adequately finish any of them. So this week, instead of avoiding, I’m pulling a piece…
The Weirdest Thing
I was recently asked, “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?” At first, I honestly had no idea how to answer a question with so many possibilities. Quirky weirdo that I am, I’m sure the list is endless. Upon careful reflection, however, I’ve come up with a definite front-runner: I stole a chunk of hair…
How My (Dead) Father Led Me to Portland
At this time last year, I was living in the Bay Area and working in San Francisco’s Financial District. While it’s a beautiful, vibrant city that’s pulsing with opportunity, I was miserable. The fast-paced lifestyle, the inflated expenses, the sheer volume of people, and the constant, buzzing energy, were enough to make me feel like…
