On Missing People

On Missing People

This is a tough holiday, what with needing to stay away from those we would dearly love to be with. Like most folks, I enjoy holiday parties. I enjoy family feasts. I am fortunate to be related to a lot of delightful people, and acquainted 

Masking My Incompetence

Masking My Incompetence

I think the Covid-19 experience started for me about 6 weeks ago, when planning for the disease’s impact on his health care org started taking over my husband’s life. I am mostly retired these days, with a work project on hold. This enables me to 

Love in the time of Covid-19: a letter of thanks to Albert Burneko (and Drew Magary)
A birthday feast in waiting

Love in the time of Covid-19: a letter of thanks to Albert Burneko (and Drew Magary)

Peter Gabriel is blasting on the stereo, (sing with me! …wanting contact… ) while my husband works on this Saturday afternoon, mapping out yet another roll-out for yet another set of changing protocols for his employer, a Central Illinois health care system. He’s managing the 

Tech Guru Demonstrates Y Savvy

Tech Guru Demonstrates Y Savvy

As I was catching up with podcasts this morning on my way to the Decatur Family YMCA, I had a pleasant surprise. Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway do one of the smartest and most entertaining tech business roundups I know on their show Pivot. In 

The Misunderstood Perfectionist

The Misunderstood Perfectionist

Note from the author: When the call went out for posts about perfectionism, anxiety, and OCD among the gifted, I responded that I thought I had written a recent rant on the subject, but couldn’t recall where. To my surprise, I found it here, on 

What Parenting Taught Me About Mental Health

What Parenting Taught Me About Mental Health

I had my first child in 1987, my second in 1988, and my third in 1990. My husband and I called it the “Go nuts now, go broke later” plan. In the early 90’s, the Internet started becoming available to mere mortals at home, and 

Reach Out and Touch Someone Part Two: The Bidening

Reach Out and Touch Someone Part Two: The Bidening

It doesn’t look as if she has fully consented to this kiss…

Reach Out and Touch Someone?
Does her smile look a little strained to you?

Reach Out and Touch Someone?

I hold a 5th degree black belt in USA Shuto-Kan Karate. I also do prevention education in the schools for the sexual assault center in my town. So it’s fascinating to me to hear all the protests going up in defense of Joe Biden. Let 

The Uncertain Ally
Photo: Decatur Herald and Review

The Uncertain Ally

It’s July 11, 2016. My husband and I stand at the bottom of the steps of the Macon County court house in Decatur, Illinois. We are attending an event put on by local pastors, supporting their efforts to prevent violence in the wake of a shooting, 

College Application Follies – A Cautionary Tale

College Application Follies – A Cautionary Tale

Yesterday was the deadline for Early Decision for a number of selective U.S. universities. “Early Decision” permits students who are sure of their first choice school the opportunity to find out early whether they will be accepted in exchange for committing to attending that school